Monday, December 28, 2015

In a Vase on Monday: Blog Anniversary Bonus

Tomorrow, December 29th, is the third anniversary of my blog.  I started it on the fly in 2012, roughly 2 years after we took possession of our current house and garden.  I expected the blog would lend some discipline to the process of recording changes to my garden and it's served me well there.  This year, it's captured my struggles with California's severe drought and our new water restrictions, entailing the removal of our remaining lawn and the selection of more drought tolerant plants, as well as our ongoing effort to meet the challenges of our city's "view conservation" ordinance, which necessitated the removal of yet another tree.  But as much as I value the chronicle it provides, I value the input and support I've received from other bloggers even more.

So, as I considered how to express my appreciation to those who read my blog, I decided to "say it with flowers" using this week's "In a Vase on Monday" post.  I culled all my vase posts for the past year and selected 16 of my personal favorites.  Here they are:



I hope you'll keep reading my blog and offering thoughts and suggestions.  My universe of gardening buddies expanded beyond my wildest expectations when I started blogging and that means more to me than words - or flowers - can say.

Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, the host of "In a Vase on Monday" to see what she and other bloggers have put together this week.  Not wanting to break my continuous streak of contributions, here's what I cobbled together from my garden this week:

This week's vase contains: 2 heavy-headed 'Medallion' roses, Leucadendron salignum 'Chief' and Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' which has turned a rusty reddish color, perhaps in response to our unusually cold temperatures


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

  1. danger gardenDecember 28, 2015 at 8:50 AM

    Gathered together like that your 16 favs look like a fabulous florists website. One where you'd go to pick a bouquet to send to a friend.

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 28, 2015 at 7:58 PM

      And the succulent vase would be for you, Loree! Sorry, I've yet to try one featuring agaves.

      Delete
  2. Jane StrongDecember 28, 2015 at 8:50 AM

    Love the colors in today's bouquet. I'm a sucker for apricot-tinted roses and in late December. O, my! I'm also enjoying the remembrance of bouquets past. I'm overwhelmed with pleasures.

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 28, 2015 at 8:00 PM

      Those roses, from 2 separate shrubs inherited with the garden, came as a surprise, Jane. The blooms are the size you usually see on the first round of bloom in spring.

      Delete
  3. DonnaDecember 28, 2015 at 9:03 AM

    Congrats Kris on this special blog anniversary....and I love the flower gratitude. And this weeks vase is especially lovely with that coppery rose. WISHING YOU many more years of blogging.

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  4. DeniseDecember 28, 2015 at 9:38 AM

    I've learned so much from your new garden, Kris, where you're doing great work in trialing plants to fill some tough growing niches. Congrats on your anniversary. 2016 has to get easier, right?

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 28, 2015 at 8:04 PM

      I hope so, Denise! If we're lucky, we'll get those promised El Nino rains, nicely spaced to allow absorption by the soil. Ample snow in the mountains up north but no mudslides or slope slippages. Oh, and would it be too much to ask for an easing of the water restrictions?

      Delete
  5. Eliza WatersDecember 28, 2015 at 11:12 AM

    I got tingly all over when I opened your post today - so much beauty all on one page! Gorgeous! So glad I found your blog :-) - happy 3rd blogoversary!

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 28, 2015 at 8:09 PM

      Thanks Eliza! You can't imagine how hard it was for me to drill down to 16!

      Delete
  6. The Shrub QueenDecember 28, 2015 at 11:28 AM

    Beautiful, congratulations on your blogiversary, I agree with you about meeting other bloggers, the most fun part!

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 28, 2015 at 8:13 PM

      While SoCal has some passionate gardeners, it can't be described as a garden hub in my estimation so expanding the universe of garden contacts has been a real joy.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 11:47 AM

    Kris, I enjoyed remembering your elegant past vases and your current one is just as lovely. Congratulations on your blogging milestone. I started blogging for reasons similar to yours, but agree the connections and support of other bloggers are particularly valuable.

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 28, 2015 at 8:14 PM

      Little did I know I'd still be blogging 3 years after that very tentative start but it's great to have the opportunity to connect with people like you, Susie.

      Delete
  8. Diana StuderDecember 28, 2015 at 12:44 PM

    Happy third blogaversary!
    Gathered together your vases are so varied, and you have my favourite - with the succulents!

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 28, 2015 at 8:16 PM

      I was originally going to give the succulent vase a larger spread here, Diana, but I decided I was going overboard. I imagine there will be other succulent vases in the year to come.

      Delete
  9. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 12:59 PM

    It's so impressive when you see 16 like that - and especially all those lovely lisianthus! Garden bloggers all seem to be so friendly and supportive and I am sure blogging has exceeded the expectations of most of us. Best wishes for another year of blogging!

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 28, 2015 at 8:18 PM

      Your meme has encouraged a particularly supportive vibe, Cathy, and I think you're the driving force there. Thanks!

      Delete
  10. rusty duckDecember 28, 2015 at 1:47 PM

    Many congratulations Kris. It's been fascinating to see how your garden has developed and continues to do so. And I'm still ever so envious of that view.

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 28, 2015 at 8:22 PM

      I may post a photo of the night view later this week, Jessica. It's glittery quality fits in with new year's celebrations, although my camera (and my photographic skills) may not be up to the challenge.

      Delete
  11. sandra dDecember 28, 2015 at 2:10 PM

    Congratulations!! So wonderful to see the 16 all together.

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  12. HannahDecember 28, 2015 at 2:43 PM

    Congratulations on your 3rd blogiversary, Kris! Your 16 vases are so lovely and varied in flower and color, and all so wonderfully arranged! Those Lisianthus really do look wonderful, sadly I was discouraged looking at information about growing them and won't try. But I can look at yours. I love your peachy roses, my favorite color and so big and full. The Leucadendron and Abelia make such great accompaniments with their complementary colors.

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 28, 2015 at 8:28 PM

      Eustoma/Lisianthus are usually grown as annuals even here. I've gotten them to bloom again a second year but after that they seem to lose their vigor. I'm intimidated to try starting them from seed myself as germination is a challenge but I noticed that Burpee is offering plants in 6-packs this year and I may try ordering some. They even have a double form in pale green!

      Delete
  13. AnonymousDecember 29, 2015 at 4:58 AM

    Your vases are always really beautiful Kris. Congratulations on your anniversary!

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  14. Anca TîrcăDecember 29, 2015 at 8:05 AM

    Happy blog - anniversary, Kris! I love your selection of vases, I did the same at the end o last year and will do it again these days.
    Have a great year 2016!

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  15. AnnaDecember 29, 2015 at 2:38 PM

    Many, many congratulations on your third blogging anniversary Kris! I'm so glad to have discovered 'Late To The Garden Party' via Cathy and look forward to seeing more of your fabulous vases in the new year.

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 31, 2015 at 8:53 PM

      Thanks for visiting Anna! I'm glad to have a peek at gardening in the UK through your blog too.

      Delete
  16. M/S DesignDecember 30, 2015 at 7:25 AM

    Beautiful bouquets !! everyone!
    A happy new year
    From Sweden Stockholm
    Mariana

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  17. organicgardendreamsDecember 30, 2015 at 12:55 PM

    Dear Kris, congratulations to your third blog anniversary! It is amazing to me how many beautiful and unique bouquets you got to cut from your garden in the last year. And your newest creation is no exception. I love the orange roses together with the bronze colors of the supporting filler plants. Just wonderful! Of course, I am biased, but I think roses as cut flowers are heard to beat ;-)!
    Happy New Year to you!
    Christina

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 31, 2015 at 8:56 PM

      Those roses never fully opened in the vase, Christina, which is very odd. Maybe the house was too cold!

      Delete
  18. Amy@SmallSunnyGardenDecember 30, 2015 at 7:57 PM

    That's such a spectacular retrospective of vases! I'm sure it was hard to pick and choose as you've had so many winners. Congratulations on the anniversary - time is a different thing in the garden, and it's great that you've been able to record the changes. Though I agree that the encouragement is often more important than the record, and I have so appreciated yours :)
    I love your Medallion roses; they're so elegant! And the abelia's response to the weather is quite attractive. Still waiting for the cold to lift here too!

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    1. Kris PetersonDecember 31, 2015 at 8:58 PM

      It was somewhat warmer here mid-day, Amy, but nights and mornings have still been cold by our standard. I'm looking forward to the promise of rain next week and I hope you get some too!

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  19. Evan BeanDecember 30, 2015 at 8:13 PM

    Happy blog anniversary! You've made many stunning floral arrangements, and I love the colors of your latest, too. I'm looking forward to watching your garden develop and reading about your exploits.

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  20. chlorisJanuary 1, 2016 at 3:38 PM

    Congratulations on 3 blogging years Kris. It is always a delight catching up with your garden and what a delight to see that I am not the only one who had no restraint when it comes to plant buying. Plantaholics of the world unite!
    I love your collage of vases, all of them so pretty.

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  21. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2016 at 7:40 PM

    What a great way to celebrate your blog anniversary. I always enjoy your flower arrangements, so this collection was a treat. -Jean

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  22. outlawgardenerJanuary 3, 2016 at 10:05 PM

    Happy anniversary, my friend! Thank you for sharing your gardening adventures with us. Your arrangements are always a treat as are all of your posts!

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