Notice to readers of TexasOutdoorsmen.com: If
you are reading this post on that entity's site, I'd like you to
be aware that I have not authorized or consented to re-blogging of
this post or any of my prior posts. I have made numerous attempts to reach owners and
representatives of this site to request termination of the feed
from my blog without success to date. While I'm flattered that whomever
is running this site likes my posts, I prefer to choose which
parties I attend. I may be Late to the Garden Party but I
think I have a right to choose my own dance partners.
TexasOutdoorsmen, let me go.
With apologies for the commercial interruption, let's talk flowers. Right now, there are relatively few available for cutting in my garden, which isn't particularly unusual for mid-summer in Southern California. I've featured much of what is available before so, going the extra mile to make a contribution to Cathy's weekly meme at Rambling in the Garden, I got out a stepping stool and cut a couple of stems from our Bauhinia x blakeana, otherwise known as a Hong Kong orchid tree.
The flowers are beautiful but I have no idea how they and their woody stems will do in a vase. Each stem bears 8 or more buds of varying size, which open at staggered intervals.
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| New bloom of Bauhinia x blakeana |
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| A fading flower with unopened buds arrayed above |
In addition to Bauhinia, the bouquet contains:
- 3 stems of Cuphea ignea 'Starfire Pink'
- 2 stems of Leucanthemum x superbum
- 2 stems of Pelargonium peltatum
- 2 small stems of Pentas 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom'
- 2 stems of unidentified roses, one white and one lavender-pink
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| Close-up of the ruffled petals of this Leucanthemum x superbum |
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| Pelargonium peltatum |
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| Pentas "Kaleidoscope Appleblossom' and the fading bloom and unopened buds of the lavender-pink rose, possibly 'Angel Face' |
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| Close-up of the creamy white unidentified rose |
I tried out the bouquet in various locations but it ended up on the foyer table, as so many others have.
Please check in at Rambling in the Garden to see Cathy's bouquet and find links to the creations of other gardeners.
All material © 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I wonder if TexasOutdoorsmen even reads the posts he/they reblog.... What makes it worse is the regularity of it - strangely, there was only one that actually linked to my blog, which is what alerted me to its existence. I did not 'approve' it once I realised what it was.
ReplyDeleteThat Bauhinia is gorgeous - the colour and the veins in particular. Is it a tree or a shrub Kris? The pinks and whites blend together really well and that creamy white rose is perfection in a flower! :) Thanks for joining in and 'going the extra mile' - it is good to look beyond our usual material, isn't it?
I was really hoping that my little message - currently clearly displayed at the top of the post TexasOutdoorsmen has just re-blogged - would do the trick but apparently they don't actually read what they post. It's infuriating. I've had no response from their current host system administrator, the 2nd one I've contacted, either.
DeleteThe Bauhinia is a small tree, inherited with the house. There are almost more flowers than leaves on it at the moment but that should change when the weather cools. Finding suitable material is becoming more difficult as the warm weather wears on - you may see a succulent bouquet one Monday yet!
Ooooo that is absolutely splendid. Love that Bauhinia. What a gorgeous and interesting flower,. will be interesting to see how it does in a vase
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered how the flower would do in a vase so this is my experiment. So far, so good - at least it didn't immediately fall to pieces. However, collecting more blooms would probably require a real ladder or a walk on the roof, which may be taking things too far (at least for me).
DeleteOh dear, it sounds as if you have been having problems. I hope you have managed to sort it out. I have always thought that reblogging someone elses' posts is odd anyway, even with permission.
ReplyDeleteYour vases are always so pretty with such beautiful colours. And you have a Bauhinia tree! How wonderful. The first time I saw this wonderful tree was in Josephine Bonaparte' s garden in Martinique. I think it is quite magical.
The current problem is dragging on longer than I'd have expected, Chloris. TexasOutdoorsmen provides no vehicle for direct contact and they're using a 3rd party to host their material and even that host has changed since the issue surfaced.
DeleteThe Bauhinia tree is wonderful, although a bit twiggy during portions of the year.
Your Hong Kong Orchids are outstanding! What a fabulous vase!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb. The tree provides a nice spot of color at the point the rest of the garden descends into the summer doldrums. It handles a bit of drought too!
DeleteWhat stunning flowers that are in the bouquet.
ReplyDeleteIt's exciting to watch your plants in the flower beds, so many I've never seen before.
Mariana
The Bauhinia is an import from the tropics, Mariana, but it seems to like it here too.
DeleteExotic splendour! Makes me want to retreat to my hammock with a drink and watch the hummingbirds sip nectar, Kris. Isn't it wonderful that we can connect to garden people all over the world and find out about their plants and places?! I have bookmarked your page...had lost it last time. Happy gardening :)
ReplyDeleteConnecting with others with similar interests (if different plants) has proven to be the very best aspect of blogging, Annette. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteThat Bauhinia x blakeana as a centrepiece on the vase, wow!! Viva hot pink exotica!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't believe that texasoutdoorsmen is still scraping your site after numerous complaints! Hopefully they'll get the message this time...
I heard back from the current host's legal department - they've promised to take the material down within 48 hours.
DeleteThe flowers from your Bauhinia tree are stunning - I have never come across them before. You manage to surprise me with flowers I don't know every week Kris! From what you are saying I guess if I am planning a trip to California I should be looking at springtime or early summer.
ReplyDeleteIt depends a bit on what part or parts of California you're planning to visit, Julie. Northern and Southern California are very different (although, at the moment, both are drought afflicted). There are also big differences within Southern California. In my coastal area of southern California, I think April and May tend to be the nicest months but even that can vary! This year, we had 2 terrible heatwaves in May!
DeleteKris this is a beautiful arrangement. I love the deep colors and the flowers are those I do not normally grow or see.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna! I don't recall seeing this particular tropical tree prior to moving into our current house But I came across, older, larger and more floriferous specimen by coincidence today - it was truly impressive.
DeleteAnother beautiful floral design Kris. Have never heard of Bauhinia before--it's such a beauty. Good luck resolving the reblogging issue.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susie. The re-blogging issue appears to be resolved, although I'm still waiting for the site to follow through on the commitment made by their legal representatives.
DeleteThe orchid flowers are gorgeous Kris - what a lovely colour! The whole arrangement looks so fresh and summery. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy. I'm just glad I managed to find materials to create an arrangement this week. I have no idea what I'll do next week - there are very few flowers to be found in my garden at the moment.
DeleteWow, that Bauhinia x blakeana makes this collection pop, hope they hold up for a few days at least.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very pretty flower but it doesn't appear well-suited to the vase, Loree. The open blooms collapsed in one day and the unopened buds show no signs of blooming yet. It appears to be a flower best enjoyed in situ.
DeleteI'm having problems posting to your site Kris, so apologies if you get this twice. Perhap delete if you do.
ReplyDeleteLove the orchid flowers but the colour is incredible. It must make quite statement there on the foyer table.
Good luck with your blogging issues.
I received just one comment, Angie. I've had those kinds of problems with comments myself - I have no idea what causes the glitches. Thanks for persevering in getting your comment posted.
DeleteKris, I always learn something from your beautiful flower arrangements -- both about flower arranging and also about wonderful flowers like Bauhinia that I've never heard of before. -Jean
ReplyDelete