Fresh flowers are a prerequisite on Easter Sunday, aren't they? I've always felt so but I was having a hard time getting into the groove early Sunday morning. Perhaps it was the weather. We've been socked in by fog and low clouds every morning for days now but then, by comparison with gardeners facing a snowy Easter, I know I've really got nothing to complain about. Still, it did put a damper on things (pun intended). I set out with my clippers with no idea whatsoever what to cut. Then, as I passed
Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream', I decided it would be nice to pair it with the peach foxgloves currently blooming in increasing numbers in my cutting garden. From there, I was off and running.
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| The arrangement turned out a bit lopsided and no amount of futzing seemed to help, although I suspect that, if I crammed less into the vase, it would've been easier to put things in balance |
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| The calla lilies are finally coming into bloom, two full months later than last year. While I was down on the back slope cutting the lilies, I realized that the bay laurel hedge running along our side of a neighbor's chain-link fence would provide a nice foliage accent so I cut a couple of stems. |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream', Alstroemeria 'Inca Husky', Calendula 'Bronzed Beauty', Digitalis purpurea 'Illumination Peach', yellow Freesia, Laurus nobilis, and Zantedeschia aethiopica |
With my springtime groove back in gear, the pink
Alstroemeria blooming in the backyard border and pink and white
Ranunculus in the cutting garden provided inspiration for a second vase.
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| Feeling lazy, I used the same ornamental teapot I selected last week for my second vase |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: noID pink Alstroemeria, Abelia x grandiflora 'Confetti', Antirrhinum majus, Coleonema album, Coprosma repens 'Fire Burst', white Freesia, and pink and white Ranunculus |
I briefly considered adding the first
'California Dreamin' rose blooming in the front garden to this vase but then thought better of it.
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| The color was right but the bloom was already past its prime and so large that I thought it'd eclipse everything else in the vase |
The Monday after Easter isn't a holiday in the US. Pipig and I have an early morning visit to the vet in store for us, the fact of which she is still blissfully unaware.
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| It's always a toss-up who will be more traumatized by a visit to the vet: Pipig or me |
If your holiday weekend includes Monday, enjoy the day!
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to find more Monday vases.
All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Springtime blooms are such a joy, especially at Eastertime. Good luck with Pipin and the vet (always an interesting experience if your kitty is anything like my Norton). I love ranunculus but have none of my own this year. However, I do have the calla lillies but did not think to use those for my Easter flower arrangements this year. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteMy Pipig did well this morning. Luckily, no shots were on the agenda this visit, just a blood test to rule out any problems as she's now, at 10, considered a "senior."
DeleteGood news for Pipig.
DeleteZoe has introduced us to a new cat problem - immune system attacking her gums - but two injections, and she is back to terrorising Thomas!
Sending calming vibes to you and Pipig! Despite your weather, you've found a way to bring some of the exuberance of your spring garden inside. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it was your calming vibes, Peter, or the calming substance I sprayed in her carrier prior to this visit but, while not exactly happy, Pipig at least didn't seem terror-stricken. And, as she was calmer, so was I.
DeleteI agree fresh flowers are a must any day really....and yes the weather has still been unkind here so no gardening but it is slowly shifting and there are a few blooms braving it.
ReplyDeleteI do love wandering and cutting to create whatever inspires me....what a plethora of blooms you have in both vases which are magnificent.
Much as I find the idea of a winter gardening respite attractive, yours has definitely been much too long this year, Donna. I hope the snow melts, the temperatures warm, and the sun shines bright for you soon.
DeleteI hope Pipig's visit goes well. The most traumatic part of my trips to the vet with Ronin are getting him into the carrier without drawing blood. He has issues with his claws, so he has to go every two months to have them clipped. They say he's very docile about it, but if I tried it here at home, he'd tear me apart.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the Calla lilies would have worked better on their own? They're such a dramatic flower. I'm often tempted to keep stuffing the vase arrangements I've started creating, but then I stop. I'm starting simple. Hope you had a great Easter and didn't eat too much chocolate (I did.)
There are too few calla lilies this year, at least thus far, to make much of a statement on their own. In any case, I'm terrible when it comes to stuffing vases. If I cut it, I want to include it.
DeleteEaster did NOT include chocolate but I must admit chocolate did come to mind during the course of the day. It isn't something I usually indulge in but there still are days that it seems called for.
I did manage to snag a few snowdrops on Sat., but it was a mere 17 degrees when we got up on Easter Morning. Can't wait till I can go out and mix and match flowers to create something approaching your weekly displays. Love that "peachesand cream"!
ReplyDelete'Peaches & Cream' has a spectacular flower. I wish it bloomed half as heavily as Grevillea 'Superb', though.
DeleteTwo such beautiful arrangements Kris and such gorgeous colours. I ĺove this little teapot. We've had soggy Easter weather here but never mind spring must be on the way.
ReplyDeleteI'm imagining spring arriving like fireworks in your part of the world, Chloris. It's been held back so long, I bet it's going to explode as soon as the weather window opens!
DeleteI especially like your pink arrangement!
ReplyDeleteThanks Magpie! That's my personal favorite this week too.
DeletePoor Pipig! I hope the visit is routine and uneventful.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous vases per usual, Kris. Loving the ranunculus (huge!) and calla lilies, which I know are like weeds in CA, but for which we pay dearly here. And the bay laurel - last fall I paid $$ for a fresh branch at a farmer's market, your snippings would fetch a good price! ...location makes all the difference!
It was a routine vet visit, Eliza, and, absent something in Pipig's blood test results, all seems fine.
DeleteThe calla lilies usually bloom en masse but that hasn't happened this year - I'm blaming the truly pitiful level of rainfall we've had. As to the bay laurel, I have a whole hedge of the stuff - my guess is it's probably 25 feet long, 6 feet high and 3 feet wide. I could be rich!
I am consistently amazed by the variety of blooms you have each week! I'm usually scrounging for one vase's worth. I love the Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream'--it's so frilly and fun! I wish you and Pigpig luck at the vet. --Terri, tssoutherngarden.com
ReplyDeleteCoastal Southern California offers a wonderful growing climate, Terri. Our only problem is our still persistent drought.
DeleteOh the grevillia flowers are most intricate and fascinating Kris. I hope that the visit to the vet has gone smoothly as possible. Not an enjoyable experience for either cat or human.
ReplyDeleteI've fallen head of heels over Grevilleas, Anna. The large flowered varieties are the most impressive but even the smaller flowered types are intriguing. All seem to like our Mediterranean climate.
DeleteLovely,I wouldn't be able to pass up Peaches and Cream for Easter, the Lilies give the arrangement almost a flying effect.Very cool. If only I could grow Ranunculus here, just California dreamin' about roses,too. Just returned from the vet, all is well with one dog,my ancient one goes on Weds, hope all is well with Pipig.
ReplyDeletePipig sailed through this visit it seems, Amelia. I hope your "ancient one" does as well later this week.
DeleteSigh, sigh, sigh! So lovely. The foxglove are gorgeous. Hope Pipig's vet trip wasn't too traumatic for either of you.
ReplyDeleteThe foxgloves do SO much better in the raised planters where they get water and fertilizer, something they apparently never got enough of when I tried them in my garden beds, Susie.
DeleteIf your vases reflect the Easter you had, I know you had a good one. They are both beautiful. That Grevillea is lust worthy!
ReplyDeleteI never grew Grevilleas until I moved here, Anna. Now, off the cuff, I couldn't tell you how many species I have, much less the number of plants.
DeleteHmm, that adorable photo of Pipig upstages the flowers (which is saying a lot). I hope you both survived the Vet visit with little stress.
ReplyDeleteI used a "comfort zone" spray on Pipig's carrier before I put her in it this time and it actually seemed to help. She was calmer than usual and, as a result, so was I!
DeleteI love everything about both your vases Kris! The first has such a lovely shape, despite your fear it is leaning - it doesn't have to be symmetrical and I think this adds character. :) The foxgloves are a lovely colour. And the second one is simple glorious - those pink Ranunculus are so very pretty, and the Antirrhinum is one of my favourite flowers. Hope your sunshine returns soon Kris. We are getting some warm spring weather this week. Yay!
ReplyDeleteWe're still getting early morning cloud cover, Cathy, but at least it's now clearing in the afternoon. I'm glad to hear you're finally in store for some warmer weather too!
DeleteSuch beautiful vases, Kris. I love those peach foxgloves. I tried to grow foxgloves in my garden but was unsuccessful, too hot probably and not enough shade yet.
ReplyDeleteI had a miserable time when I tried growing foxgloves in my borders, Jane, but the problem was less a matter of sun exposure and more about water I think. These are late winter/early spring flowers here - they can't handle our summers, even in the shade.
DeleteYou have so much blooming in your garden. Your arrangements are so colorful and cheerful. It makes me more anxious that our area should come into the warmth of spring and early summer. I am so ready to see these lovely colors in my garden. Those white lilies are so "Easter".
ReplyDeleteI was worried for a time that the calla lilies weren't going to bloom at all this year, Lisa. Most of these, planted by another gardener decades before we arrived on the scene, occupy our neglected back slope. I was surprised they grew there at all but our winter rains have reliably brought them back each year. Their late blooms are undoubtedly due to the fact that our rain was both late and light this year.
DeleteP.S. I hope that neither you or Pipig were traumatized yesterday and all is well and good.
ReplyDeleteWe're both fine, Lisa! The visit actually went better than any of those before.
DeleteSo pretty and most romantic to wander through a foggy garden in search of flowers. I think I'll have to give Grevillea a go soon. People grow it not too far from here so I might get away with it. The Ranunculus and Calla are stunning. It'll be a while before mine will flower due to the unseasonal cold. Have a good week, Annette
ReplyDeleteThe weather does seem to be crazy world over this year, Annette. It just manifests in different (but equally nefarious) ways - you get unseasonal cold and we're denied the rain we need. In any case, I hope you see a sustained warm-up soon!
DeleteThe Ranunculus are stunning! The white one reminds me of a cross between a poppy and the perfect camellia blossom, and the pink one reminds me of a rose with extra layers of petals.
ReplyDeleteThe Ranunculus (Ranunculi?) do seem to have different forms, sweetbay. While most are rose-like, a few display looser petal structures and are indeed distinctly poppy-like.
DeleteI know that your climate is hard work because of the constant worry about lack of water but you can grow such an amazing selection of plants. I love the Grevillea start of the first vase, they seem to flower for a very long season for you, Kris. I love both your vases this week and don't think I could pick a favourite.
ReplyDeleteThe larger-flowered Grevilleas - 'Peaches & Cream', 'Superb' and 'Ned Kelly' - bloom essentially year-round here, Christina. They differ only in the volume of blooms, with 'Superb' leading the pack.
DeleteLove the soft palette of whites and pink, gorgeous arrangements as always!
ReplyDeleteThanks guys!
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