While my climate is far gentler on plants during the fall/winter season than many other gardeners can claim, the pickings are definitely slimmer at this time of year, especially as I was late in getting my cool-season cutting garden started this year. A stray bloom spike on the remaining
Delphinium in the cutting garden provided the starting point for my first vase.
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| The white daisies are a recent addition to my garden |
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| The bush violets (Barleria obtusa) are on the wane |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Argyranthemum frutescens 'Everest White', Delphinium elatum, Osteospermum '4D Silver', Barleria obtusa, and Westringia fruticosa 'Morning Light' |
The
Rudbeckia I featured in a vase in late October are are only plants in my cutting garden still in full bloom so I used them again this week, with just a few adjustments to the mix.
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| Rudbeckia 'Denver Daisy' has proven to be very resilient in my cutting beds, although its stems are regrettably on the short side |
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| The complementary yellow daisies (Tagetes lemmonii) are in full bloom now that temperatures have cooled |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Rudbeckia hirta 'Denver Daisy', Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey', unripe Guavas, berries of Heteromeles arbutifolia, Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' and Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum', and Tagetes lemmonii. I added 2 little mice painting green leaves orange under the arrangement as a reference to our lack of fall foliage. |
Last Monday, I was hopeful that our 5+-month remodel project would be complete before the end of the week; however, unexpected problems emerged on Tuesday and Wednesday and at the moment I can't definitively say when we'll be done, other than I still hope it'll be before Christmas. Tired of focusing on the house's interior, I've turned my attention back to the garden, diving into cleaning up the collateral damage it's sustained over the last several months. But, as I've moaned and groaned over the the remodel on numerous occasions in my IAVOM posts, you're welcome to review the results of the project
here in a post I published last Friday.
For more IAVOM posts, check in with our host,
Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Gosh that Rudbeckia hirta 'Denver Daisy' is beautifully bold. Makes a great show in your vase. I love that you have delphinium--a welcome stray indeed. Happy Thanksgiving Kris.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't sure about that Rudbeckia when I first saw it but it's definitely cheerful! It's a challenge to find new prospects to combine with it, though. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Susie!
DeleteAmazing to see your photos of the work and all the upheaval - what a shame it s delayed further but my goodness it will be worth it! Good to know that you were able to turn your attention to the garden this week instead! YOur blue and whte vase is so refreshing
ReplyDeleteThe whole remodel has gradually, inexorably stressed me out, Cathy, and the last-minute delays put that over the top. In contrast, working in the garden is a very zen experience, even if it's a mess at the moment.
DeleteYour pickens are a lot less slim than mine ! I had to buy flowers this week. The weather has been warm but I have a ton of shade this time of year til the leaves drop. I meant to ask what will become of the temporary kitchen now that you are moved into the 'real' one ?
ReplyDeleteI actually found myself glancing wistfully at the flowers in the supermarket earlier today, Kathy...As to the temporary kitchen, it was demolished. My husband gave the hotplates, microwave and I think the slop sink to a member of the contractor's crew. The fridge was reinstalled in our new kitchen and my husband donated some items to Habitat for Humanity. (They wouldn't take the old oven so unfortunately it went to the dump.)
DeleteYou have a wonderful eye for bringing different elements together and colour sense. I bet your remodeling will transform your home.
ReplyDeleteThanks Noelle. I look forward to getting the construction folks out of the house once and for all so I can step back and enjoy the new space.
DeleteTwo very pretty vases Kris! I love the blue one, it has the simplicity of wild flowers about it! Your renovations look amazing, and you are now so close to completion! It all looks wonderful and I can imagine you are enjoying a greater sense of space now that you are back in your kitchen. I hope the one or two hiccoughs are resolved as quickly as possible and then you can put the upheaval behind you and go into 2020 with relief and joy in your heart! And a fantastic garden to tend, of course! A https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2019/11/in-celebration-of-my-sweet-peas-in-vase.html
ReplyDeleteWell, the electrician was here today, cut another hole in my office wall (which adjoins the kitchen) and rewired. Hopefully, next week they'll fix my wall and get the city inspector back, there's no news update on the hearthstone yet, though.
DeleteHappy Thanksgiving Kris. I hope you are enjoying cooking that big bird in your lovely new kitchen! A
DeleteHa! Actually, we're cooking little birds, Cornish game hens!
DeleteWell sometimes it's a case of less is more Kris đ I especially like the blue and white flowers which as Cathy says are so refreshing. The vase itself is most attractive. I love those little mice.
ReplyDeleteI'm very fond of those little mice too, Anna. They're part of a collection featuring mice in different seasons of the year. I don't have a winter mouse, though ;)
DeleteSuch a beautiful blue vase Kris, love the flower arrangements as well.
ReplyDeleteThat blue vase was one of my budget buys, Karen, but I love it too. It's a useful size and shape and pretty as well.
DeleteThose Rudbeckias are so striking!
ReplyDeleteDoes the Tagetes make a decent cut flower?
The Tagetes does surprisingly well in a vase, although I have to limit the number of stems I use as the scent can be strong in a warm, enclosed space (and my husband doesn't particularly care for the scent to start with).
DeleteI love them both, but my heart leans to the blues with the cheerful daisies. The humble daisy always makes me smile. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving - we have so much to be thankful for, esp. the completion of a long job! ;)
Happy thanksgiving to you too, Eliza! I love daisies too and was surprised when I looked around and there were no Argyranthemums to be found. They get ratty over time and I eventually pull them out but I usually have one or more somewhere. In any case, they were an obvious choice for that small bed I cleared in the back garden a few weeks ago.
DeleteRather than fall, your bouquets look like they came out of a summer garden. But I am not sure you have a traditional fall transition in your climate. Whatever you call it, it is beautiful. The rudbeckia with the red berries is a great combo. Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy your new kitchen!
ReplyDeleteNo, we just have a warm (often hot!) season and a cool season, Deb. We've belatedly moved into the latter. It's a transition - just not one as pronounced as that you face with your seasonal shifts.
DeleteOoooo nice vases even though you don't think you have much to offer. I am always amazed that you can grow delphiniums. I never have luck with them. Maybe I don't water enough or perhaps you treat them as annuals??
ReplyDeleteDelphiniums don't do well in my borders, Lisa. They don't get enough water there but they do fairly well in my well-watered cutting garden. I was surprised too! And yes, I do usually treat them as annuals but this one's still going after 9 months in my raised planter so I might let it continue awhile longer yet.
DeleteBoth are lovely. Rudbeckias are gorgeous, I'm going to grow more next year, such vibrant colours. And delphiniums in November are a treat.
ReplyDeleteMy nominal success with 'Denver Daisy' has me wanting to get some 'Cherry Brandy' to go with it.
DeleteI love the first bouquet since to me it sings of spring and cheers my soul on this colorless prewinter day. It is delightful! Your fall bouquet is rich in color too, but I'm over fall and moving on to Christmas, so I'm putting those colors behind until next fall. I'm more of a pastel flower gardener anyways. Happy Thanksgiving Kris and thank you for keeping the rest of us in flowers all through the year!
ReplyDeleteThe Argyranthemum daisies provide a bright note in what is otherwise a mostly green backyard too. We've got more rain coming so I hope they'll be happy throughout our cool season.
DeleteI can't believe that awesome Bush violet is still going strong... I remember lusting after it from an earlier post. Goes on the wishlist, I guess... The little mice are a funny touch - LOL!
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I've never seen the bush violet (Barleria obtusa) anywhere except my local botanic garden, Anna, although it's prolific to say the least in my climate. (I've seen a relative, B. cristata, aka Philippine violet, growing in Texas gardens.) If you can't find it, I can try harvesting seeds for you. It's a vigorous self-seeder here.
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