Last week I said I stopped myself from putting together a fourth vase in shades of blue and purple so, this week, I started my search of the garden with purple and blue in mind. There are still plenty of flowers to choose from but, as I stepped out the back door, I fixated on the Dutch
Iris in bloom alongside the fountain and locked into a color scheme from that moment.
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| Front view with the Iris taking center stage - I couldn't bring myself to cut the second blooming Iris stalk but the one I cut has a second bud about to bloom |
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| The vase looks very lopsided from the back because I couldn't get that wide stem of Limonium perezii to cooperate and chose not to hack it into pieces |
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| The top view highlights the silver and chartreuse colors of the Leucadendron |
As the bright purple flowers of
Limonium perezii are in bloom in areas throughout the garden, they were a natural choice to fill the vase, as were the gold
Freesia blooms that have popped up everywhere. The silver and chartreuse blooms of
Leucadendron 'Pisa' were a wild-card addition. I'm not sure they really mesh with the other flowers but they did lighten what was otherwise a heavy color mix, especially with the dark vase, so I kept them.
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Iris x hollandica, Coleonema album with Solanum xanti, Freesia, Leucadendron 'Pisa', Limonium perezii, and Narcissus (noID) |
In the past week, there's also been a surge in the volume of hot pink blooms so I made up a second vase to showcase that color scheme too.
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| Front view with the Schizanthus stealing the focus from the Callistemon on the left |
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| The top view gives each flower its due |
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| Clockwise from the left, the vase contains: Callistemon hybrid 'Hot Pink' with Alstroemeria (noID), Argyranthemum frutescens, Ixia (noID), Prunus laurocerasus, and Schizanthus pinnatus |
The first vase sits in the front entry.
The second vase sits on the mantle in the master bedroom.
And the vase created around the
Cymbidium flower stalk
4 weeks ago, which I
refreshed last week, is back on the dining room table.
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| The Coleonema and Leptospermum stems I cut last week are a bit withered but the Cymbidium looks virtually unchanged |
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, the host of this popular weekly "IAVOM" meme, to find what other gardeners have scrounged up to use in their vases.
All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Kris I was swooning over the purple and yellow vase, and then I saw the pink one...wow! You have so much beauty ion your garden that I am glad you share it weekly!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember spring being quite this colorful last year. It may be temporary but, at the moment, I really do think I need a better flower-foliage balance - or at least a simplified color scheme.
DeleteI feel just the same as Donna - the first vase was a real eyeful of colour but the the second just emphaised the bounty you have at the end of March. Both gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteEverything does seem to be trying to bloom at once. My garden is starting to feel a bit too much like a kaleidoscope but I don't imagine it will last.
DeleteDear Kris, I love both of your "new" vases this week! I like that you are going with color schemes rather than picking colorful bouquets, which, of course, sometimes can me nice, too. The blue vase appeals most to me, but that is because I love the color blue so much. The dutch iris is absolutely stunning and it goes so well with the gold freesia. I think it was a good choice to pair these two with small delicate flowers as a contrast.
ReplyDeleteYou are really tempting me to go out into my garden right now and pick a small bouquet, too! Really enjoyed your post!
Warm regards,
Christina
You should join the Monday vase brigade with your beautiful roses, Christina!
DeleteYour garden must look like a festival. Both vases are lovely but the blue one is really singing to me. Beautiful Dutch Iris. I have a few just about to open and can't wait. I really like the Leucadendron--don't think I've seen that color before.
ReplyDeleteI want to have something in bloom year-round, which is entirely possible in SoCal, but I seem to have over-achieved my goal in spring. The Leucadendron surprised me with its spring blooms - last year it bloomed much later.
DeleteBeautiful as always, the dining room orchid is amazing and the range of plants in your garden is just fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI now understand why so many prom corsages are made using Cymbidium orchids. They're like the energizer bunny of flowers - they keep on going and going...
DeleteEach one of your arrangements is more beautiful than the one before. We are supposed to get snow this week, so not much to see in my garden!
ReplyDeleteSo much for an early spring out east! I hope the warmth arrives soon, Linda.
DeleteOur flowers seem to fall in the same color schemes this week, Kris, though I enjoy the addition of your lovely yellow freesias I don't have, along with many other plants. I enjoy the Statice making such an exciting froth of purple, matching the intensity of the iris. And the pink vase is fabulous, I didn't realize Schizanthus had colors and the patterned standard to match Alstroemeria so well, they are gorgeous together. The Ixia picks up the same color too, such lovely flower selections you have. And you must have gotten more rain.
ReplyDeleteOne of the common names for Schizanthus is "poor man's orchid" - the flowers do have the same fantastic detail you see in some orchids. The plugs I planted earlier hated the heat we got in February but the cooler March temperatures have refreshed them somewhat.
DeleteMy iris are blooming too. Lovely color combos, yet again!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had more of the Dutch Iris. The few I have are leftovers from a handful of bulbs I planted the first year we were here. I don't think they bloomed at all last year but the rain arrived at the right time this year.
DeleteThat iris deserves to be a star; what a beautiful color! -Jean
ReplyDeleteIt is gorgeous. I wish I'd planted more.
DeleteI loved your blue and yellow vase, but then I came to your pink vase with Schizanthus, alstroemeria and callistemon – all my favourite flowers at the moment - what a lovely combo! And the cymbidium is absolutely gorgeous. I Googled it, but can’t see it available here despite its very British name – however, it would probably not like my radiator heated house in the winter, and it would be too cold for it outside so alas, no cold-growing orchids for me yet. I need a greenhouse!
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you have such an abundance of flowers already, over here spring is a bit long in the tooth. Chilly still, especially at night.
You do need a greenhouse, Helene! I don't remember where I got that Cymbidium but it has bloomed reliably for me. The name 'Sussex Court Not Peace' is odd but I wasn't able to find any explanation for it on-line.
DeleteOh, how nice! A Swedish bouquet! I LOVE it! :)
ReplyDeleteBlue and yellow do make a great combination!
DeleteGreat combinations of colours, Kris, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Anca!
DeleteI'm so envious of the Alstoemea; I sowed seed in January but NOTHING! I will have to try to find some plants because I think they will grow here. I love both of this week's vases. Isn't it wonderful to fill the house with flowers? Did you always cut flowers before this meme?
ReplyDeleteI cut flowers regularly from my former garden, although I'd gotten out of the habit during the first 2 years in our current house. I picked it up again in connection with 2 other blog memes before finding "IAVOM." As I recall, you were the link that provided that connection, Christina.
DeleteGorgeous per usual, Kris. The pink vase is so cheerful with its daisies and bright pinks, a great thing to spy first thing upon awakening!
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad my poor color-blind husband can't fully appreciate that pink vase!
DeleteThey are both lovely as always Kris! I especially love the colours in the first vase though. You have picked out the colours of the centre of the iris so well with the yellow freesia and yellowy green Leucadendron.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy!
DeleteLike everyone else I love both the bouquets! The Dutch Iris is beautiful and the pink bouquet is just brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThey both have considerable staying power too.
Delete