It hasn't been really hot here yet so, despite the fact that the official start of summer is just days away, the garden is still flush with blooms. I'd originally planned to cut some blue flowers but they weren't what called to me when I stepped into the garden on Sunday to make my selections for "In a Vase on Monday," the weekly challenge hosted by Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden focused on creating arrangements from materials found in one's own garden. The hot corals, oranges and reds drew me and I ended up with an arrangement that practically sizzles. I started off with stems of
Grevillea 'Superb', a shrub that literally blooms year-round in my garden.
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| As usual, I stuffed my vase fuller than I'd originally intended but there's a LOT in this color range in my garden |
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| The tubular Bignonia capreolata were a last minute addition. I'm not sure they'll last long in the vase but they do make a dramatic statement. |
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| The Cuphea and Coleus are elements I don't commonly use in vases either |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: Achillea 'Moonshine', A. millefolium 'Appleblossom', Bignonia capreolata, Cuphea 'Vermillionaire', Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun', Grevillea 'Superb', and, in the center, Plectranthus scutellariodes 'Campfire' ( aka Coleus 'Campfire') |
Blue flowers would have created a nice balance for the hot colors of my first vase but the dahlia I brought home from my local garden center two weeks ago is already sporting a number of mature blooms. The heavy head of one unsupported flower had already broken its stem so I elected to feature
Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill' again this week. Upon close examination, I noticed that one of the dahlia stems had produced an odd double-headed bloom.
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| I should have photographed the mutant dahlia stem before I stuck it in a vase so you could see the fused stem leading up to the two-headed flower. This appears to be yet another example of fasciation, similar to that I found in two of my Agapanthus stems last week. |
The choice to cut the dahlia blooms also prompted me to cut the last of the snapdragons in my cutting garden. After weeks of damp mornings due to persistent
"June Gloom," the snapdragon foliage was covered in rust so they had to go. Due to the cool weather we enjoyed in May and early June, I'd delayed clearing both the snapdragons and my sweet peas from my cutting garden, which in turn delayed planting many of my sunflower and zinnia seeds. Hopefully, they'll still have adequate time to grow before the heat here becomes brutal.
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| In cutting the dahlia stems long, I gave up several ancillary buds but my hope is that this will prompt the plant to produce new stems |
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| This is another instance in which I almost prefer the back of the vase to the side I'd designated as the front |
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| Top view, showing that I also overstuffed this vase |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill', Abelia grandiflora, Antirrhinum majus, Leucanthemum x superbum' Dorycnium hirsutum, and Pandorea jasminoides |
For more Monday vases,
visit our host, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
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| The "hot" vase sits on the dining room table and the "soft" vase in the front entry |
All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Those tubular flowers are wow!! The whole vase is like fireworks exploding. And the second the vase is just jammed with goodness especially the pink Dahlia. Hot here today in the 90s and heat index of 100....yuck! But the cooler weather is right behind it for a week.
ReplyDeleteYuck, indeed! We haven't had temperatures climb to that level recently but it's only a matter of time...
DeleteKris I think that the owners of a flowershop will aske you to work for them. Your bouquets are so gorgeouse. My compliments.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day
That's a job I might be willing to take, Marijke!
DeleteYes, such warm colours in that first vase, Kris - and that leucanthemum is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThe Leucanthemum seem to be doing remarkably well this year, Cathy. There are suddenly good-sized groups of them in them in a few different areas of the garden.
DeleteI love the Bignonias! and have the same Gallardias. Still working on Dahlias here. Yours are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, Bignonia is a thug here, Amelia. I planted it in my former garden and said I'd never grow it again but this plant came with the garden. Its reach stretches into my neighbors' gardens on 2 sides at the bottom of my slope. No one complains, though.
DeleteKris, I like your sizzling vases today. That overhead shot of the first vase is terrific. Gorgeous dahlia. Just got my zinnias planted this week and they're coming up. The seed was from 2017 so wasn't sure they'd germinate. It is extremely hot here now (96F). No rain. Boo hoo.
ReplyDelete96F is horrid! I expect our turn is coming but it remained pleasant here today.
DeleteI can't imagine how you can keep cutting flowers every week and still have something left in the garden. Your arrangements are always so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThere probably won't be much left by the time September comes around, which is when I usually start wiring succulents to use in a vase, Jenny. A lot will depend on how well my sunflower and zinnia seeds grow.
DeleteGlorious abundance! The red/orange bouquet is eye-popping, but pleasantly so. And the pink dahlias are luscious. The green of the vase is a nice soft contrast. I do love your arrangements, Kris!
ReplyDeleteI do love that new green vase. In addition to being pretty, it holds a lot of water, eliminating the need for constant topping off.
DeleteI enjoyed seeing your Grevillea ‘Superb’, Kris, it’s very aptly named. Both of your vases are splendid: I look forward to seeing what you conjure up each week.
ReplyDelete'Superb' is a spectacular performer here, Jane. Since it reached its current size, it's never stopped blooming. 'Ned Kelly' and 'Peaches & Cream' bloom year-round here too but not with the same profusion.
DeleteVase one is the winner for me ! You may end up with roots on that Coleus after a week in the vase.I don't think I've ever tried Cuphea in a vase, I'll have to give it a go when mine start to bloom. They die back all the way to the ground here so I probably won't see blooms for a few more weeks.
ReplyDeleteIf the coleus roots, I'll pot the cutting up, Kathy. It's one flashy coleus and, with some care, it'll over-winter here. That particular Cuphea is tougher than any of the other orange varieties I've grown. The stems are stiff, though, which is why I haven't used it in a vase before.
DeleteThat two-headed Dahlia is really fascinating! I was going to say wowza with the first arrangement, but then the second one is even more impressive--although I love them both! I noticed that we are quite a bit hotter than you are right now. We'll have a cool-down in the next few days, but the Midwest summer heat is in full swing now. We really get the extremes--more than people realize, I think. Lovely, lovely arrangements, as always!
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that I've now found fasciated stems on 3 different plants in my garden - signs that the environment is getting tougher for everything and everyone. I hope you get the forecasted cool-down - we're expecting a warm up.
DeleteHi Kris, your vases are awesome especially the first one as I'm a sucker for hot colours. Would love to see your borders some time. The Bupleurum fruticosa is ideal for dry gardens as it comes from Southern Europe. Being evergreen it looks quite attractive all year. Try the seeds by all means. My head gardener is on the mend, thank you. She got bitten near the eye but was very lucky. Happy summer days, Annette
ReplyDeleteYou'd be welcome to visit should your travels ever bring you this way, Annette. I'm glad to hear your head gardener is recovering. Thanks for weighing in on the Bupleurum too.
DeleteHi Kris, both vases are beautiful and so completely different too. The first reflects the weather as it was here just a week ago - hot, hot,hot - but it's now so much cooler as reflected in the second. I could do to grow some of the Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun' to brighten up my drenched and windblown borders.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that the heat has moderated in your part of the world, Elizabeth. Warmer temperatures are on their way here but, hopefully, there will be no scorching days for a while yet.
DeleteFlowers in the home are one of the great joys in life.
ReplyDeleteI think so too, David. Thanks for visiting my blog!
DeleteI love the hot colours you use Kris; I think that when there is bright light the bolder colours look better in the garden. In England with its cool grey light, softer colours always seem to be favourite. The second vase is lovely too, I like the pink Dahlia and how you combined it with the other blooms.
ReplyDeleteI preferred softer pastel shades in my former tiny, shady garden but I agree with you that the sunnier, drier and more exposed area of my current garden call for stronger colors, Christina. It took me a while to accept that adjustment, though.
DeleteWell done as always. The hot arrangement is so full and wonderful. Of course I'm a bit green with envy at your Grevillea 'Superb' blooming year round!
ReplyDelete'Superb' is also beloved by both bees and hummingbirds, Peter. I have 2 smaller specimens which seem to be taking their time filling out but I look forward to the day they're as robust as my older, mature shrub.
DeleteI must admit everything is kind of a blur after reading “Grevillea 'Superb', a shrub that literally blooms year-round in my garden...” I think my head is going to explode at the thought.
ReplyDeleteSoCal does have its positive attributes, Loree, at least if you can get over the lack of rain.
DeleteOnce again two gorgeous vases. The first one looks like a summer party vase and I love the solid red of the Coleus leaves in the middle. :) Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThat coleus was a great find, Hopefully, I can keep it going here by rooting cuttings.
DeleteThe new dahlia in the new vase - which has such an inspiring mix of colours - especially the subtle jade / sage green.
ReplyDelete