Monday, January 12, 2015

In a Vase on Monday: Rain-sodden Blooms

We got rain this weekend!  Up through Friday, all I'd heard from the weather forecasters was that we had a chance of rain over the weekend.  Even Saturday morning, as it started to drizzle, the prediction was that our area would receive, at most, a quarter of an inch of rain.  As it turned out, we received more than an inch and a half over the course of Saturday and Sunday.  When I returned home late Sunday afternoon after an outing to celebrate a friend's birthday, I found everything was well soaked.  Some flowers fared better than others.

These Narcissus blooms had been hammered


Given the state of the Narcissus by the back door, I decided that I'd best try to use them in this week's arrangement for "In a Vase on Monday," the meme sponsored by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  I chose to pair the Narcissus with the winter "blooms" of Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder,' which, also battered by rain, were leaning into the driveway.

While clipping stems of Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder,' I decided to take some of the yellow blooms of the Aeonium sitting alongside it too


Here's what I came up with:



The vase contains:
  • Aeonium flowers (no ID)
  • Erysimum linifolium 'Variegatum'
  • Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder,' with yellow bracts and cones masquerading as flowers
  • Narcissus (no ID)
  • Solenostemon scutellairiodes 'Honey Crisp' (currently on its last legs)

Close-up of Aeonium flowers

Close-up of Leucadendron "flowers"


But there were other flowers in need of saving too.  The Calliandra haematocephala, missed by the gardener's hedge trimmers during the holiday period, are sporting more blooms than usual so I clipped a few of those as well.  They don't last long in a vase but they don't stay fresh on the shrub long either.



In addition to the Calliandra stems, this vase included:

  • Grevillea lavandulacea 'Penola'
  • Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl'
  • Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Fire Fingers' (also on its last legs)

Flowers and buds of Calliandra haematocephala (aka Pink Powder Puff)

Grevillea lavandulacea 'Penola' is just coming into bloom

Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl'


Both vases found places where they can receive proper admiration.



Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she and other bloggers have come up with this week.


 All material © 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
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35 comments:

  1. Jane StrongJanuary 12, 2015 at 9:47 AM

    I admire how you can always find something gorgeous in that extensive garden of yours, Kris. I especially like the "pinks" with that table runner.

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 12, 2015 at 8:35 PM

      That "pink powder puff" looks red to me too Jane! Sometimes I just don't understand the color perceptions of nursery people.

      Delete
  2. M/S DesignJanuary 12, 2015 at 10:05 AM

    With so beautiful plants, it will be fine bouquets.
    Good that there had been rain.
    best regards
    Mariana

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  3. Mark and GazJanuary 12, 2015 at 10:33 AM

    Beautiful arrangements as always Kris, and love the contrast of colours between the two vases!

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  4. DonnaJanuary 12, 2015 at 10:47 AM

    Kris so many blooms to choose from there...I love the Leucadendron flowers. So unusual to me. And that pink bouquet is wonderful and exotic. Perfect vases to cheer my grey snwoy day!

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:35 AM

      The Leucadendron blooms aren't real flowers, Donna. The yellow "petals" are bracts - I stripped most of the green leaves below to make them look more like flowers. It's a wonderful plant.

      Delete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2015 at 11:08 AM

    I'm sure the garden appreciated the rain Kris and we appreciate the flowers you were prompted to use. I really struggled today to find flowers and it will be like that for a few more weeks, you have so many! Both vases are gorgeous and I love how the runner picks up the colours of the flowers on the dining table.

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:37 AM

      The rain we had in December gave all the flowering plants a boost, Christina. I hope January's rain keeps the ball rolling.

      Delete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2015 at 12:22 PM

    I'm wowed by your arrangements today. The narcissus are lovely and I really like the Leucadendron.

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:39 AM

      The Leucadendron is a marvelous plant. I can never decide whether I like it better in winter - when the bracts turn yellow and make the plant appear to be in flower - or in summer, when the leaves turn a glorious shade of red.

      Delete
  7. Amy@SmallSunnyGardenJanuary 12, 2015 at 12:56 PM

    Love the use of the aeonium flowers with the leucodendron - just right! And now there's no doubt I'm hoping to locate some grevillea and leptospermum; they're lovely... :) We've had rain here too - fortunately not so much, since we are stranded when the roads flood...!

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:41 AM

      It was a nice gentle rain here, too, Amy. No landslides or floods, not even any downed trees.

      Delete
  8. chlorisJanuary 12, 2015 at 12:58 PM

    I love the Leucadendron, but I have envied you being able to grow this lovely plant before. The colour combination in the first arrangement is wonderful. And the second one is fabulous too with the little rosettes of scrunched up tissue paper of the Leptospermum. I love the Calliandra with it. I have seen this growing in Martinique where it is called ' Pompom de Marin' after the red pompom on French sailors' caps.

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:42 AM

      Unfortunately, the Calliandra blooms don't last long - 2 were looking so sad this morning that I clipped them out. We'll see if any of those tight buds open.

      Delete
  9. Sammie070502January 12, 2015 at 1:07 PM

    But...yea rain! Are you guys catching up on the drought a little bit?

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:45 AM

      After last month's rains, the pundits were quick to remind us that we are far, far from overcoming our drought but every drop is good. I had my irrigation turned off for all of December, which is also good.

      Delete
  10. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2015 at 2:10 PM

    I suspect you were quite pleased to have some rain, even if it did flatten some of your blooms.... I love seeing how everyone's vases come together and the contents of both yours are great blends of form and colour - love Chloris' description of the leptospermum, 'rosettes of scrunched up tissue paper. Very apt! Thank you so much for sharing

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:48 AM

      Although not a big fan of pink, I love that Leptospermum. Chloris's description is indeed apt - every small bloom is perfect. I'm already curious to see whether I'll like the blooms on my new Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' as much - they won't bloom until the weather warms.

      Delete
  11. Julie@peoniesandposies.comJanuary 12, 2015 at 2:31 PM

    What a beautiful selection of flowers you have growing in your garden Kris - all except the paperwhites are unusual to me. Even the paperwhites growing outside are unusual - I have to grow mine in the greenhouse. I have tried putting the bulbs outside, but only ever get leaves - no flowers. I love both your arrangements this week!

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:49 AM

      Our climates couldn't be more different, Julie. I admire so much of what you can grow in the UK that are non-starters here.

      Delete
  12. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2015 at 2:35 PM

    Wow, such lovely exotic flowers Kris. I have never seen Aeonium flowers before! And the grevillea looks like a red version of rosemary. The Leucodendron also has intriguing flowers. Both vases get the thumbs up from me again - beautiful!

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:52 AM

      I think the flowers on the Aeonium are it's death celebration, Cathy - I believe this Aeonium is monocarpic. They're very pretty and deserve notice, especially given the circumstance.

      Delete
  13. TexasDebJanuary 13, 2015 at 7:41 AM

    These arrangements are so bright and fun - I love their candy colors. Even if it did hammer a few of your leggier bloom stalks, I'm so happy you got a good soaking rain. The drought isn't over and every drop counts!

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:53 AM

      This rainstorm was a surprise, even to the forecasters, Deb. Everyone believed it would blow through without much moisture but it stalled above us and stayed awhile. Sometimes Mother Nature has a heart!

      Delete
  14. outlawgardenerJanuary 14, 2015 at 7:27 AM

    Hooray for more rain for you! Sorry it did a number on some of your plants. Love your arrangements as always!

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  15. Casa MariposaJanuary 14, 2015 at 8:04 AM

    I'm so glad you got more rain! Woo hoo!!! Your arrangements are always as interesting as they are attractive. I rarely cut my flowers to bring inside so I love checking out what every one is sticking in vases. I remember loving our bottle brush plant when I was a kid. It just seemed - and still does - like the coolest plant. :o)

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 15, 2015 at 10:55 AM

      The Calliandra isn't as messy as the Callistemon but the flowers don't last as long. Coincidentally, I just bagged myself a pink Callistemon - something I've been looking for forever!

      Delete
  16. UnknownJanuary 14, 2015 at 5:22 PM

    Beautiful arrangements Kris, and they each look great where they've been placed in your home. Do the cones on Wilson's Wonder grow bigger than that, or is that the extent of the flower?

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 15, 2015 at 10:56 AM

      Yes, the cones grow larger and eventually turn brown. I cut these now mainly because they were hanging into the driveway and were at risk from my husband's truck.

      Delete
    2. UnknownJanuary 16, 2015 at 7:33 AM

      I wasn't sure if they opened into anything. I have a couple of Leucadendrons but have never had them 'bloom' before, so wasn't sure what to expect. The cones are pretty interesting on their own anyway. I will wait patiently :)

      Delete
  17. sweetbayJanuary 15, 2015 at 6:33 PM

    Glad to hear you got a good amount of rain! The Leucadendron blooms are interesting; they remind me of a green sweet bay flower. The powder puff and 'Pink Pearl' look wonderful together.

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    1. Kris PetersonJanuary 15, 2015 at 9:15 PM

      The rain was welcome. Too bad my Leucadendron isn't fragrant like your sweetbay flower.

      Delete

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