As we begin to pack up half the house in preparation for our upcoming remodel, I already feel as though I'm surrounded by chaos. Preparing flower arrangements for "In a Vase on Monday," the meme hosted by clever Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden, provided me with a sense of normality, if only temporarily.
As we approach mid-May, our temperatures remain on the cool side but summer flowers are nonetheless advancing onto the scene. My first arrangement is channeling summer's heat.
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| I kicked off this arrangement with 3 stems of Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer' but the large flowers of Gaillardia 'Amber Wheels' may have stolen the starring role |
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| I used Cuphea 'Vermillionaire' as a filler in the back |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Cuphea 'Vermillionaire', Gaillardia aristata 'Amber Wheels', Grevillea 'Ned Kelly', and Rosmarinus 'Gold Dust' |
On the other hand, my second arrangement embraced the cooler colors of Spring in coastal Southern California.
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| Of the dozen plugs of Digitalis purpurea I planted in the fall, only one plant produced flowers in a color other than white. I created this vase to play off its purple color. |
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| The pretty flowers of the lavender ivy geranium and Centaurea 'Silver Feather' are almost lost in the rear view |
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| Both of this week's vases were so tall that I had to stand on a chair to photograph them from above |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Centaurea 'Silver Feather', Digitalis purpurea, Orlaya grandiflora, Pelargonium peltatum (aka ivy geranium), Polygala fruticosa 'Petite Butterfly', Prunus ilicifolia (which I've previously misidentified as another species), and a noID rose that came with the garden |
As my own stress level is building, Princess Pipig remains oblivious to the changes afoot in our household. When she's not napping, she's enjoying checking out the boxes littering our dining and living rooms.
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| "Why did you wake me up?" |
For more Monday vases,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Love that first hot color drama ! My last weeks vase still sits on the table-I was so bust with the garden this weekend I never made a new one- even the Huechera leaves still look good.
ReplyDeleteThose vases that hold up from one week into another are a joy. On my end, last week's cactus vase with the Aeonium flowers looks better this week than last and the Leucospermums I cut in the latter part of April are still looking good today (even if their companions didn't hold up).
DeleteI expect a full retreat from Pipig when demolition starts! Love that Gallardia, did you grow it from seed? I never had a great deal of luck with Foxglove when living further north, yours are glorious white and purple..
ReplyDeleteNo, I got these particular Gaillardia from a local garden center and planted them out last fall. These are the first flowers and I'm very impressed by both the size of the blooms and the height of the stems.
DeleteOh my, that first vase is fiery - positively ablaze! And I can't believe your foxgloves look so elegant in the second vase, whereas when I have used them they always look informal and rustic ;) Both lovely vases, as always, so thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy!
DeleteLove the bold colors in your first vase announcing the imminent rise in temps in your area, but hopefully not too soon. Cooler, though no less spectacular, in the second I like the vertical lines repeated in the stripes on the vase.
ReplyDeleteDarling Pipig! I hope the renovation doesn't upset her too much. You'll carry the stress for her, eh? ;)
I'm going to do my best to shield Pipig but I suspect, with people less concerned with her welfare than I am, I'm going to have to lock her out on her catio most days while work is in process. I'm planning to pick up a "neutraceutical" recommended by my vet to help keep her calm(er).
DeleteSpicy hot is right! Those flowers looks great together. Love the foxgloves. I forgot to plant any this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm very fond of the foxgloves too but they were slow to bloom this year so, unfortunately, I may have to boot them from the cutting garden sooner than I'd like to make way for my sprouting dahlia tubers.
DeleteI love the way that first one is simmmering hot.
ReplyDeleteTake a lesson from Princess P...don't worry be happy.
Oh, Pipig is only happy at the moment as she's completely unaware what's coming (and she loves boxes). Once there are workmen here day in and day out, I expect she's going to be a lot less happy.
DeleteLOVE the foxgloves Kris. Lots of Californian loveliness in your vases, with several very familiar flowers that we grow in our UK gardens too! Beautiful. Good luck with the forthcoming chaos with the house! Amanda
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to have to take up meditation to calm my reaction to the chaos, Amanda. Even work in the garden isn't doing it at the moment...
DeleteI hope you'll continue to cut and arrange as the remodel chaos amps up. Flowers in your space will create little pockets of beauty and normalcy.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I had a brief conversation about where I might put flower arrangements once the remodel starts, Loree. My usual spots for vases will be in the middle the construction zone. He said I could put a vase on the card table in our bedroom that'll serve as our dining table for the next 4-6 months...
DeleteYou always have the prettiest vases filled with color! Sounds like you are on the verge of embarking on an adventure. Remodeling is always a challenge and living in chaos is never easy, especially if you are a person who thrives on order. I find deep breaths are a good way to survive and tell myself, "this too shall pass".
ReplyDeleteI'm admittedly a neat freak so I expect this remodel is going to drive me a little bit crazy, Cindy, but I'll keep that mantra in mind!
DeleteHello Kris, I love your arrangements.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of flower that I do not cultivate but I know it.
Here in Brazil has a place called Holambra that has flower of the
whole world.
R. answering your comment still from the month of April k:
I loved to know that you also cultivate the Sansevierias. Here in Brazil they are better known as Espada de São Jorge.
Good week continuation.
PEACE AND GOOD.
janicce.
Thanks for your comment, Janicce, and best wishes for a great week to you as well.
DeleteLove both of these! You know you've got one fiery arrangement when a red-hot Grevilla is a subsidiary element...
ReplyDeleteThe foxgloves are a special thrill because it's so rare to see anything in your vases that grows here, much less have it blooming at the same time in both places. For years I've had white D. purpurea among the peonies, where they make a nice contrast of form and lighten up all the pink and red. They self-sow generously but not overwhelmingly so, and come true -- an ideal biennial in my book. This spring, after all the moisture of the last nine months, there are more blooming spikes than there've been in a long time. And lo! One with purple buds! I transplanted it to a distant bed featuring purple alliums and frosty ornamental grass just before another solid rain, and it's opened up as if nothing had happened. Hoping it will self-sow more purples right there without generating too many in the rest of the garden.
Oh, peonies! The very mention of them makes me envious, Nell. They're the holy grail of plants in my book. I've got two, one Itoh and the other a Majorcan species, but despite our solid winter rains, it appears that once again neither is inclined to bloom. Still, I wait...
DeleteThat first arrangement looks like salsa! 'Indian Summer' was a star at the Getty when I visited last week. How does it do for you?
ReplyDeleteHope Pipig is not too perturbed by all the chaos in her house.
'Indian Summer' deserves its reputation I think. While its performance last year, its first in the garden, was modest, it's making a stronger show this year.
DeletePipig loves boxes, at least when they're open and empty, ready to be jumped in. I don't think she's going to like losing all her sleeping spots in the living room or her eating spot in the kitchen.
Your first vase was just what I needed today to warm me up - it is freezing cold here and we even had frost two nights ago! Amber Wheels is magnificent. Love the foxgloves in your second vase too. I hope you will be bale to find somewhere to take photos of your vases while the kitchen is being done up.
ReplyDeleteMy photos may have to be taken outside during the remodel, Cathy, and I'm not sure where the vases themselves will land. Maybe I'll start keeping a vase on my potting bench!
Delete