I missed out on "In a Vase on Monday" last week as I was in Texas for the
Garden Bloggers' Fling. I threw together a vase mid-week because I'm now so used to having fresh flowers in the house, it didn't feel like home without them. Although I'm still trying to catch up on the back-log of items on my "to-do" list, taking time to put together another couple of vases on Sunday was just part of getting back in the groove heading into the new week.
Alstroemeria 'Claire' provided the impetus for the color scheme of my first vase.
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| The color combination here is a departure from my usual reliance on complementary colors. The burgundy specks in the Alstroemeria's petals prompted me to include red elements to punctuate the white and yellow flowers. |
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The tall spires of Sideritis syriaca cypria (aka ironwort or Cretan mountain tea) were a last minute addition |
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| In addition to the Sideritis, the Dr. Seuss-like flowers of Phlomis fruticosa (Jerusalem sage) and Salvia lanceolata (rocky mountain sage) gave the arrangement a quirky touch I liked |
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Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: Alstroemeria 'Claire', Antirrhinum majus 'Black Prince', Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey', Phlomis fruticosa, Salvia lanceolata, and Sideritis syriaca cypria. The burgundy-flowered snapdragons have lovely dark, almost black, foliage, which unfortunately doesn't show up in the arrangement. |
I saw lots of pretty larkspurs during our garden tours in Texas so it was a natural choice for my second vase this week. My plants were grown in my cutting garden from seed my brother harvested from his garden last year. I've never grown larkspur before and wasn't sure it would do well here but it germinated and grew without any problem in my well-watered raised planters. I'll definitely sow it again this coming fall. (Thanks Eric!)
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| I'd thought the foxgloves would be the dominant feature in this vase but, when I discovered just how much this new vase could hold, I added a hefty stem of the mid-blue Delphinium to the mix |
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| Back view |
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| This was another hard vase to photograph from above, even standing on a chair |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, this vase contains: noID Delphinium planted from plugs, Consolida ajacis (aka Delphinium ambiguum) grown from seed, Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmation White', Coleonema album, and Coriandrum sativum (aka cilantro that's bolted) |
I'd intended to place the tall vase on the dining room table but I'm so in love with my first vase this week that I had to have it where I could admire it with my breakfast so I swapped the positions of the two vases.
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| The vase on the right is a new one, picked up at West Elm when I attended the South Coast Plaza Spring Garden Show late last month. I pulled one of the cat figurines I collected years ago as an accent. |
All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Both vases seem quite different from your usual colour schemes. I liked them both but your Delphinium startled me because I don't associate it growing in your climate; you've made me realise that I would love to have a couple in my cut flower beds, even if they only produce a few stems, they are so beautiful and mixed with the larkspur the impact is even stronger.
ReplyDeleteDelphiniums are annuals here, Christina. The garden centers sell the plants but I've always steered away from them, considering them a poor value, especially given the water they require. However, I've allowed myself to water the 3 raised planters in my cutting garden more than other areas of the garden. Still, the Delphiniums won't last long once our temperatures climb for periods more than a couple of days at a time.
DeleteWelcome back! I adore the first vase and you filled it beautifully....of course the whimsy of the second vase cannot be outdone with those stunning purple flowers.....two fabulous vases!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Donna. I think I've missed just 2 IaVoM posts since I started with Cathy's meme, both absences related to the Garden Bloggers' Fling.
DeleteLove that gorgeous larkspur Kris. Haven't been able to grow it myself. The color is divine. And I love the first vase. The greens in the vase are picked up nicely by that cool Sideritis syriaca--interesting form.
ReplyDeleteThe ferny larkspur (Consolida ajacis) was all over Austin, Texas and my brother's had success with it as an early spring bloom in his inland valley location here in SoCal so I'm not sure why I was surprised I could grow it too. However, success did require more water than the main portion of my garden receives, at least in this low rain year.
DeleteI think your first vase is my all time favorite, the color and textures especially the Cretan Moutain tea. I may try some Larkspur since you can grow it, always had it in Atlanta. And poppies.
ReplyDeleteI can't grow poppies to save my life but larkspur doesn't appear to be a problem, at least as long as I ensure the seeds get sufficient water to germinate. Larkspur was literally all over Austin - I can't remember seeing a garden that didn't have some.
DeleteI love that first vase: quite an art nouveau shape, and the arrangement complements it so well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane. That vase was a birthday gift from my husband (last year or maybe the year before). I did point him in the right direction, though.
DeleteThat first vase is one of my favorites. It seems to go with everything and is such an excellent shape to hold things. I don't ever remember seeing the other vase. It's too charming and perfect for all the blues.
ReplyDeleteThe second vase is a new buy, Linda. I picked it up when a friend and I attended on Orange County "garden show" held at a local mall late last month. This is the first time I've used it.
DeleteLove the quirky touches in the first vase and the towering blue regal feel of the second. Although I love Delphiniums, they don't like my garden here but they grew beautifully for me in Alaska.
ReplyDeleteWhen I visited Alaska years ago, I remember how surprised I was at just how much grew there during the long, long days of summer. The plants grew so big too! The growing season may be short but gardeners take full advantage of it.
DeleteOh look at all of those blues. What a pretty arrangement. I like the shell motif of the first one too. So many joyful colors.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa. I was pleased with both vases this week.
DeleteLove your cat vase, looks like something I would pick up. Has Pipig forgiven you for leaving her for those few days at the Fling? Cats don't like a mix up of staff. ;)
ReplyDeleteStandouts this week are the blue delphinium and purple larkspur - between slugs and rabbits, growing these are beyond me. And I love the quirky Sideritis and the Salvia lanceolata is an unusual shade of dusty pink. You grow some cool things!
Pipig completely ignored me upon my return home but she's back to her routine of waking me up every morning (as soon as my husband opens the bedroom door) by licking my face!
DeleteYou have the most interesting vases. I love the pairing of the cat figurine with the cat vase, and I love the quirkiness of the other vase, including the unusual flower combination it holds. I always am drawn to things with a touch of weirdness! The fact that you successfully grew Larkspur encourages me to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteThe cat vase was an impulse purchase, Deb, but it's a good size and I expect I'll get a lot of use out of it. It also helps that it was inexpensive!
DeleteLove that Sideritas ! I have to say I don't recall ever seeing Delphiniums in your garden. I used to grow them every year but I couldn't bear to cut them.
ReplyDeleteI've never grown Delphiniums of any kind in this garden, Kathy, believing that they'd need more water than I could provide them. Confining a selected number of thirsty plants to my cutting garden (which gets more water than the larger garden) has freed me to grow some things I've previously refused to try.
DeleteI’ve seen that Sideritis syriaca in numerous places, and even a few vases, recently. I’m falling more and more in love with it. I love both of your vases and regret not getting “back in the groove” enough to do my own vase this week. Maybe next!
ReplyDeleteSideritis seems right up your alley, Loree. I'd admired the plant in Denise and Hoover Boo's gardens so I ordered some of my own last year (or maybe 2016) from Annie's.
DeleteOh I hope you had a wonderful time at the fling, Kris, meeting new bloggers and reacquainting yourself with others. I like your description of the phlomis in the first vase :) and the result is indeed stylish. I can see whay you wanted to have that one in the most prominent place, although I do like the blues in the second. In the UK larkspur isn't always easy to germinate
ReplyDeleteI had low expectations for the larkspur, Cathy, and was frankly surprised to find that the seeds I scattered so casually grew so well.
DeleteI love the way you've themed the colors of the first vase from the Alstroemeria! Also those 'Dr. Suess' touches - wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy! Dr. Seuss plants seem made to order for SoCal ;)
DeleteI love the shape of your first arrangement this week, perfect for that vase and a great mix of colours too. But that Delphinium has got me today - sigh... gorgeous! I can't grow them as the slugs adore them! So I just admire other people's! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, Cathy, but I'd always assumed that gardeners in colder, wetter climates than mine could grow Delphiniums with ease while I could not. I wonder how many other of my gardening assumptions need to be tested!
DeleteOh I hope that you enjoyed the Fling Kris. It sounds a most enjoyable event. Both beautiful vases of flowers. The cross-eyed fish gazing cat made me smile.
ReplyDeleteThe cat vase appealed to me too, Anna. It was an impulse buy but inexpensive.
DeleteBoth lovely of course. But the rich blues has to be my favourite and I love your new vase.
ReplyDeleteI only wish the Delphinium wasn't falling to pieces already! It doesn't help that I have in in the front entry and that the wind gusts through the door every time it opens.
DeleteBelatedly here I am! This is a great design for your first vase. Very pleasing. I love the deep blues in the second and blue and white is always elegant. I can never grow cilantro well, it always bolts quickly but is very pretty and put to good use here.
ReplyDeleteI know you're busy, Alison! The cilantro bolts readily here too but I get my best use from it in flower arrangements.
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