Monday, March 30, 2015

In a Vase on Monday: Who's the Star?

Another Hippeastrum bloomed recently so I got my chance to pick that as the centerpiece of this week's arrangement for "In a Vase on Monday," the weekly meme hosted by Cathy of Rambling in the Garden.  I knew that it might be a challenge to find appropriate companions for the pale yellowish green of the Hippeastrum's petals but I had some ideas in mind.  Unfortunately, most of the yellows in my garden were too bright so I focused on picking up the red tones in the petals' stripes.



The vibrant hues of some of the companion plants were strong enough to compete with the Hippeastrum.  Viewed from different angles, you could argue that other elements made a bigger splash.

Which flower would you say is the star of the arrangement?


Here's what I included:
  • Hippeastrum cybister 'Emerald'
  • Bignonia capreolata
  • Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold'
  • Erysimum linifolium 'Varigatum'
  • Grevillea 'Ned Kelly'
  • Grevillea 'Superb'
  • Heuchera (noID)


Hippeastrum cybister 'Emerald' is a South American Amaryllis.  In my climate, Amaryllis can be grown outside - I planted 2 'Emerald' and 2 'La Paz' bulbs in my street-side border in 2013 in the hope that they'll naturalize.

I inherited this Bignonia capreolata vine with the house.  It sits at the bottom of the slope adjacent to 2 neighbor properties.  Although it produces beautiful flowers, I wouldn't have planted it as it gets very, very big and is nearly impossible to control.

Grevillea 'Ned Kelly' (aka 'Mason's Hybrid') has been in my garden less than one year but is already blooming prolifically.  Its flowers are similar to those of G. 'Superb,' only less robust and somewhat deeper in color.

This Grevillea 'Superb' flower has yet to reach its peak.


The arrangement ended up on the dining room table, replacing last week's arrangement, which was starting to fade.



I also had a few remaining flowers for another, smaller vase, which I placed in the guest bathroom.

This vase features Carpenteria californica and Argyranthemum frutescens 'Butterfly' 

Carpenteria is a California native that gets by with limited water on my back slope


Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she's cooked up this week.


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

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39 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 30, 2015 at 10:43 AM

    What a striking arrangement - somehow overwhelming as all the individual parts are so interesting for themselves.
    I really like the small vase with the Carpenteria. That is just adorable.

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 30, 2015 at 6:07 PM

      I agree with you about the first vase being a bit much - I often get carried away cutting flowers, especially at this time of year when they're popping up everywhere demanding attention.

      Delete
  2. outlawgardenerMarch 30, 2015 at 11:14 AM

    Sometimes a group of stars works! Beautiful!

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 30, 2015 at 6:08 PM

      I should have called it an ensemble cast, I think, Peter.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousMarch 30, 2015 at 11:52 AM

    Your arrangement features a lot of companions for the hippeastrum. Each is lovely.

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 30, 2015 at 6:09 PM

      Thanks, Susie. Simpler might have been better this week but I got carried away (again).

      Delete
  4. DonnaMarch 30, 2015 at 12:33 PM

    Kris it is hard to pick one but I think the Hippeastrum took my breath away first especially in the first picture...I also loved the fuchsia color of the Bignonia capreolata....it all works so well together...very tropical and stylish. And you are lucky Hippeastrum grows outdoors for you.

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 30, 2015 at 6:11 PM

      I'm hoping those Hippeastrum naturalize for me, Donna. They did well in my old garden but they got more water there - these bulbs ended up in the same bed with succulents (by accident, as opposed to deliberation).

      Delete
  5. Sammie070502March 30, 2015 at 12:43 PM

    So pretty! I always admire the joyous colors of the grevillea.

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 30, 2015 at 6:12 PM

      Grevillea is probably my favorite genus at the moment, Emily - I'm thoroughly addicted!

      Delete
  6. Mark and GazMarch 30, 2015 at 1:02 PM

    Great idea to pick up the reds instead, looks elegant :)

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 30, 2015 at 6:14 PM

      I didn't have much that went well with the lemon-lime soda color of the petals so echoing the red streaks was definitely the way to go!

      Delete
  7. TexasDebMarch 30, 2015 at 1:29 PM

    Does it ruin everything if I insist on liking the carpenterium best? I'm loving everything about it at the moment!

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 30, 2015 at 6:17 PM

      Carpenteria is a lovely plant. I put it in on the slope our first year here and I think this is the first year it has bloomed. In our climate, it usually wants a little shade, which it had when the giant Yucca was in place down there - now that the Yucca's gone, it's getting a lot of sun but, it bloomed, so maybe that's what it needed.

      Delete
  8. Julie@peoniesandposies.comMarch 30, 2015 at 1:47 PM

    I love your colour choice this week Kris - a great idea to pick up the reds in the hippeastrum rather than the paler shades. It is a hard flower to use in a vase without it dominating its companions, but you have succeeded in making a very balanced arrangement - with lovely photographs too!

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 30, 2015 at 6:23 PM

      Thanks, Julie. The Hippeastrum was more awkward to work with than I've expected.

      Delete
  9. Evan BeanMarch 30, 2015 at 2:12 PM

    I love the flower selection!

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  10. Anca TîrcăMarch 30, 2015 at 3:00 PM

    Amazing colours, beautiful vase!

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  11. Rock rose March 30, 2015 at 3:25 PM

    You have created a paradise. So many flowers.

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 30, 2015 at 6:25 PM

      Thanks Jenny! I consider March and April to be our peak season for flowers here. This year, the recent heatwaves have boosted some blooms while signaling an early end to others, though.

      Delete
  12. sweetbayMarch 30, 2015 at 6:54 PM

    The Hippeastrum looks like the star to me! The flowers you picked complement them beautifully.

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 31, 2015 at 5:16 PM

      Thanks sweetbay! I felt a little guilty picking the Hippeastrum but putting it in a vase gives me more opportunity to enjoy it than I'd have if I left it to bake in the sun along the street.

      Delete
  13. danger gardenMarch 30, 2015 at 10:20 PM

    Well of course the grevillea steal the show for me, but that's just because I love them so!

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 31, 2015 at 5:18 PM

      Do you think a Grevillea addition is communicable? Some of my local friends are now falling prey to the plants' allure.

      Delete
  14. Amy@SmallSunnyGardenMarch 30, 2015 at 11:45 PM

    I'm glad to see the H. c. Emerald - I've only seen shots of it in sales catalogs, and this gives me a better idea of its scale... It may have been tricky to work with, but I love the effect you've achieved with the textures as well as the colors... and I'm not going to pick a star because it all does balance out so well!

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 31, 2015 at 5:21 PM

      I'm glad the post was helpful in assessing scale, Amy. Amaryllis in the cybister species are substantially smaller than those more commonly offered - both in terms of overall height and flower size.

      Delete
  15. AnonymousMarch 31, 2015 at 5:50 AM

    Beautiful! I'd say the Bignonia is the star, probably due to its strong colour, but I love the Amaryllis best. The thought of them naturalizing is so lovely, as we can't even grow them outdoors here! The Sunset Gold makes a very nice backdrop. Another masterpiece Kris! :)

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 31, 2015 at 5:32 PM

      I hope the Hippeastrum take off and fill the area along the street one day, Cathy - that would be quite a sight (although I suspect I have many years to wait).

      Delete
  16. SallyMarch 31, 2015 at 10:46 AM

    More incredibly beautiful blooms!

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 31, 2015 at 5:33 PM

      Thanks Flower Freak! SoCal has a reputation to live up to in the flower department!

      Delete
  17. ElizabethMarch 31, 2015 at 11:16 AM

    I did try to leave a comment earlier but was 'timed out' for reasons only known to Google! What I did say was that both your vases are beautiful and that, for me, it's the Bignonia that stands out in the first though the whole arrangement is gorgeous. The Carpenteria in the blue vase is absolutely stunning too!

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    1. Kris PetersonMarch 31, 2015 at 5:34 PM

      Google seems to be annoying everyone this week, Elizabeth. Thanks for your comment - and perseverance!

      Delete
  18. Anna @Suffolk PebblesApril 2, 2015 at 7:00 AM

    a dazzling display! I have learnt much from reading your little descriptions and I think the Hippeastrum is the star for me.

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  19. chlorisApril 3, 2015 at 2:29 AM

    Your colour combinations are always second to none. This is quite outstanding, I love it. I have Carpentaria in the garden but I couldn't bring myself to pick it. It is a lovely thing.

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    1. Kris PetersonApril 3, 2015 at 9:34 AM

      Plants on the back slope are good targets for picking here, Chloris, as few people visit the area down there - even I don't get down there more than once or twice a week. I'm afraid if I didn't pick the flowers, no one would ever see them.

      Delete
  20. Lady of LaManchaApril 7, 2015 at 10:23 AM

    I absolutely love the color of those lilies! I am always so humbled by your arrangements - amazing!

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