I've got a tendency to cram too much into the arrangements I create for "In a Vase on Monday," the weekly meme hosted by Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden. This week I kept things simpler. Of course, that was partly out of necessity as the volume of blooms available for cutting has diminished. Still, I know I'm lucky to have something in bloom year-round. Freezes and snow aren't an issue here.
My first arrangement was inspired by blooms on the snapdragons I planted as plugs in my cool season cutting garden a few weeks ago. I'd initially thought I'd play up the yellow color in those blooms with the gold flowers of
Tagetes lemmonii but my husband dislikes their scent and as he wasn't feeling well to begin with I shelved that idea. However, I was surprised to find that the pink
Camellias growing nearby didn't look half bad paired with the snapdragons.
 |
| The "bronze" snapdragons contain a lot of pink in their petals, which play off the vivid pink of the noID Camellias |
 |
| Back view |
 |
| Top view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: noID Camellia sasanqua, Antirrhinum majus (shown with Correa 'Dusky Bells'), Correa 'Wyn's Wonder', and Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' (showing off a scattering of tiny pink flowers) |
The bush violets (
Barleria obtusa) are still the most abundant blooms in my garden but finding plants to accent them was a challenge, especially as there's a shortage of white flowers in my garden at the moment. In this case, bringing in a strong foliage accent made the difference.
 |
| With few white flowers in the garden, variegated coast rosemary (Westringia 'Morning Light') helped to brighten the arrangement |
 |
| This Westringia sports small white flowers but most of these withered away during our last round of high winds |
 |
| Top view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Barleria obtusa, Fuchsia mangellanica 'Hawkshead' (new to my garden), Osteospermum hybrid '4D Silver', and Westringia fruticosa 'Morning Light' |
For more IAVOM creations,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
My thanks to all of you who expressed concern about our wildfires last week. By way of an update (assuming your news providers aren't reporting on the fires nearly non-stop as ours are), the largest fires in Northern and Southern California, the Camp and Woolsey Fires, aren't fully contained yet but the brave firefighters have made substantial progress and the prospect for rain mid-week could aid them further, provided it doesn't come down too hard and cause mudslides in the burn areas. The air quality here in the south has improved but I understand that the situation in the northern part of the state is terrible. Hopefully, rain will help there too. Sadly, it seems that it'll be awhile yet before we know the full extent of the lives lost in the Camp Fire, now given the dubious title of California's most destructive wildfire.
All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Simply beautiful! I'm glad your air quality has improved and that you're safe from fire danger at the moment but join you in being concerned for those who've been affected by the horrible wildfires!
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter. We can only hope that many of those names on the missing list in Northern California are found in safe havens.
DeleteVery much hope so!
DeleteIt astonishes me that, in the digital world we live in, there's not a better, faster way for people to "check in" during emergencies.
DeleteGlad to know that all is well fo you regarding the fires - it is hard to comprehend how quickly the fires have spread and how destructive they have been. Those affected must be devastated to have lost virtually everything, but so many are likely to have lost their lives too. So sad. I especially like your blue vase today - that osteospermum is gorgeous and as always you have found the ideal shades of blue and green to work together
ReplyDeleteThe speed at which the fires engulfed the small towns in the northern part of the state aren't like anything we've seen before, Cathy. At least most people in the southern part of the state had time to evacuate.
DeleteThere has been plenty on the news here about the fires. Good to know there is some hope of improvement but the damage and loss is devastating and hard to comprehend.
ReplyDeleteHere we get continuous political news of which we are all heartily sick and no sign of any sensible conclusion.
It seems trivial to talk about plants but they keep us sane. I really like the Westringia, that is new to me. Perfect with those gorgeous blues. I'm going to look it up.
Oh, the political news is a constant here too, Alison. I've begun to dread turning on the TV each morning. The Westringia hails from Australian and I fear your winter cold might be too much for it, although it's a relatively compact shrub and could possibly be kept happy in a winter greenhouse.
DeleteI love when you cram all the flowers, foliage etc in your vases but the simpler one was lovely too....the second vase is my favorite....stunning and those violets are gorgeous. Glad the fire situation has improved.
ReplyDeleteThe Woolsey fire in SoCal is now 94% contained, which is great news. The Camp Fire in NorCal stands at 66% contained but unfortunately the air quality and number of missing people remain concerns.
DeleteCamellias are so pretty. They remind me of roses. I like both of your arrangements. Every time I read "bush violets" it puts a smile on my face. I had never heard of them before I read your blog. Just thinking about violets on a shrub is delightful. I am really glad you aren't in harms way and the air quality is improving. Hopefully all of CA can say the same.
ReplyDeleteThe bush violets are really tough plants too, at least here. My only concern with this is that they're aggressive self-seeders, although the seedlings are easy to pull (that is, if you can find all their hiding places).
DeleteApril violets, but not in your hemisphere.
DeleteBeautifully filled vases as usual Kris. I'm green with envy as to what you can pick in November. I'm glad to read that there is some progress on the fire front and hope that rain makes a more than timely intervention. I read over the weekend that the air quality in California is currently the worst in the world and that it might be many years before the full impact of all that smoke in the atmosphere is known :(
ReplyDeleteThe northern part of the state, from Sacramento to San Francisco, is experiencing exceptionally poor air quality akin to what you hear about from Beijing but the southern part of the state isn't in quite the same situation. However, we need light, steady rain in both parts of California. I've been checking the forecast regularly as predictions frequently don't pan out here but, instead of simply disappearing, the chances of rain have increased to 70% in our area. Fingers crossed.
DeleteThat simple pink bouquet is lovely but the blue flowers you grow always thrill me. I guess that suggests I don't grow many but you always seem to have striking colors and forms. And it is always instructive to see the other views of vases. Sometimes I try to do ones to be viewed on all sides but it is not easy.
ReplyDeleteI love blue in the garden, Linda, and I'm always looking for new plants with blue (or purple) flowers. The Barleria is an aggressive spreader so I have to be careful that it doesn't mount a takeover of the entire garden.
DeleteI wish I could grow camellias outdoors as they are so pretty. Loving the silvery-blue vase especially– barleria and osteospermum being favorites. Glad your air isn't affected by the fires further north, hope your brother is okay. It seems strange to me that the winds are blowing east to west, which never happens here, except maybe in a nor'easter.
ReplyDeleteThe Santa Ana winds are an anomaly here too, albeit a seasonal one. Our usual winds come off the Pacific Ocean.
DeleteOh I am so looking forward to the rain coming in tomorrow night. The forecast is for up to 3/4 of an inch and I know I don't have to tell you what an exciting prospect that is. What a relief it will be to the firefighters in Butte County and how happy I will be for clear clean air at last. I love your addition or the Westringia in your 2nd vase.I don't have any herer at home , but one of work facilities has them and since I'm the one who planted them I feel like they are mine to harvest. Thanks for the idea !
ReplyDeleteThere's only one-third of an inch forecast for my location but it'll be just as welcome if it comes through, Kathy. Our rain isn't due until Wednesday.
DeleteSo pretty! Those are some of my favorite colors--in both arrangements. No, I don't think you ever cram too much in--your arrangements always look perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth!
DeleteFingers crossed for Goldilocks rain, not too big, not too small, just right. The LA times did a heart wrenching story on the start of the Camp fire and how it overtook the town of Paradise. I couldn’t read it all the way through in one sitting. I had to read it in bits, it was just so overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteYour blue vase is my favorite, kind of wild. Will it grace your Thanksgiving table?
The Times has had one heartbreaking story after another - and sadly I don't think we've heard the end of them. As to the vase, it looks like it has staying power so it'll probably remain on the table despite the fact that its colors aren't at all Thanksgiving-ish.
DeleteYour arrangements are beautiful as always and full of unusual plants. Our friends are in the North somewhere and say it's hard to breathe these days. So scary, I wonder how many of those fires are caused by men? Stay safe and enjoy your beautiful garden and flowers, Annette
ReplyDeleteOur air quality has generally been better than that up north but we received an advisory this morning that it's expected to deteriorate today as the smoke and particulates in the air from the north move south. We're hoping for gentle but air-clearing rain!
DeleteBoth so pretty Kris but my favourite is the blue, such delicate and unusual flowers and foliage.
ReplyDeleteWe are all following your terrible fires, it is horrific on so many levels. Fingers crossed for rain and cleaner air.
So many of our rainstorms seem to fizzle these days but we could really use this one, as long as it doesn't come down heavy and complicate things further in the burn areas.
DeleteI like simple yet delicate . I have a issue finding wide mouth vases like yours...only have one.
ReplyDeleteThe size of the mouth on the vase can really make a difference, can't it? If I recall correctly, that blue-swirl vase came with an arrangement of flowers I was given eons ago.
DeleteTwo lovely arrangements. I learn about plants, vases and how to arrange them from your posts....spotted the white fucshia too!
ReplyDeleteEven though the potted fuchsias in my shade house have only done so-so, Noelle, I couldn't pass up 'Hawkshead' when I found it on a recent plant shopping trip. I can only hope that it'll grow as tall and strong in its protected spot behind a hedge as yours. My climate is tough on fuchsias!
DeleteKris, love the Snaps and Camellias together, you've inspired me to find some Snaps, I used to grow the red ones in winter and I keep meaning to look for Barleria, i think it will grow here.Happy Thanksgiving and prayers for a gentle soaking rain for California.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amelia. Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving to you and I hope you find those snaps!
DeleteBeautiful vases Kris, both are beautifully arranged. I must say that the Camellias-snaps combo is as wonderful as unsual. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThose Camellias sporting pink buds thrilled me by opening into blooms. I'd hoped that would happen but was frankly surprised it did.
DeleteQue. lindos arranjos florais. Boa semana. cumprimentos.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra!
DeleteLovely vases as always Kris. I hope you all get that rain they forecast. Media coverage has dwindled here now.
ReplyDeleteThe rain arrived overnight, Cathy, and we got more than was predicted for our area, 2/3rds of an inch. It wasn't a deluge (which is good as shouldn't cause more damage in the burn area) but it was enough to give us a good soaking and I'm thankful for it.
Delete