Many of my recent In a Vase on Monday posts have led commentators to remark that my flowers conjure images of summer. Well, this week it feels like summer here. Our temperatures have veered into the 80sF, some 20 degrees above what's "normal" for this time of year here - we're expecting a high around 85F (29C) today - and it's as dry as dust, with red flag (fire) warnings once again in effect. So, if you see summer when you look at my vases, I won't argue with you.
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| Grevillea 'Superb' set the color palette for this vase |
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| In retrospect, the vase could have used more splashes of the gold color provided by the Lotus berthelotii featured in the back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Calendula 'Bronzed Beauty', Grevillea alpina x rosmarinifolia, Leucadendron 'Blush', Lotus berthelotii (gold form), Pyrethropsis hosmariense, and, in the center, Grevillea 'Superb' |
Once again, my second vase features colors at the other end of the spectrum.
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| New blooms on the Osteospermum 'Violet Ice' in my front garden set the stage for this vase |
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| The back view shows the brownish red color on the back sides of the flowers of Osteospermum 'Berry White', which is echoed in the flower spikes of the 'African Blue Basil' |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, this vase contains: Osteospermum 'Berry White', O. 'Violet Ice', Lobularia maritima, Lotus jacobaeus, Ocimum hybrid 'African Blue Basil', and Erigeron glaucus 'Wayne Roderick' |
Much as I'd like to see cooler weather and rain, it's probably a good thing that it's warm and dry. My husband has a project going, one that involved drilling a hole through the wall at the front of the house.
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| All I said was that our upright vacuum is very heavy to use and now my husband is installing a central vacuum system that involves tearing into walls and ceiling soffits |
There may be some rain coming in mid-February. Hopefully, the project will be done by then.
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what other IaVoM contributors have got in their vases this week.
All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
So gorgeous Kris...each vase a blissful sight. I will keep good thoughts for some relief in temps and rain. But it seems your blooms are happy. You know I adore purple so that is my fav this week!
ReplyDeleteThe blooms should stay happy (or, at the very least, content) so long as I can water them regularly, Donna. My fear is that the spigots may be turned off one day, figuratively by further restrictions on irrigation, if not literally.
DeleteLove the summer vase, of course...it has all my favorites! And wow, your husband is on it when it comes to projects. I am impressed.
ReplyDeleteAll I was really looking for in this case was a lighter vacuum, not a home remodel, Loree!
DeleteYour word is his command......
ReplyDeleteThe arrangements are wonderful, with such a wide range of blooms.
I admit I have a list of "suggested" projects, Noelle, but only those that somehow strike my husband's fancy seem to reach the top of the list, and then only with his own particular spin on the solution. Why projects that involve cutting holes in walls and crawling through our tiny attic fit that spec, I can't say!
DeleteNot sure which is more impressive — your vases or the vacuum system. Wow, we will all want a complete report when it's done.
ReplyDeleteWe had a central vacuum system at our old place but it came with the house, probably included during its construction. I admit I did like it but I never considered retrofitting a 67 year old house to accommodate one. That was all my husband's idea.
DeleteHoly crap! What is it about men? They take these comments and run with them. Pipig must love the mice access hole. I love the red arrangement!
ReplyDeleteI got nervous when I saw Pipig inspecting the hole in the wall - you never know what kind of trouble a cat can get into and we already have enough problems with her bringing in lizards from her screened porch. I requested a temporary cover as a precaution.
DeleteI'm sorry your weather is still so trying and dangerous too. The lotus is spectacular and such a contrast to the cool blues. You clearly need to be careful what you say in future. I hope you get your rain!
ReplyDeleteIt was such an innocuous complaint on my part, Alison, or so I thought anyway. We inherited my mother-in-law's vacuum and it's ridiculously heavy as well as unwieldy.
DeleteMy husband is the same. Always trying to improve things whether they need it or not. It comes from a good heart though!
DeleteThat's true of my husband too. At least this project hasn't involved a lot of cursing (yet).
DeleteWould you please send your husband over this way??? Actually, mine does ALL the house cleaning (he loves it!) and is very good at it, so I shouldn't utter a word! Your flowers are unreal. So so refreshing and lovely for this very gray time of year in most of the country!
ReplyDeleteCalifornia does have its pluses, Libby!
DeleteOoh, that really does look like summer Kris! It conjures up images of the beach, sandals and fruity drinks. :) I especially love that Calendula.
ReplyDeleteYou would have been very happy in shorts and a tank top on the back patio today, Cathy. Our temperature did indeed reach the mid-80sF.
DeleteI thought the hole and the blue tape wasan artwork at first!! YOur husband sounds just as industriou as the Golfer. I particularly like your second vase today, with those complementary shades of osteopermum - do you feel cooler looking at them?
ReplyDeleteWe needed more than flowers in cool tones today, Cathy, Our heating/air conditioning system was set on automatic and today's high temperature actually triggered the AC. That's ridiculous for January!
DeleteOh my! So gorgeous. I do like the effect of that gold Lotus berthelotii in back of the first arrangement. Sorry you haven't had rain Kris. We're way below normal here--it's especially evident when we drive over the nearby lakes. Yesterday and today we did have rain, but it's stopped now and turned very cool and wintry again.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the extended forecast, we could get rain in a couple of weeks but so many of those predictions have fizzled, it's difficult to put any faith in them. The weather extremes seem to be getting worse and worse all over the world - floods in Paris, heavy snow in the southeast US, hurricanes, etc.
DeleteOh your vases definitely shout out summer to me Kris. I was getting excited as our temperatures hit double figures yesterday for the first time this year. Did you grow that calendula 'Bronzed Beauty' from seed ? I like the look of it and your vase including 'African Blue Basil' reminds me that I have some plug plants of it heading my way in a couple of months :)
ReplyDeleteAs it was too late to sow Calendula seeds for winter blooms here, I picked up 3 small plants a couple of months ago but I do have some seeds of another variety, 'Zeolights', on hand to sow for summer blooms. 'African Blue Basil' is an excellent plant here - I hope it does as well for you!
DeleteI've found out that it goes under a different name here Kris but I've now ordered some for spring sowing. Have not heard of 'Zeolights' so that's one to investigate too :)
DeleteLet's see,your husband has an engineering/design background? Never met a woman who didn't love her central vacuum- Enjoy and a handy man is a great thing. ( I have learned to finish drywall- husband architect!) Flowers do look like Endless Summer,Well? you have inspired me to buy Osteospermum. Wait for photos.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has a science degree but, yes, worked as an engineer. All these projects are interesting puzzles from his perspective I think, although some involve more swearing than others...
DeleteI look forward to seeing your Osteospermum. Plants in the '3D' and '4D' series work best in a vase as the flowers of the species O. ecklonis generally close under low light conditions.
Oh gosh, I wish I could take a quick trip out to San Diego. 80s and many flowers sound so wonderful right about now! Your vases are stunning, as always.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, for those of you in wintry climes, Beth, 80F probably sounds like heaven. I wish I felt that way. I do love clear blue skies but I'd still gladly exchange a few of those for one good day of steady, gentle rain.
DeleteWhat a sweet man your husband is to do this! For your sake I hope the rain holds off until the project is done. When you're ready, just say the word and we'll send you some of this atmospheric river that's hitting us at the moment. Gorgeous vases as always.
ReplyDeleteYou'd think that a powerful atmospheric river could climb right over (or at least wear down) a ridge of high pressure, no matter how resilient it might be, wouldn't you! All these weather events are enough to have me envisioning clashes between mythical titans. Well, the atmospheric river titan needs a bigger trident!
DeleteI love your arrangements this week (don't I always??). I just adore the look of Lotus flowers and the Grevillea are stunning, per usual. 85 sounds really good to me about now, but I get that this is so not good for you. Climate is serious business and is not to be taken lightly. I hope some relief is in sight with a return to normal winter weather.
ReplyDeleteYou are so blessed that your hubby is installing a cent.vac. I love mine, it really makes the chore (which I loathe) a lot easier.
We had a central vac system at our old house but it came with the property. I liked the power and flexibility of it and that it didn't involve lugging around any heavy equipment but I never envisioned retrofitting our current, older house to accommodate one. That was all my husband's idea...
DeleteI love how the back of your vase is often different from the front but always could in fact be the 'front'. I don't have anyway to display my vases in the round so I often don't think about the back view at all. Although I love blue flowers it is your first vase that I adore this week. I hope your temperatures cool a bit. Our house walls are about 80 cm (31.5 inches) thick; it is a major job if we have to drill them for any reason!
ReplyDeleteI should probably limit my fussing with the back view to vases that end up on the dining room table, Christina, as those are generally the only ones visible from multiple angles. Although, I will turn other vases around sometimes when whatever I have front and center fades - it's easier than a wholesale clean-up.
DeleteYou always impress me. Can't imagine how large your property must be to be able to grow so many varieties of flowers. Must say you have a creative mind when it come to arrangements.
ReplyDeleteOur property is just over half an acre, on the big side by Los Angeles standards but probably not by comparison to properties in many other parts of the country. However, I do cram plants just about everywhere - only the upper portion of our back slope is still uncharted territory!
DeleteThey are both so pretty, I always enjoy your grevilleas and long to grow them. I even killed the one I had in a pot in the greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteWhat a handy hubby. Mine can do nothing in the house that doesn't involve duct tape.
Oh, we have plenty of duct tape on hand too, Chloris!
DeleteThey both do have a soft, summer feeling :) Not too sure about that 85 degrees - that's even hotter than here at present! And a lath house and central vacuum in quick succession - I must say I think your husband is quite talented!
ReplyDeleteIsn't our weather bizarre, Amy! This has been an extraordinarily warm winter for us. Maybe coastal SoCal IS becoming a desert.
DeleteBoth vases are beautiful. My favorite is the purple one. The dark purple accents from the Lotus really rounds it out, they're gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThat Lotus jacobaeus was a great addition to my garden, sweetbay.
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