Everything in blogland feels new to me because it was quite a hiatus I took. But if there is one link-up party I missed, it was In A Vase on Monday, hosted by Cathy at Rambling In The Garden. I love this link-up because as someone who loves flowers but has no eye for design, I always find the most beautiful inspiration for flower arrangements.

With that in mind, let me begin by saying that my gardening season has been the worst to date. Between Japanese beetles and voles and mice, its just been wackadoodle. But the Japanese beetle were the worst, after everything else that plagued my roses. So I am glad to have some blooms still standing, even if I have had to take extreme measures like covering the blooms with organza bags. The critters— good and bad— seem to love the cosmos, and it is one of the reasons I have not been able to enjoy them very much they past few year. But this year I was determined to enjoy them!

And I am in love with the cupcake cosmos. It is so lovely. And apparently a determined and persistent little bee thought so. After I cut the blooms, this little bee (above) kept following me around the garden, going inside the bloom. I felt so guilty, friends! I would blow on it, it would go away, then come right back inside the bloom. Eventually, I just walked to the area where the cosmos are, and she jumped on a different bloom. Phew— I still feel guilty. LOL

While in the garden, I also picked snips from different plants that are in bloom. I chose:

• Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Russian Sage’

• Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cupcakes Blush’

• Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Psyche White’

• Allium x ‘Serendipity’

I like to keep my arrangements on the smaller side and this one was perfect for my work-from-home desk. I used a Weck glass carafe as a vase and I quite like it. Especially because I do not have a lot of space on my desk. All in all, I am quite please with it and hoe demure it is.

Have you had any issues with insects this year? Here is the Midwest its been terrible.

Here are other amazing link-ups I enjoy!

Mondays— Inspire Me Monday, Hearth & Soul, In a Vase on Monday, Mosaic Monday, All About Home Link Party
Tuesdays— Nature Notes, Tuesday Turn About
Wednesdays— Wonderful Wednesday, Soaring with Him, Wonderful Wednesday Blog-Hop
Thursdays— Imparting Grace, Heart Encouragement, Be Thee Inspired, Full Plate Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Runfessions
Friday— Floral Friday, Friendship Friday Grace & Truth, Farmhouse Friday, Floral Friday Fotos, Community - Five Minute Friday, Fabulous Friday Link Party, Encouraging Hearts & Home
Saturday & Sunday— Pink Saturday, Saturdays Sparks Link Party, Garden Affair, Six on Saturday

Monthly— Garden Bloggers Bloom Day