A number of people have expressed surprise at seeing roses and other flowers characteristic of summer elsewhere in bloom in my garden. For all practical purposes, coastal southern California has two seasons: a cool season and a warm season. Our temperatures are slowly creeping upward and the garden has responded by going into hyperdrive. My
'Medallion' rose has produced a larger than usual number of blooms, all huge, so it was the natural choice to start with for this week's "In a Vase on Monday," the meme hosted by Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden.
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| Front view |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
The apricot tones of rose initially led me toward more somber colors, like the reddish bronze foliage of
Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' and the maroon flowers of
Salvia lanceolata. The first version of the vase spoke to me more of fall than spring so I sought to brighten it up with some white and yellow blooms.
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| Clockwise from the top left, the vase includes: Rosa 'Medallion' shown fully open; the same rose shown in bud; foliage of Abelia 'Kaleidoscope'; Achillea 'Moonshine'; Anagallis 'Wildcat Mandarin'; Argyranthemum frutescens; Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream'; Grevillea 'Superb'; Leptospermum 'Copper Glow'; and Salvia lanceolata (Not highlighted: stems of Heuchera maxima, recycled from last week's vase) |
It still reads a little more fall than spring to me but so be it. Coincidentally, I received a catalog hawking fall-planted bulbs this weekend so perhaps I'm not the only one that's confused.
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| The finished vase sits on the dining room table, where it can be viewed from both sides |
For more Monday vases,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I found your question pertinent for me too as my flowers are now covered in about 8 inches of snow...it was spring but winter has returned and won't be leaving much before the end of the week...I think the flowers that have come out are doomed...so I will look at your beautiful roses..mine won't be out before late spring in June. I love the peachy color of this one.
ReplyDeleteI hope the arctic blast doesn't take out all your flower, Donna! I know your winter relapse has got to be frustrating.
DeleteI have to admit I have started making a note of bulbs I want to buy for next year, but won't receive that catalogue till nearly summer - just want to make sure I don't forget! You have chosen the perfect accompaniments for your beautiful rose - isn't it a fun part of the process? Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI tucked the bulb catalog away for a time, although I'm committed to adding more bulbs next year too, Cathy. Finding bulbs suitable to my climate is always a challenge.
DeleteRosa 'Medallion' is the most gorgeous color. It's perfect to star in your vase this week. The companions are all carefully chosen.
ReplyDeleteI do love the color of that rose, Susie. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to like life in a vase much so I may let the remainder of the blooms enjoy life attached to their shrubs.
DeleteDescribing your climate as two seasons definitely helps to explain why I am always amazed at what you've put in your vase — this week being no exception. As for blue flowers, I once attended a talk on how to photograph them because they are always leaning one way or the other as you said.
ReplyDeleteMy flowers have to race to bloom before summer-like temperatures take hold, Linda. We're in for a spike in temperatures this week but there's also a chance of rain at week's end so the weather news isn't all bad.
DeleteThese look like summer party colors to me, Kris, not so autumnal. :-) A voluptuous rose that is! These colors would make a great floral fabric for a sundress. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, if only I could convert my floral ensembles into fabric, Eliza!
Delete'Medallion' is such a lovely rose and the flowers are the biggest of them all. Another beautiful arrangement!
ReplyDelete'Medallion' doesn't seem to be particularly happy in a vase, though, Hoover Boo. I don't recall that being an issue previously but then I didn't get many roses at all last year.
DeleteMedallion is my favorite apricot color in roses, such a sumptuous rose, Kris. I love the Grevillea Superb with it, I will have to really consider whether I could risk their hardiness level. Or maybe try to grow one in a pot. I like the coppery Leptospermum with it too, you have so many fascinating flower choices.
ReplyDeleteI do love that Leptospermum. I have 2 and hope I can keep them to roughly their current size but I can already see that may be a challenge.
DeleteLovely! My roses are just getting going... Maybe I should show them pictures if your Medallion to encourage them!
ReplyDeleteHa! I think it's all about rain and its timing, Renee. My roses all performed horribly last year and I don't recall they're doing much better the year prior either. I've been giving them the rinse water from my kitchen sink too to augment the meager rain and irrigation - it's not much but maybe it's making a bit of a difference.
DeleteCoral is a beautiful colour but can be difficult to combine with other colours; you're managed to emphasize the peachy coral tones. Thanks for explaining again about your climate; even here in central Italy I often think we only have two flowering seasons Spring and Autumn as few plants flower in summer and more strangely not that many in winter. I find this very odd because it isn't very cold and in England masses of plants flower then. I hope it doesn't get too hot too quickly for you and your lovely garden.
ReplyDeleteBecause it almost never freezes here, we do get some blooms in winter. Many of the Grevilleas bloom then, for example. I recall that you have at least one Grevillea - maybe you can find a few more to add some winter color.
DeleteDear Kris, I loved seeing your vase this week! 'Medallion' is a very pretty rose. I liked your choice of burgundy colored foliage and the daisy like flowers to go with it. The latter really lighten up the arrangement and give it something playful, just right for this time of the year. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWarm regards,
Christina
There's nothing like a white daisy to lighten up any arrangement, Christina!
DeleteSuch a beautiful rose! My first hasn't bloomed yet this year but they're all leafed out beautifully. I'm no longer surprised by the magic of California gardens, just a bit envious (but not of your drought or those really hot days of summer.) You always have so many beautiful things growing in your garden and you combine them very well! Spring is the best time to get those fall planted bulb catalogs because they're blooming now and you can take note of where you might want to put certain things in your garden for next spring, and go right to the catalog and order them.
ReplyDeleteThe temperatures reached 88.5F this afternoon, Peter, and quite a few plants are evidencing their dismay. My collected rainwater is bottoming out already so I really hope the rain forecast for the end of this week comes through!
DeleteI love the apricot colour scheme you have used in this arrangement, centred round that glorious rose.
ReplyDeleteI was excited to have so many blooms on that rose this year but the roses are happier on the shrub than they proved to be in the vase so I plan to let the rest stay on the bush.
DeleteIt's lovely to see your roses doing so well while mine are only just sprouting fresh shoots! That is a gorgeous colour rose too. :)
ReplyDelete