Monday, May 4, 2015

In a Vase on Monday: An Homage to Mothers

Next Sunday, May 10th, is Mother's Day in the US.  Although my own mother, as well as my mother-in-law, are now gone, they've been on my mind of late as a close friend faced the loss of her mother.  I was thinking of all 3 women as I cut flowers for this week's vase, prepared in connection with the meme hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  It seemed only appropriate to dedicate my vases this week to these women.



This first vase was photographed on my back patio.  It includes only 3 flowers, all of which are a challenge to photograph:

  • Arthropodium cirratum)
  • Coriandrum sativum 
  • Solanum xanti 'Mountain Pride'


Arthropodium cirratum (aka Renga Lily)

Coriandrum sativum (aka cilantro, coriander and Chinese parsley)

Solanum xanti 'Mountain Pride'


The Arthropodium is coming into bloom throughout the garden.  Its tall stems allowed me to use a taller vase than those I usually select.  The white flowers have a touch of gold and the vaguest hint of pinkish lavender in the center.  Those colors and the similar shape in the flowers led me to select the Solanum as a companion.  The Coriandrum adds a lacy quality.

Not the best photograph but it provides a side-by-side comparison of the Arthropodium and the Solanum flowers


The flowers in the second vase were originally intended for inclusion in the first one but the composition was too crowded so I opted to put them in a separate vase.


This vase also contains only 3 ingredients:

  • Agapanthus (no ID, probably A. praecox orientalis)
  • Coriandrum sativum
  • Limonium perezii (aka statice)


Top row: 2 different shades of blue Agapanthus; bottom row: Coriandrum and Limonium


The vases both found places inside the house.

The first landed on the dining room table

and the second on the entryway table


To see other vases composed of flowers from the creators' own gardens, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  For those of you celebrating Mother's Day next week, best wishes!


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

  1. Jane StrongMay 4, 2015 at 9:19 AM

    Great use of coriander gone to seed. All of these vases are light and lovely,

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 4, 2015 at 12:49 PM

      Thanks Jane. The coriander flower petals create a bit of litter but it's not obnoxious and I like the fresh cilantro scent it gives off.

      Delete
  2. DonnaMay 4, 2015 at 9:41 AM

    Kris I really love these especially the blue vase outside....but I love the purple flowers in the second vase as I adore Agapanthus.

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 4, 2015 at 12:50 PM

      Thanks Donna. I really should get back to photographing some of these vases outside.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousMay 4, 2015 at 10:20 AM

    Both vases are so different from your usual style Kris, I love them both, but the second one steals my vote, I can't resist the Agapanthus and would love to have enough to fill a vase.

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 4, 2015 at 12:52 PM

      We're getting an early start of what I think of as "Agapanthus season" here, Christina. As I recall, I counted the clumps of Agapanthus I hand in this garden last year but I've already forgotten the number - a LOT! And they do seem to flower en masse.

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  4. AnonymousMay 4, 2015 at 10:25 AM

    The mothers' vase is a wonderful tribute and I love your Agapanthus.

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 4, 2015 at 12:53 PM

      There will probably be a lot more of Agapanthus to love in the coming weeks, Susie.

      Delete
  5. organicgardendreamsMay 4, 2015 at 10:30 AM

    Dear Kris, I like both of your vases very much! The Arthropodium cirratum is sooo... beautiful! The flower combination of the second vase is just awesome, I would have never thought about putting flowering cilantro in a vase, but it looks fabulous.
    Warm regards,
    Christina

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 4, 2015 at 12:58 PM

      The Arthropodium might work for you in San Diego too, Christina. It's quite drought tolerant and, although it will survive in full sun conditions, it does better in at least partial shade. I've never found it locally but it's readily available by mail order through Annie's Annuals & Perennials.

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  6. Janneke May 4, 2015 at 10:37 AM

    Lovely combination of flowers in both vases. The arthropodium cirratum is a wonderful unknown plant to me, and I never saw Solanum in a vase. Very nice!

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 4, 2015 at 12:59 PM

      Thanks Janneke. Arthropodium cirratum deserves more exposure - it's a wonderful plant, at least in my climate and drought-tolerant too!

      Delete
  7. M/S DesignMay 4, 2015 at 10:48 AM

    What lovely Mother's Day bouquets!
    Recognize all flowers except Arthropodium cirratum.
    My favorite that I usually have in the garden is Coriandrum sativum.
    Best regards
    Mariana

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 4, 2015 at 1:04 PM

      I've grown Coriandrum before too but never though of using it in a vase. It's a little messy but still nice.

      Delete
  8. outlawgardenerMay 4, 2015 at 11:16 AM

    Both are lovely and a wonderful tribute to the three women about whom you were thinking and all mothers!

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  9. Mark and GazMay 4, 2015 at 11:24 AM

    I love the airy look on both arrangements Kris. And a very lovely tribute too :)

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 4, 2015 at 1:06 PM

      The Coriandrum is responsible for the airy quality. Who needs Queen Ann's Lace!

      Delete
  10. TexasDebMay 4, 2015 at 11:29 AM

    What a sweet gesture! I'm sure all three women would agree...

    I've got a lingering fondness for agapanthus from when we lived in Northern California. They don't like the Texas heat and I miss them a great deal. Both vases display your usual good choices, but due to my sentimental attachment to agapanthus, I'm really loving that second one (plus I'm a sucker for blue flowers in any form!).

    If you do let your cilantro set seed the finches will love you for it. If you harvest any, try toasting them to use in any dry rub for pork or seafood either one. The mildly sweet nutty flavor of fresh coriander is absolutely delicious. And it always feels extra "cheffy" to be using herbs/seeds from your own garden.

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 4, 2015 at 1:09 PM

      The cilantro is already forming seed so hopefully the finches will have time to enjoy it. I was going to pull it to make room for sunflower seeds but perhaps I'll just plant those around the Coriandrum, which the heat here forced into an early bolt. I'll pass your cooking suggestions on to my husband - he's the chef in the family.

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  11. Anca TîrcăMay 4, 2015 at 12:25 PM

    I like all the flowers you have used for the 2 vases although they are unknown to me. Thanks Kris for sharing your personal thoughts and creativity!

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  12. chlorisMay 4, 2015 at 12:30 PM

    I love the frothy effect of your arrangements this week Kris. The Arthropodium is particularly gorgeous.

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 4, 2015 at 1:15 PM

      The Arthropodium is one of my personal favorite plants, Chloris. Not only are the flowers beautiful but the foliage also forms large, attractive clumps; it's drought tolerant; it can survive in sun or shade (although it prefers partial shade); and it divides easily. I must have a dozen plants already and more in need of dividing. Its one problem is snails but, in my garden, the raccoons keep those within bounds. (Yes, raccoons do serve a purpose - I admit it.)

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  13. Julie@peoniesandposies.comMay 4, 2015 at 1:56 PM

    What a beautiful tribute to these three women on Mothers Day. We celebrate Mothers Day back in March here and I do wish it could be later - it is so nice to have such beautiful flowers for the day. I can see that your garden must be looking very summery - will there be any flowers left in California when we arrive in July or will most things have gone over?

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 5, 2015 at 10:48 AM

      There are always flowers, Julie, although in July they may be on cactus. Just kidding. I took a quick look at my July 2014 Bloom Day post and I featured more than 30 flowering plants. I hope you have a good time but, when you pack, keep in mind it's likely it'll be very warm!

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  14. AnonymousMay 4, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    How lovely to create your vases as a tribute in this way - they are both beautiful, especially the second one. Using the coriander has certainly got lots of us thinking... Thanks for sharing

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 5, 2015 at 10:49 AM

      The coriander is working out well in the vases, Cathy - as long as you don't shake them and send the petals flying.

      Delete
  15. Jean CampbellMay 4, 2015 at 4:20 PM

    Lovely tribute for Mother's Day.

    Agapanthus! I am going to approach Agapanthus differently next year and treat it as a potted plant. I realized yesterday that the one potted one that has a bud is also a seedling. Come fall I'll be digging the regulars.

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 5, 2015 at 10:51 AM

      You get more winter cold than we do I think, Jean, so pots may be the way to go in growing Agapanthus. I'm sure they'll love your summer weather!

      Delete
  16. Amy@SmallSunnyGardenMay 4, 2015 at 5:50 PM

    Really lovely vases, Kris, and a lovely remembrance for Mother's Day... I'm hoping to put in some agapanthus when I start the north border next fall - it's such a refreshing plant/flower to have around! And it makes a beautiful vase, which I didn't know ;-) I love the lightness of your first arrangement, and it looks so "right" with the slender vase.

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 5, 2015 at 10:53 AM

      Agapanthus are so widely grown in SoCal, I think many people dismiss them as ordinary but they're quite beautiful, especially when they come on en masse as they do in my garden.

      Delete
  17. danger gardenMay 4, 2015 at 9:54 PM

    The sentiment behind your arrangements took my back to my childhood. I so wanted to buy my mom flowers for Mother's Day, but she has horrible allergies and flowers are a big no, at least not cut flowers, some garden blooms make the grade.

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  18. AnonymousMay 5, 2015 at 7:15 AM

    A lovely idea to dedicate your vases this week, and the first one is simply lovely photographed outdoors. But then I adore Coriander flowers! (Have you ever tried eating them, just as they unfurl their petals? They are delicious!) I also like the effect they add to the second vase with the statice. Enjoy your flowers and memories this week Kris. :)

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    1. Kris PetersonMay 5, 2015 at 10:55 AM

      I've eaten cilantro, Cathy, but I haven't tried eating the flowers. I'll have to remedy that oversight!

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  19. HELENEMay 5, 2015 at 6:51 PM

    Beautiful, both of them! And a lovely tribute to all mothers :-)
    I love blue flowers and your second vase is absolutely gorgeous.

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  20. Evan BeanMay 5, 2015 at 10:21 PM

    What a beautiful homage to those three women. The second vase is particularly lovely.

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  21. UnknownMay 6, 2015 at 7:57 AM

    Great idea to use coriander flowers! A lovely tribute too :)

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  22. AnonymousMay 12, 2015 at 6:17 PM

    I always love your flower arrangements and usually learn something from them. One of my faults is trying to cram too many different things into one vase; I'm hoping to learn from your examples to simplify, simplify, simplify! -Jean

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