Our marine layer is back. This is good because it brings temperatures down and the latter part of last week was more like summer than fall, with temperatures once again soaring near 90F (32C). The downside is that the fog that accompanies the marine layer means a gloomy start to the day. That's when it helps to have a plentiful supply of yellow flowers in the garden, as I happen to have at the moment. When I saw that one of my yellow roses was approaching its peak, I knew this would be the centerpiece of my bouquet for "In a Vase on Monday," the meme hosted by Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden. What I didn't realize at the outset was that my vase would be all yellow.
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| Back view |
I thought I'd add some purple but, in the end, I decided that the yellow flowers were fine on their own. Here's what ended up in the final vase:
- 'Buttercream' rose
- Erysimum linifolium 'Variegatum'
- Euryops 'Sonnenschein'
- Senna bicapsularis 'Worley's Butter Cream'
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| I inherited 3 of these 'Buttercream' rose shrubs with the house, none of which did much of anything all summer |
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| The Erysimum with its creamy edges seemed the perfect foliage accompaniment for today's vase |
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| This dwarf Euryops has suddenly produced a flurry of compact-sized yellow daisies |
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| Senna bicapsularis (aka Cassia bicapsularis) is in its glory now |
I featured the
Senna before, when the shrub was just beginning to bloom. It's in full bloom now.
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| It's a bit tall and billowy for the site along the fence at the top of the stairway down the slope but I hesitate to move it. The Grevillea lavandulacea a few feet away hides the Senna's bare legs from view. |
The
Euryops provided a bit of a surprise. It hasn't bloomed much at all this year and it was in bad shape at the end of our last heatwave. I gave it some extra water then and later, after the rain, it exploded into bloom, lighting up what is otherwise a relatively dark area.
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| Euryops 'Sonnenschein' offering more blooms than I've ever seen on it |
I had cut some purple flowers, which went into the "reject" vase, now sitting in the guest bathroom.
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| I cut flowers of Solanum xantii, a California native, with the idea of including it in the other vase but it didn't add anything and I was afraid the cat might get at it and suffer poisoning. The Eustoma was saved from last week's vase. |
The sunshine vase ended up on the dining room table, where it can be viewed from two directions.
Today, it's more cheerful to face the vase then the view, which is still foggy.
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| The harbor below us is invisible in the fog |
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she's created this week and to see what other participants have managed to find in their gardens.
All material
© 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Such a pretty vase! I like the yellow senna.
ReplyDeleteSo do I! It was a good purchase 2 years ago, although not an especially well-conceived placement.
DeleteHey, that's purdy. Your senna is lighter than mine. Creamier. Matches the nice yellow rose beautifully. Love everything about this post including the fog. Especially the fog. Got so much done out in the garden this morning. Prune, prune, prune. Maybe I'll shrivel up. That would be good thing. XOXOXO
ReplyDeleteThe fog is a welcome relief after the return of the hear last week, Jane. I hope we both get the drizzle predicted for the next 2 days!
DeleteYellow is always a jolly colour, I think that's why I love daffodils so much in spring. Your vase today will keep you smiling even if the fog doesn't lift. Just think how much the plants will lap up the moisture in the air. I find that when there is a misty morning or the ground has dew in September that the plants grow as if they were receiving huge amounts of water. I like the Cassia flowers, I was given a small cutting of this but is died in the very cold winter we had 2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteYellow is my favorite color, Christina, so there's rather a lot of it in my garden. The fog certainly helps things here, especially after the high winds and heat of last week.
DeleteI have heard about your fogs - do they clear during the day? And do you still have the heat with them? Regardless of the fog, this sunny vase certainly warm the heart - I particularly like the shade of yellow of the senna, oh and the rose too, and the Euryops is not bad either! You have even managed to throw in a picture of your gorgeous eustoma again! All very lovely, and thank you so much for all your contributions.
ReplyDeleteUsually, our area clears by mid-day, although we didn't get much sun here until late afternoon today and drizzle is predicted for the next 2 days (something to celebrate here these days!). Sometimes the fog remains in more low-lying areas all day, like the basin of the harbor itself. The fog and the heat don't co-exist, at least not in my memory.
DeleteSuch luck to have cheerful yellow blooms on available in your garden! Gloomy it may have been but those blooms certainly brings sunshine with them!
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are indeed sunny - and I didn't even use all the yellow blooms available in my garden!
DeleteYellow flowers are certainly cheerful! I especially love yellow roses & this arrangement is delightfully happy! We have sun here today and it looks like our lows will be below freezing in the next few days.
ReplyDeleteYes, I heard that an "arctic blast" was going to hit the PNW. I'm glad you got all your tender plants under cover, Peter! That greenhouse was completed just in time.
DeleteDear Kris, I just love your yellow bouquet! The monochromatic color scheme works perfectly here and I think, it was the right decision not to include any purple blooms, even though yellow and purple usually go well together. Saturated yellow roses can sometimes be a little bit too much "in my face", but I adore the more subdued colors of 'Buttercreme'. The erysimum foliage enhances the whole arrangement and I really enjoy the blooms of Senna bicapsularis. You did such a great job: Bravooo....!
ReplyDeleteChristina
Thanks Christina! I really didn't plan to go monochromatic but the little bit of purple I had on hand seemed to detract rather than enhance.
DeleteI am happy you are getting moisture in any form, and a break from those hot afternoons. That vase is lovely, a study in shades, and I'm glad you put the purple aside. Those yellows are doing everything that arrangement needs done!
ReplyDeleteI hope this signals the end of those blasts of heat we've been getting at periodic intervals, Deb. It's as if the state is suffering from menopausal symptoms - unpredictable hot flashes!
DeleteGorgeous yellows Kris and beautifully presented. I really like that Senna bicapsularis.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susie! The Senna is a great plant. Unimposing most of the year but, when it blooms, it definitely makes a statement.
DeleteWow that is some fog...socked in. I love this vase Kris with all the cheery yellow flowers. My yellow are pretty much gone. And there is that Erysimum foliage I love, and there's my favorite yellow Senna looking perfect with the rose at the center. Great mix of yellows.
ReplyDeleteSome mornings, Donna, it's like living inside a cloud here. Usually, the fog backs off by mid-day, at least at our elevation, but it sometimes lingers all day in the harbor itself. Listening to the fog horn from the harbor is pleasant for awhile but it can get on your nerves when it blows all day...
DeleteWell, it might be foggy outside but you have certainly brought the sunshine into the house. What a fabulous arrangement of yellow flowers. I love it. It all goes together so well. The Senna is such a beautiful flower.
ReplyDeleteI guess bringing the sunshine colors inside is my version of making lemons into lemonade, Chloris.
DeleteI love it all, especially that "reject" vase - that purple is so intense!
ReplyDeleteI love purple almost as much as yellow but the Eustoma has seen lots of vases of late so it was time for a change. The Eustoma is still hanging in there so I expect it may turn up in another vase (or 2) before the year is out.
DeleteI can only see your first photo Kris and its a really lovely arrangement, the fog here caused by a very slow internet speed and the photos are not downloading. How will the high temperatures affect your garden?
ReplyDeletePersistent heat does no good for the garden here (even some of the succulent get sunburned). I thought we'd seen the end of it several weeks ago but we seen to be getting additional blasts of heat for a few days here and there, which can't be easy on the plants. Even with those periodic hot spells, the nights are generally cooler since summer ended, though, which helps. If the marine layer sticks around, the heat should remain in retreat.
DeleteAww you can hardly call the purple ones rejects. I think the Erysimum leaves look so good with the flowers. And those Senna flowers are pretty interesting too.
ReplyDelete"Rejects" only means the vase didn't get pride of place, Amy. I love purple flowers too!
DeleteI hate to ignore the sunny vase but must say that Senna and Grevillea combo in the garden is quite lovely!
ReplyDeleteIt does look wonderful this time of year. The Grevillea seems late to bloom this year but maybe I've got its timing wrong.
DeleteYour vase has cheered me up this grey morning Kris! It is full of sunshine - I do like tha strong yellow of the Euryops. Our fog is a bit thicker than yours and in autumn often doesn't clear for days. We are having some very grey days at the moment, so thanks for sharing your sunny flowers!
ReplyDeleteWe seemed socked in by clouds, Cathy, but there isn't much in the way of fog this morning. I hope you get some sunny skies soon!
DeleteWhat a sunny bouquet, Kris! How I'd love to be able to grow Cassia. The variegated foliage is such a great idea and emphasizes the yellow flowers. I'd also not mind having 30°C...but we're heading straight into autumn so better make the most of it.
ReplyDeleteWe're down to 64F (18C) now, Annette - the drop in temperature was steep and quick. I hope the plants adapt - I'm not sure I have.
DeleteI love the yellow bouquet, Kris! My favorite part is the variegated Erysimum. Perfect touch! I'd love 64F right now. Didn't get above freezing today here. I also love fog. I've always thought i'd enjoy coastal California, but i'd rather be further north where there's more rain.
ReplyDeleteThe Sunshine vase is my favorite of all your vases. But the purple rose is really incredible! What a gorgeous way to start the day. :o) We had fog so thick the other day I felt like I was on the CA coast instead of northern VA. But winter has hit and now we're freezing our butts off.
ReplyDelete