This is my one-thousandth post since starting this blog in late December 2012. I've participated in several memes in that period but none more frequently than "In a Vase on Monday," which I joined in
March 2014, so it seems entirely appropriate that this post falls on a Monday. As it's December, there's less blooming in my garden than usual but, hey, when you''re lucky enough to live in coastal Southern California, there's always something. Today's vases may be far from the most unique or interesting I've created over the course of well over
200 IAVOM posts but every week I'm still surprised at just how much I can find to cobble together to fill one vase, if not two or more.
My first vase was inspired by the soft cream-colored blooms of Correa 'Ivory Bells'.
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| The blooms on Correa 'Ivory Bells' are more profuse than those of any of my other Australian fuchsias and the buttercream flowers of the Mimulus (monkeyflower) I picked up several weeks ago complement them perfectly |
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| I added Moroccan daisies (Pyrethropsis hosmarinese) to the back of the arrangement |
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| The buff color of the ornamental grass's plumes echoes the underside of the Correa's leaves |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia x grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', Correa 'Ivory Bells', Laurel nobilis, Pennisetum 'Fireworks', Pyrethropsis hosmariense, Westringia fruticosa 'Morning Light', and Mimulus 'Jelly Bean Buttercream' |
The inspiration for my second vase came from the vivid colors of an orchid bloom spike.
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| The orchid is reportedly a hybrid combining genes of Oncidium, Odontoglossum, and Miltonia, now classified as Oncostele. (Orchid genealogy makes my eyes cross.) |
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| I picked up the red color in the orchid using Celosia 'Intenz' (shown here at the back of the vase) |
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| and the red flower-like bracts of two Leucadendrons, but I think the variegated foliage of Leucadendron 'Jester' did more to pull the composition together |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Celosia argentea 'Intenz', Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold', Leucadendron 'Devil's Blush', L. 'Safari Sunset', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Oncostele 'Wildcat' and, in the center, Leucadendron 'Jester' |
All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Your vases both show foliage can successfully be the mainstay of a vase, Kris,before they are enhanced with a handful of blooms - most effective. Hopefully foliage will see us through the leaner months. Thanks for sharing today
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Cathy - the foliage elements were the true stars of both vases.
DeleteOh ya! These are both fabulous, and so different. The vivid Orchid-inspired vase has a tropical Christmas feel. And yes, "but, hey, when you''re lucky enough to live in coastal Southern California, there's always something"...
ReplyDeleteSoCal is magical in many respects, Loree - at least so long as we can irrigate.
DeleteIt is interesting that a couple of people have done white and silvery greens today. They look like winter and yet so fresh, and I love that round container. I agree that Orchid genealogy makes one's eyes cross and head spin. But that is one dramatic flower stem and really holds its own with your other plants. Not an easy thing to do with all that surrounding drama.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit afraid that the orchid was going to be eclipsed by the red-foliaged Leucadendrons but I think 'Jester', cut at the last minute, came to the rescue by reinforcing its yellow color.
DeleteYou've done it again - two very different and very beautiful arrangements, even in December. As they're predicting lows in the 20's for a couple of days this week, I'm feeling a tad envious of your climate
ReplyDeleteJust a tad? ;)
DeleteBeautifully toned. Your second vase almost has a Christmas colour scheme. I like the gentle tones of the first with those lovely soft grasses. That is quite an achievement to have posted 1000 times. It makes a great record for you to look back at. I have failed to keep my blog going the way I intended at the start - now it's mostly vases but they are also a good record.
ReplyDeleteAs most of the major garden renovations I'd focused on when I started my blog are complete (with the notable exception of my horrid back slope), I need to shift my emphasis but I haven't really identified a new theme (yet).
DeleteLove those fluffy plumes!
ReplyDeleteI do too, Sandra! They enliven every vase they're used in.
DeleteThe little teapot, short and stout, oops I digress. The arrangements are nice. I reealy like the teapot arrangement. Congrats on your Blogaversary. That is a lot of posts. I am glad I found your blog. It takes me through a different world than I am used to.
ReplyDeleteMy blog anniversary is really December 29th, Lisa. Realizing I was about to hit 1000 posts came almost as a surprise (if you can be surprised by an event a week in advance of its occurrence). In some respects, though, it feels more of a milestone than hitting my 6-year anniversary.
DeleteWow 1000 posts is amazing. Two more fabulous vases but the first one in that lovely teapot is my favorite...love the plant material and the shape of the arrangement. If I lived near you, I would be paying you to teach me your secrets.
ReplyDeleteThe teapot arrangement is my personal favorite this week too, Donna. If you were to garden in my vicinity, I'd be happy to share my experience, good and bad, free of charge.
DeleteDecember is looking good in your garden. The Leucadendron always remind me of Proteas (seen in Maui, not here) I really love the use of grasses. 1,000 posts, wow! I have about 350 or so...Congrats. You need a Millenial plant to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteIf you can think of an appropriate millennial plant, I'll be happy to try it, Amelia! Leucadendrons are in the Proteaceae family so you're right on point concerning the plants' identity.
Delete1000 posts, that's incredible. And quality as well as quantity! It's wonderful that you find so many vase-worthy plants in your garden every week. And always different.
ReplyDeleteI've wondered exactly how different my vases have been from one year to the next, Sue, but frankly I've been almost afraid to conduct a review! All I can say is that I approach each new vase without preconceptions about what should be combined with what.
Deletesounds very healthy to me - living in the present!
DeleteCongrats on reaching such a milestone Kris! I love that first vase--seems perfect in every way. Looked up the Correa 'Ivory Bells' to see if it might be hardy here and found 20-25F. Maybe not, we're heading down to 20F this week (but yesterday in the sixties). The orchid makes a beautiful central focus in the second arrangement.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susie. Correa hails from Australia so I'm not surprised that your climate would be a stretch. 20F - brrr! We're complaining about daytime temperatures in the mid-50s here but we don't get nearly as cold as your area at night.
DeleteYES, YES, YES! Loving these gorgeous combinations you've put together this week, Kris. Such a pleasure viewing your IAOM posts and putting together over 200 is very impressive, and congrats on your 1000nth post. That's dedication!
ReplyDeleteI certainly didn't contemplate 1000 posts - or 6 years of blogging - when I very casually set up this blog in late December 2016, Eliza. I'm feeling that a shift in the blog's focus is in order now but I still don't know what that might look like.
DeleteEspecially love the first vase this week. The Ivory Bells are so pretty - what a gorgeous plant that must be!
ReplyDeleteI had 'Ivory Bells' in my former garden but it was tucked away in a corner and less visible than it is in my current garden. I'm really enjoying it here.
DeleteKris, congratulations on your 1000 posts! Time to celebrate, perhaps with an interesting Achillea millefolium, or a special millefiori vase?
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the vase idea! Having taken a glance at the prices of them, I'm not sure how happy my husband might be at the thought of my celebrating in that manner, though...
DeleteI so love reading about your vases as much for their beauty and inspiration as for the education I feel I am gaining in plants for your difficult climate. Correa 'Ivory Bells' is a case in point; not a plant I have heard of at all but which is lovely, I'm going to check if seeds are available. Thank you
ReplyDeleteThe Correa is a lovely plant and, knowing your liking for white flowers, I think this plant is right up your alley, Christina.
DeleteYou certainly have a garden which sings out for a millefiori vase to celebrate a complete thousand. Wow. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteHa! Maybe I'll send my husband a photo of a milleflori vase with a note letting him know that 2 of my commentators have suggested that it's appropriate recognition of 1000 posts. As a critic of social media (and the time I spend on my blog), somehow I doubt he'll see it that way.
DeleteGoodness Kris, 1000 posts! I’ve achieved only slightly more than half that and we’ve been blogging about the same time. Kudos and congrats!
ReplyDeleteI was a little shocked myself when I realized I was closing in on 1000 posts, Jessica. I'd paid little attention to that particular statistic until another blogger mentioned reaching that milestone.
DeleteCongratulations,Kris, what a lot of posts. I love your two December vases, they are both gorgeous. I love the correa and the colours in the second one are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThe 'Ivory Bells' are holding up surprisingly well in a vase too. It's a great plant in the border and in a vase, which isn't something I can say about many shrubs.
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