I headed out into the garden with the intention of cutting stems of
Barleria obtusa to use in this week's arrangement for "In a Vase on Monday," the meme hosted by Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden. I did make up a small vase using the
Barleria but this week it's the unplanned arrangement, created on the fly, that makes my heart sing. It features an anonymous lavender rose I inherited with the house. To the best of my recollection, this is only the second time it's produced a bloom all year. The bloom was full blown when I cut it so it may not last long but I'll appreciate it while it lasts.
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| The best guess thus far is that the sweetly scented lavender rose is 'Angel Face' |
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| In addition to the lavender rose featured in the top row, the vase contains a white rose (also unidentified), Pentas 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom', Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy' (aka 'Little Grape') and Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' (not included in the collage photo) |
The second vase with
Barleria obtusa as a focal point didn't turn out as I'd envisioned it. The
Barleria has relatively short stems, which flower from base to tip. Using it in an arrangement requires stripping the lower blooms to create a clean stem to place in the vase, which seems a pity so I cut just 2 stems and used a short vase. I'd intended to stick to blue and white flowers but, with white blooms in short supply in my garden at the moment, I tucked in a few pink flowers to fill out the vase.
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| Front and back views |
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| I like the view of the vase from the top best in this case |
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| The vase contains (clockwise from the left): Barleria obtusa, Cuphea ignea 'Starfire Pink', Leucanthemum x superbum, Pelargonium reniforme, Pittospormum tobira and, not shown in the collage, Duranta 'Sapphire Showers' and Lobularia maritima (aka sweet alyssum) |
The second vase sits in the front entry. The first sits on the dining room table, where we can enjoy its scent.
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she and other gardeners have in their vases this week.
All material
© 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I love the pink blobby things in the first vase, Kris - what are they? They and the other bits are such a subtle background to the pretty rose. Second vase is lovely too - fresh and light and airy.
ReplyDeleteThe blobby things are Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy', Cathy. It does look like a mobile or a mock-up of a solar system far, far away, doesn't it?
DeleteTwo fabulous vases with that wonderful rose and tiny Gomphrena....and I loved the greenery with the small flowers....always wonderful to see the variety of unusual blooms you grow and use Kris.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna. The Gomphrena was a last minute addition but it does add some verve.
DeleteLovely vases, both of them but my favourite is the one with that gorgeous rose and what Cathy calls ' the blobby things'. I just love those blobby things.
ReplyDeleteThe blobby things (aka Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy') do add an element of fun and the unexpected to what otherwise would be a fairly conventional arrangement.
DeleteLove the gomphrena, like pink constellations around your arrangement!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great little plant. Actually, the plant itself can grow quite large - it's just the flowers that are small.
DeleteFresh and inspiring vases, Kris, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anca!
DeleteBoth vases are lovely Kris, but I have to go with the one that makes a singing heart. That is a beautiful rose and I love the use of the Itsy Bitsy gomphrena.
ReplyDeleteThe Gomphrena seems to be the winner this week as far as my vases go. Thanks Susie!
DeleteThe blooming season in my garden is pretty much over, so I am very much enjoying the beautiful blooms you've featured in these arrangements. -Jean
ReplyDeleteWe're still stuck in summer, Jean. I keep dreaming that one day fall will arrive...
DeleteI can almost smell that lavender rose! And the Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy' is a perfect accent.
ReplyDeleteThe rose is wonderful in every way. I just wish it'd bloom more often. I suppose more water would help (*sigh*).
DeleteThey're both beautiful but I can see why the first "on the fly" arrangement makes your heart sing! It's a tour of pinks. The rule is that the lighter the color, the more closed and demure the bloom. Okay, got that everyone? White rose, good job, nicely closed. Pentas, just look at you, opening a bit, perfect for your color. Pink rose, great! Flaunt it! Dammit Gompherena, you're breaking the rules all over the place with your dark and tiny flowers flying over the whole business like fireworks! Can't take you anywhere!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, the Gompherena is, a perfect counterpoint to the rest of the elements.
That's an interesting hypothesis, Peter. The Gomphrena does throw rules out the window.
DeleteThe Gomphrena and the Barleria obtusa are both gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cath! I'm rather fond of both myself.
DeleteThat's a gorgeous rose, it does look like Angel Face. The Gomphrena look like little explosions of red fireworks and set it off so beautifully! I like the second arrangement too with the star-like white flowers and riot of little tubular Cuphea. I am going to try growing them next year.
ReplyDeleteThat pink Cuphea has done surprisingly well here in a variety of settings, Hannah. (I have a total of 12 plants, spread in groups of 3 throughout the garden.) I haven't been as lucky with the orange Cuphea ignea - 'Starfire Pink' seems to be at least moderately drought tolerant but it does look best with regular water.
DeleteYou choice of plant material is mouth watering....I love the Airy Batchelors' Buttons...its as if you have painted an imaginary flower arrangement and added just the perfect accents to complement the larger blooms. Your second vase beats a room scenter any time.
ReplyDeleteThat Gomphrena is a keeper, Noelle!
Deletethat is just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kara!
DeleteOh fabulous vases both Kris. The lavender rose is a most attractive colour and I'm also bewitched by the bobbly bits. By the way the mathiasella featured in my vase comes not so far away from you as it hails from Mexico so I imagine it would be happy just over the border :)
ReplyDeleteI found a listing for the Mathiasella on the site of one of our "local" plant wholesalers (in Santa Barbara, about 2 hours away). Their site says they aren't offering the plant to retailers at present but are looking at putting it back into production so it may not be available immediately but I'll be keeping my eye out, Anna.
DeleteBoth your vases are a joy this week, Kris; I tried to comment when I first read your post but I've been having trouble with uploading anything this week. The problem seems better now (fingers crossed). I enjoy how we sometimes start off with one idea and that leads to something completely different.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen such a pretty and delicate Gomphrena before Kris! It is so lovely and adds a kind of floatiness to your first vase. Looks lovely with the rose and I especially like the Leucanthemum in your second vase too.
ReplyDelete