There seems to be a little more color in my garden with each passing week, a sure sign that spring is in the wings. The blue Anemones in my cutting garden are producing more flowers every day so they were the most obvious candidates for "In a Vase on Monday" this week.
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| Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find many white flowers to accent the blue ones. Mysteriously, my white Anemones are flowering on stems shorter than one-inch so they weren't candidates. |
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| Back view: I tucked in a few stems of Argyranthemum to brighten things up |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Lord Lieutenant', Argyranthemum frutescens (returning for a second year), noID Ceanothus, Osteospermum 'Violet Ice', and Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata' (aka mint bush) |
Initially, I wasn't sure I had enough of anything for a second vase but then I spotted new blooms on one of my potted Alstroemerias, which gave me a springboard for a second arrangement in shades of pink. The vase I chose gave it the extra pizazz it needed.
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| The pinks play off the painted fingernails of the hands clasped to form the vase |
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| Back view: The bloom of the noID snapdragon is almost an exact match for those colorful fingernails |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Alstroemeria 'Inca Vienna', noID Antirrhinum majus, Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold', Jasminum polyanthum (spilling over the fence from my neighbor's garden), and Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl'. (More Prostanthera was included in this arrangement but it isn't shown in closeup here.) |
Last week's arrangement featuring Hippeastrum 'Lemon-Lime' still looks presentable, even though the Grevilleas had fallen apart. I pared down that arrangement and relocated it the bedroom mantle.
The new arrangements got the usual spots in the front entry and the dining room table.
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Oh, yes! Those blue Anemones are striking, Kris. Lovely arrangement.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susie. I'm very fond of blue flowers so I was pleased the 'Lord Lieutenant' is doing so well.
DeleteSuch a true blue. Beautiful. Lovely arrangements and nice to see flowers. We are VERY cold so yesterday went out and covered my Yucca fimbriata with Christmas tree boughs and then buried the whole thing in snow. Spring seems so far away at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Yucca survives the cold snap, Elaine. We were quite warm over the weekend (low 70sF!) but the temperatures are back on the chilly side here (that is, our version of chilly, which I expect is nothing like what you're dealing with).
DeleteLove the blue anemones, Kris, and is that really the same osteospermum flowering? I meant to seek some out again for my own gardenm as they did really well the year I had them (I didn't try to keep than more than one season). Both vases look really spring like and having more blooms than foliage must surely be a sign that spring is getting closer!
ReplyDeleteOsteospermums are short-lived perennials here, Cathy. They generally bloom primarily during the cooler periods of the year, retreating when temperatures soar. They never go dormant but they don't look like much when its hot. They need to be cut back regularly to maintain their shape - when they get too ratty looking, I usually replace them. They self-sow but usually their offspring revert to the common single-petaled species.
DeleteThat Osteospermum in the first vase is a stunner. In fact the whole composition is really lovely. Those shades of blue are gorgeous. I suppose the season changes are less dramatic than here.. I am waiting for something to flower still! Spring can't be far off though.... I hope!
ReplyDeleteYou're right that our seasonal transitions are more gradual than yours, Cathy. Still, spring is the most flamboyant season even here.
DeleteAnemone coronaria 'Lord Lieutenant' is a stunning.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, it sure doesn't feel like winter in your garden; I consider Alstromeria and Snapdragon summer blooms.
We don't have winter as you know it - for all practical purposes, we have a cool season (normally stretching from October into early April) and a warm-hot season. I'm impressed by how well Anemone 'Lord Lieutenant' is doing in my cutting garden after poor success when I tried growing it in my garden borders. At present, I'm not at all happy with 'The Bride', however.
DeleteNice set this week, Kris. I adore anemones and so sweet to see a whole vase of them. I like the cheerful little daisies to complement them. The hands vase is one of my favorites and your choices go well with it, esp. the snapdragon and alstroemeria. My spouse gifted me with two pink jasmine plants this past week and I hope they'll bloom as well as yours is. They are very tightly budded so it may be a while before they bloom. Trader Joe's gets a box of them this time of year and they sell out in a day, so it was fortunate that he was there on that day. I can't plant them outside in my climate and past plants don't make it through the fall to bloom again. The roots looked fine, but the top dries up. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteThat jasmine is growing in my neighbor's garden on the other side of our shared fence, Eliza. It always stretches into my garden at this time of year. I tried growing it myself in a hanging basket a couple of years ago and it was a dismal failure, probably because it didn't get enough water. My neighbor has it in the ground growing up against the fence supported by other plants. I believe that its roots are in relative shade but the blooming vine gets good sun.
DeleteI like the pinks, surprising myself. And the pared down arrangement. Wishing you some slow falling rain and peace.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amelia. The weather forecast shows a small chance of rain off and on over the next several days but even the forecasters aren't putting much emphasis on the prospect. At present, our best chance is a 30% possibility during the wee hours of Friday morning with a slightly lower possibility very early Sunday morning but, as they're predicting 0.01/inch, it's nothing to get excited about.
Delete'Lord Lieutenant' is amazing! But they are all beautiful. I am starting to get very sad about lack of flowers; I'm going to have to go buy some. Great arrangements, Kris!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good strategy, Beth!
DeleteHave been inspired by your blue anemones every time I've seen them - have now planted some here, so thanks! The osteospermum is rather special too! But I particularly loved your second vase with that master stroke of the jasmine at the base.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbor's jasmine came in handy, Cathy. I can only imagine what the plant looks like on her side of the fence but I appreciate the tidbits that fall over into my side.
DeleteI too find that blue anemones magic. You can look and look into their depths and marvel. Thanks for sharing all those other wonderful blooms you grow. The quality of the collection, arrangement, and vases are top notch of course.
ReplyDeleteThe bees love those blue anemones too, Noelle. It's almost funny to see them in a frenzy collecting pollen.
DeleteHello Kris,
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful serendipity brought us to you!
Your floral arrangements are lovely. Just the right amount of structure, perfectly chosen blooms and a freedom to the arrangement which makes it more relaxed and prettier.
And, what an inspired collection of material you have used. The blue anemones are stars but the supporting 'actors' are also most attractive. Truly delightful.
We shall return for more.
Thank you for your kind comments. My garden provides the inspiration but sometimes it offers more than others ;)
DeleteSo blue! Those are just amazing.
ReplyDeleteI planted more of blue-purple 'Mistral Azzurro' anemones this year too but they've been slower to develop. I do love anemones - and I'm still hoping that the white variety will come through for me.
DeleteOh blue and white flowers always look so tranquil Kris and a timely reminder for me to get some blue anemone corms. The flowers of the mint bush are a beautiful soft shade of blue. All most pretty in pink too. I only wish that spring seemed on the way here but we are in the middle of a bitterly cold snap ❄️
ReplyDeleteI've heard - and seen photos - of the horridly cold weather in the UK, Anna. I hop you get a warm-up soon!
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