Monday, September 10, 2018

In a Vase on Monday: 'Loverboy' Bows to the Queen(s)

Dahlia 'Loverboy' was set to take center stage "In a Vase on Monday" this week but he was quickly eclipsed by the presence of local royalty.  This included the queen of vines, Clematis, currently in full bloom on the south side of the house.

Last week, the first flowers of Sweet Autumn Clematis were just starting to open.  This week, the vine is blanketed in blooms. 

Rubbing elbows with 'Loverboy' in the cutting garden, 'Queen Red Lime' Zinnia isn't as flashy but she's taller and more stately in appearance under the hot summer sky.

'Loverboy' started dropping petals even before he squeezed in with his new companions

Back view: Leucadendron 'Devil's Blush' added an edge that 'Loverboy' couldn't match

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher', Clematis paniculata, Zinnia elegans 'Queen Red Lime', Prunus laurocerasus, Leucadendron salignum 'Devil's Blush', another variation on 'Queen Red Lime' and, in the center, Dahlia 'Loverboy'


I'd hoped to give Dahlia 'Punkin Spice' a starring role in one of this week's productions but most members of this group wilted as summer reasserted itself over the weekend so that dahlia too took a smaller role than expected.

'Punkin Spice' literally took a backseat to a showy group of zinnias

Back view: A lone Echinacea served as a bit player

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia x grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark', Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum', Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit', Lotus berthelotii 'Amazon Sunset', Zinnia elegans 'State Fair', Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Salsa Verde' (coleus) and, in the middle, Dahlia 'Punkin Spice'


I've ignored the cool-toned flowers in my garden for the past several weeks.  Both the asters and the lisianthus are looking a little sad now but I thought they deserved attention before they depart for the season so I put them on display this week as well.

Both blue and 'Black Pearl' Eustoma hung out in their beds for weeks, receiving no attention other than an occasional drink

The asters look downright scruffy

Clockwise from the upper left: blue Eustoma grandiflorum (aka lisianthus), Clematis paniculata, Duranta repens 'Sapphire Showers', Eustoma grandiflorum 'Black Pearl', Symphyotrichum chilense, and Veronica 'Purple Shamrock' (formerly known as Hebe)


For more "In a Vase on Monday" action, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  For those of you on the US east coast, stay safe!



All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
at

38 comments:

  1. LINDA from Each Little WorldSeptember 10, 2018 at 9:05 AM

    Your vases are lovely as always. I particularly like the airiness and coolness of the blues. You have the perfect place to display that Clematis. It is such a great plant at this time of year. I don't have one and your photo is the kind of image that makes one rush out to the nursery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 10, 2018 at 7:12 PM

      I had the same Clematis species in my former garden and loved it so it was among the first plants I purchased for my current garden. I had to mail order it as it's not commonly available here. It's taken its own sweet time coming into its own and I was frankly surprised that, in a year in which our rain total was as low as I've any record of it being, it's bloomed especially well.

      Delete
  2. CathySeptember 10, 2018 at 9:31 AM

    Oh such lovely vases, Kris - I really like the shape of the second one but the colours of the last one jump out at me. You always manage to create such different vases and it is a pleasure to see them all

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 10, 2018 at 7:14 PM

      Thanks Cathy. I really hadn't intended to go overboard with 3 vases this week. My justification is that the flowers themselves demanded such attention.

      Delete
  3. ChlorisSeptember 10, 2018 at 12:24 PM

    Three for the price of one and all gorgeous. We have both used the same zinnia this week and pennisetum too. I love your shades of blue and the clematis is beautiful. Oh and Leucadendron 'Devil's Blush' is fabulous, how I wish I could grow it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 10, 2018 at 7:17 PM

      Like the Clematis, that particular Leucadendron has performed especially well this year. As I certainly can't attribute it to our pitiful winter rain total, I suspect that it just took time for them to become firmly established in my garden.

      Delete
  4. Peter/OutlawSeptember 10, 2018 at 12:58 PM

    Loverboy sure gets around! No wonder he's dropping petals. Wonderful arrangements as always!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 10, 2018 at 7:18 PM

      Or maybe 'Loverboy' just suffers from heat stress...

      Delete
  5. Eliza WatersSeptember 10, 2018 at 1:16 PM

    Spectacular all! Love the deep red of L. 'Devil's Blush', the Pennisetum rooster tail in the bright arrangement (reminds me of Mexican art) and the delicate Clematis tendrils throughout - lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 10, 2018 at 7:20 PM

      Thanks Eliza. The Pennisetum are in their prime during late summer and fall - you'll undoubtedly be seeing more of those plumes in future vases.

      Delete
  6. Libby WilkieSeptember 10, 2018 at 2:16 PM

    I love Autumn Clematis: had tons up North and have been to plant some down here. so lovely and at a perfect time of year. Are those 'Queen Red' the zinnias from Floret?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 10, 2018 at 7:23 PM

      I did plant 'Queen Red Lime' seeds from Floret, Libby, but I was late about it and, when they were slow to sprout, I ended up supplementing with plugs from my local garden center. My plants are probably a mix of plugs and seed grown specimens.

      Delete
  7. SusieSeptember 10, 2018 at 6:47 PM

    Kris, your clematis is so gorgeous. I love that first vase especially and looking at the accompanying collage showing all the materials shows how perfectly matched your selections are. So pretty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 10, 2018 at 7:24 PM

      That first vase is my own favorite this week, Susie. I'm happy with how well everything blended.

      Delete
  8. Beth at PlantPostingsSeptember 10, 2018 at 6:58 PM

    'Devil's Blush' is really a looker! You have such a gift with your arrangements, Kris! I like them all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 10, 2018 at 7:26 PM

      'Devil's Blush' really came into its own this year, Beth. I've got a few of them and they're all looking good.

      Delete
  9. debsgardenSeptember 10, 2018 at 7:28 PM

    Three great arrangements! The 'Devil's Blush' in the first vase particularly caught my attention, as well as the Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum' in the second. I also love your clematis. Your garden has such an abundance of great blooms!

    By the way, I will be on your side of the country this week! I'll be in northern CA visiting with my son. We will be staying close to Mendocino, so I really hope to visit Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 10, 2018 at 8:49 PM

      Have a great time, Deb! I've never visited that botanical garden except virtually through other bloggers' posts. I'm envious. I was hoping to get my husband to make a trip up that way next spring but now it looks likely we're going to be embroiled in a lengthy home remodel.

      Delete
  10. ksSeptember 10, 2018 at 9:32 PM

    Well done this week Kris ! I hope I can get back on track in the next couple of weeks as my travel schedule is finally starting to wind down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 11, 2018 at 10:40 AM

      I look forward to seeing more of your fabulous arrangements, Kathy!

      Delete
  11. danger gardenSeptember 10, 2018 at 9:33 PM

    I think you’ve outdone yourself! Truth be told (and I’d say this with Loverboy in the room) I like the back view of that vase even better than the front. And speaking of that vase, have I ever mentioned how much I love it? It’s fabulous (with all those pleats), as are you ur other two creations!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 11, 2018 at 10:41 AM

      Somehow, it doesn't surprise me at all that you prefer 'Devil's Blush' to 'Loverboy', Loree ;)

      Delete
  12. ChristinaSeptember 10, 2018 at 10:36 PM

    'Queen Red Lime' Zinnia is definitely on my list for next year! I especially like how the clematis has given movement to your arrangements this week. I would have expected the clematis to look out of place with the more exotic blooms but that isn't the case at all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 11, 2018 at 10:42 AM

      I liked the movement the Clematis provided too, Christina. If only it had a longer bloom season!

      Delete
  13. Amy@SmallSunnyGardenSeptember 11, 2018 at 12:29 AM

    That clematis is lovely; she must upstage everyone when in full bloom!
    Love your deep reds in the first vase, especially the Leucadendron...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 11, 2018 at 10:43 AM

      This is the first year the Clematis has made a really big splash, Amy, despite the fact it's been in the ground for several years now.

      Delete
  14. CindySeptember 11, 2018 at 2:42 AM

    Very, very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lisa at GreenbowSeptember 11, 2018 at 3:23 AM

    All of your vases are gorgeous but my favorite is the first one. Red and white. Nice. The Sweet Autumn Clematis is an invasive here. It smells so good and looks so airy that people love it though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 11, 2018 at 3:26 PM

      Given our dry conditions, I think I have few worries about the Clematis becoming a pest here, Lisa.

      Delete
  16. StasherSeptember 11, 2018 at 12:13 PM

    By now everyone has said the lovely things about your flowers I would have said, so may I say how lovely the vases are. The Devil's Blush vase with its corrugations is superb, and I certainly admire your skill in choosing just the right material to set it off.

    ReplyDelete
  17. A Casa MadeiraSeptember 12, 2018 at 12:30 PM

    An arrangement more beautiful than the other.
    Sorry, my English is not very good.
    Good week's continuation.
    janicce.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 12, 2018 at 2:31 PM

      Thanks for the compliment and the good wishes, Janicce!

      Delete
  18. The Shrub QueenSeptember 12, 2018 at 6:46 PM

    Love the first one and the use of Pennisetum in the second, very nice! Wondering how long the Clematis lasts? It was a favorite of mine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 12, 2018 at 7:14 PM

      I used a few stems of Clematis in one of last week's vases and they lasted an entire week but then I cut them in bud, Amelia. The stems I used in this week's vases (put together on Sunday) look great so far.

      Delete
  19. AnnaSeptember 16, 2018 at 11:44 AM

    A most delightful trio of vases Kris. The clematis is a beauty - no wonder 'Lover Boy' is sulking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kris PetersonSeptember 16, 2018 at 3:04 PM

      I'm thrilled with the Clematis, Anna. The flowers dried out during the course of the week but they still didn't look too bad.

      Delete

I enjoy receiving your comments and suggestions! Google has turned on reCAPTCHA affecting some commentator IDs so, if you wish to identify yourself, please add your name to your comment.