I don't have many red flowers in the garden but I have quite a lot of pink so, thinking ahead to Valentine's Day, I fixated on the pink flowers, starting out with the flowers of
Grevillea sericea (aka pink spider flower), blooming for the first time since I planted it in November 2016. I soon realized that there was a blue undertone in those
Grevillea flowers, which complicated the selection of suitable companions. As last week's chartreuse vase was still in perfect condition, I'd intended to create just one big Valentine's Day vase but, as some of what I cut clashed with the rest, I ended up with 2 vases (as usual).
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| The flowers of the Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia x blakeana) weren't the starting point for this vase but the smaller, softer flowers called out for a strong floral contrast and the ivy geranium flowers (Pelargonium peltatum) I'd cut for that purpose didn't fit the bill |
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| Back view, dominated by New Zealand tea tree flowers (Leptospermum scoparium) and the dried berries on the Auranticarpa rhombifolia foliage I'd cut while pruning on Saturday |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: foliage and berries of Auranticarpa rhombifolia, Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold'. Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy', Grevillea sericea, Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl', Hebe 'Wiri Blush', and, in the center, Bauhinia x blakeana |
The leftovers went into the vintage vase I found back in January while shopping with a friend in Ventura.
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| The vase is a woman's manicured hands with flowered ruffles at her wrists |
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| Side view |
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| Clockwise from the left, the vase contains: Pelargonium peltatum 'Pink Blizzard', Cuphea x ignea 'Starfire Pink', and Iresine herbstii 'Brilliantissima' |
Last week's vase with the chartreuse
Aeoniums still occupies the dining table so the big Valentine's Day vase landed on the front entry and the smaller vase sits on the bedroom mantle.
Putting the big vase on the entryway table with a chair next to it is somewhat risky on my part. The bobbly bits of
Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy' could be awfully tempting to a certain cat.
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| She just looks innocent! |
For more Monday vases,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Have a happy Valentine's Day!
All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Oh those innocent kitties....I adore the first pink lush vase with so much color in one of my favorite vases of yours! And then the leftover material in the vintage vase was a wow too! So romantic and perfect deep pink colors all work so well together....Happy Valentine's Day and thanks for adding color to my wintry day.
ReplyDeleteWhen I brought in what I'd cut and plunked in a jar of water, I was none too sure I was going to be able to make anything much of it but I was genuinely pleased by the result this week.
DeleteWow, your Valentine's day arrangement is stunning. I love those Itsy Bitsy flowers, who can blame the cat if she finds them irresistible?
ReplyDeleteGenerally speaking, Pipig only attacks plants and flowers when she feels she's being ignored, which doesn't mean I don't occasionally find arrangements knocked over. She's yet to actually break a vase, though, so I can be thankful for that.
DeletePerfectly pink for Valentine's Day. The Hong Kong Orchid Tree blooms are spectacular! Shame on you for insinuating that your adorable kitty might not be totally innocent.
ReplyDeleteThe kitty has become especially demanding of late, frequently appearing at my desk to squawk at me for serving up the wrong kind of food. After years of preferring poultry, it seems she now wants fish.
DeleteShocking pink today. There is so much to see here. I hope it isn't rearranged by any innocent cats.
ReplyDeleteThe "innocent" cat had slept most of the day as cats like to do but we're coming up on her dinner time, which is often when things get dicey.
DeleteI love both your vases and Pipig (hope that is right) will as well. Your blakeana Bauhinia is really different from my B.purpurea, betting yours was selected for foliage! Fingers crossed for a gentle rain to fall in your garden and carpet it with Bauhinia petals.
ReplyDeleteThe tree came with the house so I can't lay odds on the selection criteria, Amelia. It's litter prone, like my much maligned mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) but I'm willing to forgive it that trait in this case.
DeleteSo pretty! Love those hot pinks. Pipig is such a pretty kitty - I love her eyes!
ReplyDeleteI keep telling Pipig that "pretty is as pretty does" but she doesn't listen...
DeleteLove both of these Valentines bouquets! Have you used the Bauhinia x blakeana flowers in a vase before! They’re so exotic.
ReplyDeleteI've use the Bauhinia flowers a few times before but always on short stems as I recall. Unfortunately, they don't last long in a vase.
DeleteHot pink, nice! Happy Valentines to you as well!
ReplyDeleteThe arrangements didn't start out hot pink but they certainly ended up that way, thanks to the Bauhinia and the Pelargonium blooms.
DeleteKris, I can see how the Gomphrena would be tempting--I really like the way you used it for lovely effect. My architect daughter in LA just sent me a photo of Hong Kong orchid she took at a home site where the landscape was being installed (all mature size trees and shrubs for immediate effect apparently!) and I recognized it from your vases.
ReplyDeleteThe Bauhinia is a flashy tree, at least in flower, and it seems to love this dry weather we've been having.
DeleteI didn't even recognize the Pelargonium until you id'd it. I love how your vases always have two dramatically different sides.
ReplyDeleteDressing up both sides of the arrangement is often the result of having cut more than I needed to start with, Linda.
DeleteBeautiful colours this week Kris. And just right for Valentine's Day. :) The orchid tree must be quite spectacular when in bloom!
ReplyDeleteWhat's extraordinary this year is how long the orchid tree's been blooming, Cathy! Rain knocks out the blooms but, as we've had little to none of that this winter, the tree has bloomed practically non-stop since November.
DeleteHi Kris, You have so many wonderful blooms. I'm falling in love with pink flowers. I think they're more romantic than red flowers. You created wonderful arrangements with your beautiful pink flowers.
ReplyDeleteI've very little few red flowers but somehow seem to have accumulated a good amount of pink, at least at this time of year. I'd like to chalk that up to good planning on my part but I think it's pure serendipity.
DeleteThat such a charming arrangement..and what a novel vase.
ReplyDeleteThat vase with the manicured hands came from a thrift shop. I couldn't pass it up when I saw it!
DeleteBeautiful!! They look very professional. :o)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tammy!
DeleteI love your Valentine's vase, who couldn't! I just sowed some Gomphrena this morning I haven't been able to find Itsy Bitsy but have sown the white I had last year and one called 'Fireworks' I do hope they will be as good as yours.
ReplyDeleteGomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy' (sometimes also sold here as 'Little Grapes') isn't widely available even here, Christina, and I've yet to see the seed offered anywhere. Who knows why some varieties are widely available and others aren't!
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