I was feeling grumpy when I stepped into my garden on Sunday and briefly considered skipping flower arrangements this week. That didn't last. I got rolling on one and soon had flowers to fill three vases. And I didn't stop there. I decided to throw together a few small informal bouquets to put on the street as Mother's Day offerings. I didn't get around to grabbing breakfast until after 11am.
The vase that got me started was created around two flowers that opened in my garden last week,
Arthropodium cirratum (aka Renga lily) and
Centaurea 'Silver Feather'.
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| It looks like a bit of a jumble in photos. I think it's prettier viewed in person. |
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| Back view: I've grown the white Arthropodium cirratum, a New Zealand native, for years. It's my favorite flowering plant for dry shade conditions. |
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| Top view: The buds on Centaurea 'Silver Feather' always make me think of artichokes |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Arthropodium cirratum, Centaurea 'Silver Feather', Consolida ajacis 'Early Grey' (white larkspur was also included), Nigella papillosa, Digitalis purpurea, and Salvia canariensis var candidissima |
The second vase turned out to be my favorite this week. It was inspired by the appearance of a dwarf gladiola I'd forgotten I had in my garden until it bloomed.
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| The gladiola was supposed to be white with pink markings but it's always bloomed in a peachy pink color and that's what set the color scheme |
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| Back view: Coincidentally, Callistemon 'Cane's Hybrid' burst into bloom during last week's second heatwave of the year, providing a perfect complement for the gladiola |
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| Top view: Clarkia amoena 'Farewell to Spring' wasn't the species I'd ordered by mail in February, which was supposed to have salmon-colored flowers, but it fit the specs in this case |
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Top row: Callistemon 'Cane's Hybrid' and Clarkia amoena 'Farewell to Spring'
Middle row: Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Peach', Gladiolus nana 'Nymph', and Lathyrus odoratus
Bottom row: Orlaya grandiflora and Rosa 'Medallion' |
I hadn't intended to put together a third vase - until I caught sight of a mass of blooms on my pineapple guava (
Feijoa sellowiana). I inherited two of these tree-like shrubs with the garden but they've never produced more than a few blooms here and there, until now.
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| Most of the shrub's flowering stems are fairly short and bent at odd angles so I used a small vase and kept the mix simple |
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| Right to left: Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey', Feijoa sellowiana, and Lagurus ovatus |
For more IAVOM creations,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
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| Even though I didn't get these bottles of flowers out on the curb until nearly 11am, well after most people were done with their morning strolls, these 3 bottles were gone in about half an hour. I pulled 3 more glass bottles out of the recycling bin, collected more flowers, all different, and put those out. The wind picked up and they toppled over 3 times but two were picked up and carried off before I picked the last one off the street and "closed" my flower shop for the day. I wish I'd thought to do this the day before - and that I'd had more empty glass bottles on hand. |
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
So beautiful and what a great idea! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's just too bad I didn't think of it until the day itself, Nikki!
DeleteOh Kris, what a lovely thing to do - I am sure whoever picked them up will have been delighted! I am intrigued by the centaurea in your first vase and must see if it is available in the UK and I love the overhead view of the second vase and its peachy contents, but the simple contents of the third vase had a different sort of appeal altogether and I think it might even be my favourite, especially as I am so very fond of the lagurus. Thanks for sharing, Kris
ReplyDeleteI didn't have much that I thought could support but not overwhelm those red and white pineapple guava flowers, Cathy. The bunny tail grass echoed the yellow tips of the flowers, which struck me as just enough of an accent.
DeleteKris, love, love, love the first one. I remember the Renga Lilies from last year..and think I need those and the Feijoa. How wonderful to leave random acts of flowers for Mothers Day by the sidewalk. Just lovely.
ReplyDeleteShould I do anything like the impromptu free flower giveaway again, Amelia, I learned some lessons like: plan ahead; collect bottles to use as vases; secure the sign for passerbys; and find a box or something to hold the bottles so they don't blow over when the inevitable afternoon winds pick up!
DeleteHmm, flower giveaway protocols!
DeleteMy citrus giveaways were relatively straightforward but, having my bottle vases repeatedly topple into the street, was really annoying!
DeleteHow sweet that you put out curbside flowers for MD - you made some mums very happy, I expect!
ReplyDeleteYour vases are all lovely, but like you, #2 is my favorite– such pretty colors, absolutely delicious!
It suddenly occurred to me that many kids - and spouses - might not be able to get flowers for the mothers in their lives, Eliza. I wish I'd thought of it sooner.
DeleteLove the Snapple bottles and their contents, and how lovely to know that there will be some happy mums, not a million miles away from you, enjoying them right now! Your vases are all lovely, all so different so impossible to like one more than another. They have some delicious things in each one - as always. If I have to pick a favourite flower I am going to plump for your lovely Medallion rose! Amanda https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2020/05/climbing-walls-in-vase-on-monday.html
ReplyDeleteI literally pulled the Snapple bottles out of our recycle bins but, unfortunately, this was just a few days after the recycling had been picked up. I drink a LOT of Diet Snapple but I didn't decide to do this until Mother's Day morning.
DeleteWhat a lovely kind gesture. I'm sure there were 5 very happy recipient mother's. Hopefully it lifted your mood.
ReplyDeleteIt did lift my mood, Elaine.
DeleteI love the second vase and all in it. The third one has some really interesting blooms too. Your little flower shop was a sweet gesture. I am sure you made several people happy.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, Lisa.
DeleteWhat a sweet and generous idea Kris. I'm sure you made some people very happy with your kindness and thoughtfulness. Sharing flowers has to be the perfect solution to turning grumpiness upside down. Hope you had a lovely Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteThere are no mothers to celebrate in my or my husband's life anymore, Cindy, but it felt good that I might be helping others do so.
DeleteEven though I do not participate in Mothers Day (because I work for the marketing dept, marketing annoys me) I think this was a fantastic idea and a great gift to your neighbors. You should try it again sometime when no holiday is involved.
ReplyDeleteI might do just that, Kathy! After all, I'm running low on citrus to give away to neighbors. Or, I might pot up some succulent cuttings or seedlings to give away.
DeleteYour second vase might be one of my all time favorites and what a gift to the neighborhood to put out those bottles of flowers, wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI thought for sure you'd like the pineapple guava vase best, Loree!
DeleteWhat a wonderful thing to do! I'm sure they were greatly appreciated. I've been feeling rather grumpy in the last day or so. Wish I could have some garden therapy but it's been miserable out there...not so much the temp (which has been cold, but that's what jackets are for) but it's the wind that gets you turning around to come back inside.
ReplyDeleteI think it's fairly certain that 2020 is going to be regarded as a difficult year on a LOT of fronts, Margaret. I hope your weather improves soon and you get a real spring going!
DeleteOf course, as always, all your arrangements are excellent. But that second creation is so special. The dwarf glads are lovely and the vase is perfect for the arrangement and the colors! I'm partial to those shades of peach, coral, and warm pinks. Just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth. I was rather pleased with that second arrangement too.
DeleteThat is such a lovely idea, putting little posies out front for Mother‘s Day! I have fallen in live with your Nigella in the first vase Kris. I love them anyway, but have never seen this one before. The second vase is today‘s favourite for me... so romantic. Love the colours. But as always all of your vases are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI can't provide a specific cultivar name for that white Nigella, Cathy. It was part of a seed mix simply labeled 'Starry Night Mix'.
DeleteYour Mother's Day flowers were such a kind and thoughtful idea Kris and must have brightened up somebody's day. Over here our Mother's Day is very commercialised and the shops always put the prices up on flowers that weekend which must make buying them out of some children's reach.
ReplyDeleteOh, Anna, I expect that Mother's Day in the US is at least as commercialized as it is in the UK! But with both kids and spouses unable to do much shopping these days, hopefully mothers appreciated whatever they got.
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