Before any discussion of floral bouquets, itsy bitsy or otherwise, I want to report that, this past weekend, we actually got a bit of rain out of the monsoonal moisture that has hung over the area for weeks now. It was by no means a drought-ending deluge but it was certainly a great improvement over the 3-minute drizzle we got several weeks ago. Maybe I could learn to put up with the miserable humidity if we could just get a little rain out of it on occasion - those of you in the sub-tropical areas of the US south and southeast that contend with this humidity year after year have my utmost respect. In any case, the rain felt like a minor miracle and has put me in a much more positive frame of mind. On to the subject of this week's floral arrangement...
Other than tickseed and feverfew, my garden doesn't have much to offer in terms of flowers for cutting right now, at least not for a conventionally sized vase. My response to the challenge to create a vase for Cathy's "In a Vase on Monday" meme at
Rambling in the Garden was to go small. Yes, I could have stopped at one itsy bitsy bouquet but I didn't - I filled all 3 of my tiny colored glass vases (all roughly 4-inches/10 cm tall and 2-inches/5 cm wide).
Here's the first, which is my favorite, although it may have the shortest shelf life:
The centerpiece is
Hemerocallis 'Cordon Rouge,' but the bouquet also includes one of the last stems of
Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame,' flowering stems of
Abelia 'Kaleidoscope,' Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum' (golden feverfew), and 2 varieties of
Zinnia.
 |
| Hemerocallis 'Cordon Rouge,' a reblooming daylily variety, recently started its 2nd bloom cycle |
 |
| Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame' appears to have bloomed out but it may surprise me yet again |
Eustoma grandiflorum 'Echo Blue' is the focal point of the second bouquet. The flowers aren't quite as full as those of
Eustoma grandiflorum 'Borealis Blue' but they're still gorgeous.
 |
| Close-up of Eustoma grandiflorum 'Echo Blue' |
This bouquet also features
Catananche caerulea (aka Cupid's Dart), one stem of
Veronica 'Vernique Dark Blue' (recently purchased to occupy a pot), more feverfew, and a few pieces of flowering thyme.
 |
| Close-up of Catananche caerulea |
The star of the third bouquet should be the
Echinaceas,
'Magnus' and
'Cheyenne Spirit,' but I think
Pentas 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom' upstages them. This bouquet also includes
Pentas 'Nova,' Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold,' Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum,' and, again, feverfew.
 |
| Close-up of Pentas 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom' photobombed by Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' |
 |
| The plumes of Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum look almost like fur |
You may have noticed that I usually photograph my vases in the kitchen. I haven't found a better backdrop. The surfaces are white; it has lots of natural light as well as numerous pot lights; and the counters are usually clear (except when my husband is cooking). This week one of my vases found a place to stay in the kitchen while the other 2 migrated to other areas of the house.
 |
| The pig in the kitchen (which holds tea bags rather than cookies) approves of the Lisianthus |
 |
| The toad prefers daylilies |
 |
| The pink vase landed on a living room side table, where I hope those Pennisetum blooms will not prove too tempting for Pipig the cat to ignore |
What have you got in a vase this week?
Go to Cathy's site to see her composition and to find other gardeners' creations.
All material
© 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
So good that you had some rain Kris; I know what it is like when we don't have any rain for a couple of months (not this year though). The vases are all lovely, you actually found a lot to pick even if only for small vases which are lovely and don't take up space. What a beautiful colour the Eustoma is; is it hardy for you?
ReplyDeleteThe Eustoma are generally treated as annuals here but they will live on through our very mild winters, Christina. However, the one I kept from last year lacks the vigor of the more recently planted specimens. Of course, that may be that I just didn't give it the right nutritional support. I may try to keep a few of the blue ones I've got now.
DeleteGlad you got some rain drops!
ReplyDeleteThe garden looks incredibly green and lush despite the drought.
We have had warm weather for some time, 32 degrees today.
Just a few miles from us, it rained 32mm with flooding as a result, but for us it rained only 7 mm.
Beautiful bouquets.
Mariana
Even we'd think 32C hot, Mariana. We didn't get much rain here either (I didn't set up my meter so I don't know precisely how much it was) but there were flash floods in outlying areas here as well.
DeleteSmall they may be but they still make a fab statement! And I love you tea piggy!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteAll three of your arrangements are beautiful. I thought the first one was best until I saw the 2nd one and then the 3rd! Very lovely.......
ReplyDeleteThanks Flower Freak!
DeleteLucky you getting some rain, we haven' t had a drop for weeks. We keep reading about it coming and it always stops short of our bit of Suffolk.
ReplyDeleteI love all three of your little vases. Your Digiplexis and Eustoma seem to have been going for weeks. What excellent plants. I am crazy about the Pentas..What a lovely colour.
I'm hoping I can find some more of that Pentas, Chloris. It's much more vigorous than the other varieties I've brought home.
DeleteI had to smile when I read your reasoning for photographing most of your vases in the kitchen - the complete opposite of why I don't do the same here!! I think I could happily do itsy bitsy vases every week as I like all things in miniature - and yours are delightful miniature vases. It's a good way to showcase little jars and vases too. I think I love the blue one the best - the shade of that lisianthus grabbed my attention immediately, and the other contents complement it perfectly. The advantage of 3 vases is the opportunity of using a greater range of material, even though you thought you had little to offer. Interesting to hear about your weather too.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the rain total was low, it feels as though the cycle has been broken. Unfortunately, while our rain seemed a blessing, some areas to the east of us got flash floods, which caused significant damage. It's too bad Mother Nature can't be a little more measured all around.
DeletePerhaps the little bit of rain is a precursor to more...these are such special little vases with so much punch....I really can't pick a favorite as I love each...really well done especially having so little to chose from as you say Kris!
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna. I'm still hoping for a wet El Nino this winter, even though the long-term forecasts aren't all that positive.
DeleteAll are charming vases Kris.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susie!
DeleteSmall arrangements are so very satisfying and yours are a delight. I currently have a nice bouquet of snapdragons, Queen Anne's lace, coleus and coneflowers. Pretty in pink!
ReplyDeleteI love your small arrangements this week Kris - I have found it certainly stretches a few flowers if your garden is having an off day! Each of your arrangements has a very different seasonal feel, although the flowers are all growing together - also I love your pig!
ReplyDeleteI'm entering an "off" segment of the year here, Julie, so you may see more unusual bouquets in the future.
DeleteHi Kris, I love all your small arrangements. They are all beautiful but the blue one is my favourite, I think! However, I do like the Pennisetum plumes too, they look so soft and, well, stroke-able. I did try to grow it in a former garden with no success. If I can source a new plant at the upcoming Ayr Flower Show, I'll give it another trial in this new garden - who knows, I may be luckier this time round. Oh, and talking of rain ... we've had more than enough this last week to last us for what's left of summer ... I just want it to stop now, please, I have a ton of jobs waiting out there to be done!
ReplyDelete