While there are lots of plants in flower in my garden, there are precious few blooms suitable to show off in a vase, if that makes any sense. For most of the last week, the heat bore down and, with the heat, flowers shrivel quickly. With a few exceptions - the
Gaillardia, the
Coreopsis and the sunflowers - nothing much is blooming en masse either so this week I focused on small vases.
Using just a few stems of 3 different plants, I created a peaceful blue arrangement in a 4-inch tall cut-glass vase.
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| Front view |
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| Top view |
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| The vase includes (from left): Campanula primulifolia, a variegated no ID Caryopteris and a no ID Duranta (probably D. erecta 'Sapphire Showers') |
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| This vase landed on the mantle in the master bedroom |
A selection of pink flowers, starring the
Eustoma grandiflorum that began its second round of bloom as the heatwave kicked off, filled a stem-less wine glass.
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| This vase contains (clockwise from the left): Eustoma grandiflorum 'Echo Pink', Abelia x grandiflora, Grevillea 'Pink Midget' (a recent acquisition), Zinnias and Leucadendron 'Pisa' |
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| This vase is sitting in the front entryway |
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| The flowers too small for the wine glass were tucked into a tiny 3-inch vase |
As the red sunflowers in the vegetable garden are still coming on strong I cut some of those again for the dining room table.
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| This arrangement is virtually identical to the one I created last week except that I tucked in some orange Zinnias with the Abelia |
The marine layer returned this morning which should keep today's temperatures down. If we're lucky, the pattern will hold throughout the week, making everyone around here less cranky and giving my flower supply a chance to recover before I face the garden next week to identify what I have befitting a vase.
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she and other gardeners have found in their summer gardens.
All material
© 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Again they are all lovely, but the first blue arrangement is delightful, cool and airy. Whenever I see blue flowers I know I want more in the garden.
ReplyDeleteI admit that the blue one is my favorite this week too, Christina. I wish I'd added more of that variegated Caryopteris when I found it but, having had problems with Caryopteris in my old garden, I considered the addition an experiment.
DeleteKris you have outdone yourself even given few blossoms...that first vase is just beautiful and I love the airy nature of it with those lavender blooms...all the vases are lovely.
ReplyDeleteSimpler was definitely better in creating that blue vase, Donna.
DeleteI hope you get cooler weather, we've had unusual heat up here too. The blue vase is just exquiste, so delicate and lovely colors. The Duranta is so pretty with the lighter edges to the petals. The Eustoma really makes a great centerpiece for the other vase, and the Leucadendron makes a great foliar element. The tiny blue vase is really cute, I like the silver trim. I wish my "red" sunflower looked like that, it is more of a brownish orange. Great vases!
ReplyDeleteWe had a rather dramatic change in temperature today, Hannah, with the return of the marine layer, which is still hanging on to an extent this afternoon, keeping our high hovering around 80F - a big change from 103F 2 days ago. That deep red sunflower has been the source of much discussion as the seed packet (called "Drop Dead Red") was supposed to produce a mix of reds but, thus far, all of the flowers have been that same deep, dark red which starts out nearly brown.
DeleteAs ever your flowers and flower arrangements are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny!
DeleteYou wouldn't think blooms were in short supply when you see these vases - you must be thrilled to have these to bring inside when it is so hot and dry outside. All lovely, but the blue ones especially so - stunning... Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThe temperature has dropped significantly since yesterday, Cathy, so we're already breathing easier. It's nonetheless lovely to have flowers inside - even I can't believe what a habit it's become, thanks to the impetus of your meme.
DeleteBeautiful as ever, and especially liking the relative simplicity of the blue floral arrangement :)
ReplyDeleteThat's my favorite this week too!
DeleteThose dark sunflowers continue to be fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThe yellow sunflowers have pretty much pooped out but the reds keep on coming. I've completely turned my opinion around on them - based on sheer vigor, they've earned a place in next year's summer garden.
DeleteSo creative, all of them! I hope they will bring you joy during the week!
ReplyDeleteThey will, Anca!
DeleteI love the blues! Our Duranta isn't blooming now; I think it received too little attention earlier in the season, but it's nice to know it can continue through summer. A great combinations with the Eustoma and zinnias... and I'm liking those dark red sunflowers more and more... ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat Duranta, which has been in a large pot since we moved in over 4 years ago (having come from our old garden, where it was in a small pot), was flowering only lightly and sporadically until I started dumping graywater collected from the kitchen sink on it once a week or so. It's thriving now!
DeleteLook at you creating no less than four beautiful arrangements with "precious little."
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just my perspective that's messed up. I compare everything to spring.
DeleteThe shortage of suitable flowers doesn't show in your arrangements, Kris. They're all beautiful, though the first one is definitely my favorite. We had a too-brief return to normal temperatures in the 75-85 range. Now we're expecting more days of 90+. But this morning was cool and there were low layers of fog just above the ground. It felt like fall. I know others dread it, but I love fall. I'm even more impatient for it this year with all the planting I have to do.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for a quick end to your latest heat surge, Evan. I'm really, really hoping the intense heat is over here but I know that's unlikely as October is, quite often, one of our warmest months. I love fall too - it runs neck and neck with spring as my favorite season.
DeleteWho says you need a huge arrangement to make an impact? These little displays are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI'm very fond of my little blue arrangement this week. It's holding up well too.
DeleteI thought the blue one was just perfect, so cool and pretty...but then there were more. All delightful.
ReplyDeleteI've been getting carried away with the weekly arrangements, Noelle...
DeleteI love the blues, they are so serene but I'll admit to a soft spot for zinnias as cut flowers. They are so doggone adorable with their cheerful pops of color. I love them in every arrangement and think they bring that fresh from the garden appeal that other potentially commercially available "as" cut flower plants might not.
ReplyDeleteHope your temperatures stay moderate and that we ALL get the rain we need!
I had such a bad experience with Zinnias grown from seed last year that I almost didn't bother with them this year, Deb. I'm glad I caved and bought some 6-packs to stick in the raised planters in my vegetable beds with the sunflowers. The error last year was putting them in my garden beds as they didn't get enough water. I've been lavishing the raised planters with my stored rainwater and everything has performed so much better than last year. My plan is to plant more intensely from seed next year in the same space.
DeleteHello Kris,
ReplyDeleteThank you for leaving a comment on my blog, which is how I found yours. So glad you did as I look forward to following along on your garden adventures.
Your arrangements here today are beautiful! It is a privilege to be able to select so many wonderful flowers from your garden to make so many little arrangements around your home. Good things come in small packages and I feel that way about flower arrangements too.
Once again, thanks for introducing yourself through your comment at Chronica Domus.
Thanks for visiting my blog! Historically, I've always preferred small flower arrangements but I've gone bigger of late when my garden had been flush with flowers. However, as the supply dwindles, so does the size of the arrangements.
DeleteYour vases are always so professional and lovely. This blue one may be my all time favorite. Love the blues, the individual flowers and the photos.
ReplyDeleteThat blue vase is near the top of my list too, Susie. I love how the colors of those 3 plants came together, especially as I had no preconceived notion of which plants to combine when I stepped into the garden.
DeleteYour vases are always so pretty. On the rare occasion I cut any flowers to bring inside, I just stuff them in a mason jar. Yours are much classier. :o)
ReplyDeleteCreating vases can become an addiction, Tammy. I'm living proof.
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