There are still flowers here and there in my garden but their numbers have dwindled and the dahlias haven't yet filled the breach, although the first buds are in the process of opening. I can't entirely explain why the dahlias have been so slow to develop this year but I'm glad to see that at least my "crop" isn't going to be a complete bust. If I'm lucky, maybe some will bloom well into October. In the meantime, I took advantage of some of the most recent arrivals in my back garden borders to fill two vases this week.
New flower stalks of Amaryllis belladonna continue to appear. They look gawky where their leaf-less stalks aren't hidden by other plants so I've little reluctance to cut them, especially as the blooms have a relatively long vase life.
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| I kept the to a relatively simple color mix of pink, burgundy and white |
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| Back view: Daucus carota 'Dara' is gradually finishing up it's long bloom season |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Angelonia 'Archangel White', Centranthus ruber, Coleonema album, Amaryllis belladonna, pink and white Eustoma grandiflorum (aka Lisianthus), Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Plectanthus scutellarioides 'Vino' (aka coleus), and Daucus carota 'Dara' |
After a few years of well-mannered behavior, my native California aster, Symphyotrichum chilense, spread throughout one entire bed following the comparatively heavy rainfall we had during our 2018-2019 "water year." This year, despite very low rainfall, flower stems have popped up all over again; however, many are rapidly turning a crispy brown without flowering but, even with the die-off, there are enough stems with blooms to cut. I'm considering digging out as much of the aster as I can this fall when it finishes its bloom period to replace it with something more manageable but I intend to enjoy the flowers I have this year.
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| The yellow Phlomis fruitcosa (aka Jeruselem sage) was a surprise find. This shrub normally blooms in spring. While I discovered a few stray blooms on it once before, this is the latest in the year I've had blooms yet. |
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| Back view: I added the last presentable Agapanthus bloom I had to the mix, as well as the last of the ruffled Shasta daisies |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', noID Agapanthus. Eustoma grandiflorum, Leucanthemum x superbum (aka Shasta daisy), Phlomis fruticosa, and Symphyotrichum chilense 'Purple Haze' |
Maybe next week I'll have a dahlia bloom or two to share. For other IAVOM creations, visit Cathy in Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I do love the aster! It is very like a wild asther we have growing here but I think it might be a week or two before it flowers. I haven't seen any yet! Such a dainty flower and it sits so happily in your vase of pretty complementary colours! Both vases are lovely - as always! Amanda
ReplyDeleteThe aster may find a new home on my hideous - and exceptionally dry - back slope where the relative absence of irrigation might actually keep it under control. I love the flower but dislike its unrepentant effort to obtain world domination.
DeleteLove the pretty pink vase especially, Kris - what a glorious shade the amaryllis is! I feel the same way about the stems on my indoor winter flowering hippeastrum. Your talk of plants crisping from the heat makes me shudder to think of the effects climate change could have on our gardens in the long term
ReplyDeleteClimate change is becoming more scary with each passing summer here, Cathy. In my case, it's probably the reduced availability of water rather than the heat that will place the most severe limitations on what I can grow.
DeletePaging down and appreciating your floral displays I got to wondering if you have a favorite flower color. There are always a lot of pinks in your IAVOM posts, but then I know a lot of cool plants bloom pink. You also seem to include a lot of blues, which isn't a common color in the floral world.
ReplyDeleteI like most colors, Loree, with the possible exception of brown (which, at this time of year, I tend to associate with plant death). My favorite colors are probably green, blue and yellow but there are admittedly a lots of pinks here. I prefer coral and peach to pale pink but when someone sends me 2+ dozen Amaryllis bulbs for free (as Tammy of Casa Mariposa did years ago), I don't quibble ;)
DeleteKris, those Amaryllis are just gorgeous, they look like Lycoris squamingera, called Naked Ladies in the South. Love your rampant Asters, I have no Asters here and love the blue ones. I have some natives I feel the same way about...people as well! Ha.Happy Monday.
ReplyDeleteI could say the same about California natives, Amelia ;) I have a few Lycoris myself, which we call "surprise lilies" here to distinguish them from Amaryllis belladonna, which we call "naked ladies." So much for the value of common plant names!
DeleteYour amaryllis are beautifully presented Kris. I like the second vase quite a bit. The Abelia and Agapanthus are just lovely with the white Eustoma and Shasta. I have had a bad aster experience with one still causing headaches in a border after years of trying to control it. When plants are giving you their flowers though they're hard to resist.
ReplyDeleteThe aster was very pretty last year when we got near-"normal" rain, Susie, but I have to squint when I look at it now as sections look ugly and dead. My guess is that I won't be successful on the first pass in digging it out but I hope to at least make a dent in its spread. As it stands, it's been making a run to cross the flagstone divide to reach another bed on the other side.
DeleteTwo great vases. I really admire the colour palette you've put together with the amaryllis.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon. I tend to prefer color harmonies to color contrast for some reason I can't explain even to myself ;)
DeleteOnce again, I can't pick a favorite: They're both beautiful and incredible! Your Amaryllis belladonna remind me of my Surprise Lilies (Lycoris squamigera); they have a similar appearance and growth pattern. Mine are just about to bloom. Great color combinations and arrangements, as always, Kris!
ReplyDeleteI've got a few Lycoris, Beth, but they don't seem to be nearly as vigorous as the Amaryllis belladonna here. However, as the latter took a few years to settle in, the Lycoris may catch up someday.
DeleteAs usual both of your creations are lovely. Ironic in your native aster looks almost identical to one of ours and it too seeds everywhere. The bees love them so I usually let them stay.
ReplyDeleteSymphyotrichum chilense spreads by rhizomes, which is why it spread so readily when water was plentiful. I knew that in advance but the grower said that the plant was manageable in low water gardens. As periodic deluges are possible even in our drought-prone climate, I no longer think it's reasonable to expect that the plants will remain manageable indefinitely :(
DeleteSo many lovelies this week! Amaryllis, Agapanthus and Phlomis are standouts and as always, I love those 'Crazy Daisies' ... beautiful work, Kris. Hope you have decent weather this week, ours is going to be hot and sticky until Sat. This has been such a challenging summer (in more ways than one ;) ).
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that, Eliza. We had a pleasant stretch of weather lasting about 4 days but we're warming up again as the week proceeds. However, once again, California's inland valleys and the Pacific Northwest are taking more more of the brunt of Mother Nature's wrath so I'm still counting us as lucky here on the coast.
DeleteNo hint of running low in materials with those fine arrangements as always :) hope those Dahlias finally catch up and make a good floral show
ReplyDeleteThe dahlia buds are opening ever so slowly...
DeleteI love both floral arrangements, Kris! I love love love the 2nd vase itself! The aster looks very pretty in your arrangements but I understand the need to get a more manageable plant. Seeing that ‘Dara’ is such a long season bloomer for you, I hope to get my seeds going for next year.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you remember where you sow the 'Dara' seeds so you aren't perplexed like I was when the plants make their appearance. You may recall that I wondered if I had a crop of poison hemlock on my hands at first ;) I'm also noticing that the plants are popping up where I most definitely didn't sow seeds too so a watchful eye may be necessary to prevent them from spreading where you don't want them.
DeleteSuch a shame the aster isn't doing well for you Kris. Mine are yet to flower. You do have some other gorgeous flowers though!
ReplyDeleteThis aster clearly has issues with water, Cathy. The rhizomes spread like wildfire when we had one year of decent rain but now the flower stems that aren't getting sufficient water (we're exceptionally dry this year) are rapidly turning crispy, brown and ugly.
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