A friend and I took off on an excursion to our favorite Orange County garden center on Saturday. This particular garden center has a wide selection of indoor decor, which I usually steer clear of, preferring to invest every dollar I have to spend on plants. But my friend enjoys checking out all the store has to offer and this time I broke from my standard operating procedure. As it turned out, we both bought plants but I was the only one who bought anything inside the store. I brought home a vase. The store carried 3 vases of the same size and shape in different but coordinating finishes and I was sorely tempted to bring home all 3 but I reeled myself under control. This is exactly why I try to stay out of such stores - limited will power.
In any case, the new vase called out for blue flowers. Finding a single stem of
Ceanothus already in bloom sealed the deal. I'd planned to stick to a blue and white palette but, although the vase is relatively short (about 7 inches tall), the stems I collected were generally shorter still. So I ended up adding bright yellow Iceland poppies to the mix to get the extra height the arrangement needed.
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| Front view showing more yellow and white than blue |
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| The shorter blue flowers feature more prominently in the back view |
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| The yellow poppies hog the scene when the vase is viewed from the top |
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I stuffed a surprising number of plant stems down the 2.5 inch throat of this vase:
Top row - Anemone coronaria (a cheat as the stems came from newly purchased plants), noID Ceanothus, and Globularia x indubia
Middle row - Lavandula multifida, Osteospermum '4D Silver', and Papaver nudicaule
Bottow row - Ranunculus (the first one to bloom), Pyrethropsis hosmariense, and Salvia cacalifolia
(Included but not highlighted - Chrysanthemum paludosum, now classified as Mauranthemum paludosum) |
There's a second vase (of course). Two of my largest
Leucadendrons are going nuts and it's almost impossible to ignore them when passing through the garden.
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| Front view |
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| The back view could have used some dressing up but I ran out of time |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, this vase contains: Leucadendron salignum 'Chief', L. 'Wilson's Wonder', noID Narcissus, and Zantedeschia aethiopica |
That's it for my interior decorating this week. For more Monday vases,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
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| The new vase sits in the front entry, accompanied by blue bird salt-and-pepper shakers inherited from my mother-in-law, and the second vase sits on the dining table, having evicted the only somewhat bedraggled vase with the Leucadendron stems created 2 weeks ago |
All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Such bounty, Kris. and blue and white is always a winning combination but the poppies adda whole new dimension. And what a perfect Zantedeschia that is in your second vase - they so easily get bedraggled or dirty here and it's rare to see them as perfect as this, in my garden anyway!
ReplyDeleteThe Calla lilies came with the house, Cathy. The plants disappear completely in late spring when our temperatures begin to soar but, when the rains arrive, they return looking just perfect - their bloom cycle is only just beginning now. What's really surprising is that most of them grow on our mostly horrible back slope.
DeleteGorgeous, I would have found that vase irresistible as well! The lavendar is spectacular and I envy your Iceland Poppies. You make me want to garden in California!
ReplyDeleteI adore Iceland poppies too. Although some people use them as winter bedding plants here, I haven't been all that lucky with that since our drought went into high gear but I planted them in my raised vegetable planters turned cutting garden and they're doing nicely there this year. I expect the extra rain we've received has helped a lot there.
DeleteI love the blue/yellow combo - gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam!
DeleteI wouldn't have been able to resist the blue vase either Kris; no need to feel guilty, you've put it to very good use! White and white always work well together. All your flowers look very fresh, they obviously appreciate the rain.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, Christina, I'm feeling less guilty than sorry that I didn't buy the other 2 coordinating vases too!
DeleteBlue textured vase is a delight!
ReplyDeleteIt's just the right size too! I've accumulated a good supply of vases over the years but many of them are just too tall for the flowers I cut from my garden. Perhaps if I had a husband who brought me bouquets of long-stemmed roses on frequent occasions, I could make better use of the tall ones but, as I don't expect a change in behavior there, I think I should retire some of my giant vases for more usable ones.
DeleteGorgeous!!! I regret not having the climate for ranunculus and anemones - so envious. The poppies really add a bang to the arrangement. Leucadendron are such great plants. I love your garden!
ReplyDeleteRanunculus and anemones grow well here, Eliza, provided that they get adequate water, which hasn't been so easy to supply in recent years. I don't think any of my anemones bloomed last year but I've already seen some tell-tale foliage emerge this year in response to the rain, hence the purchase of a few more. Hope (for good winter rain in future years) springs eternal!
DeleteI'm so glad you treated yourself to that vase, it's a beauty and you've already put it to good use. Oh and those Leucadendrons...so so so lovely. Jealous!
ReplyDelete'Chief' and 'Wilson's Wonder' have the splashiest flowers in the Leucadendron genus I think.
DeleteI'm turning green with envy looking at all these stunning, exotic flowers of yours, Kris. All vases are beautiful, the yellow poppies are going so well with the blue flowers. The vase itself was a good choice, well done. Best wishes, Annette
ReplyDeleteThanks Annette!
DeletePerfect combinations, all of them!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anca!
DeleteGorgeous new vase, I'm not surprised you couldn't resist. Your photographs showcase the flowers wonderfully. As ususal my favourite are the poppies. I love to look at all your colour. I'm so excited to be 2 weeks away from seed sowing!
ReplyDeleteSouthern California may be short on water but we do get an early jump on spring, Alison. Best wishes with the seed sowing!
DeleteThe vibrant colors of your winter blooms help to cheer this less-colorful-here season. Love the new vase and, as always, admire your skill with flowers!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind a wee bit of a winter gardening break - maybe one timed with the year-end holiday festivities - but I don't think I'd like dealing with the extended winter challenges you face up north, Peter. Best wishes for an early spring!
DeleteI love the new vase and the blue/ yellow is my favourite combination. What a wonderful array of gorgeous blooms in both your lovely vases. How amazing to be have so many stunning flowers to pick.
ReplyDeleteOur climate does offer some advantages! Knowing how you like warm temperatures, I'm sure you'd enjoy those we've had this week in the low to middle 70sF (21 to 24C).
DeleteGorgeous combinations as always, and that vase is lovely!!
ReplyDeleteThanks guys! Everyone seems agreed the vase was a good buy ;)
DeleteAs usual you have found some lovely flowers and combined them beautifully. I love the new vase - it signals to me blue skies and sunshine with little white fluffy clouds. Aren't those yellow poppies gorgeous?! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the yellow poppies but wonder why only the yellow and an occasional orange have bloomed thus far...
DeleteI just realised how long it is since I have been here, had to have a browse through some past posts :-)
ReplyDeleteYour vases are lovely and I am always struck at marked difference in type of flowering plants you and I have during December and January - I guess that's when we have the biggest difference in climate - that and August perhaps? My Zantedeschia flowers non-stop from April to late September, almost the opposite to yours then!
Take care,
Helene
It's good to hear from you, Helene! Yes, the Calla lilies here are mostly gone by April/May as the plants die down and gradually disappear altogether, only to reappear in December or so, when the rain arrives. In August, when your garden is still in its summer glory, mine is in full retreat.
DeleteAnother thumbs way up for the vase, and the flowers are great. Wilson's Wonder, whoo-hooo!
ReplyDeleteI hope 'Wilson's Wonder' loves your garden too, Hoover Boo!
DeleteI think your new vase is gorgeous -- and even more so with that beautiful flower arrangement.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jean!
Delete