Remarkably, we got a touch of rain late last week. It wasn't much, just 0.18/inch (4.6mm) but, as I expected nothing, it was appreciated. In what appears to be an unfortunate pattern, the low pressure system that permitted the rainstorm in the north to move into the south part of our state was quickly replaced by another round of Santa Ana winds and soaring temperatures. We briefly hit 87F (30C) yesterday and today could be warmer still. The winds can quickly wither flowers so on Sunday I cut blooms with relative abandon for In a Vase on Monday, the weekly meme hosted by Cathy of Rambling in the Garden.
The rain spurred another flush of blooms on the snapdragons in my cutting garden, inspiring my first arrangement. Thus far, the snapdragons are free of rust so I want to take advantage of them while I can.
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| I also took this opportunity to cut the last of my Narcissus, two remaining blooms of Leucospermum 'Brandi', and a single 'Lady Emma Hamilton' rose. I won the David Austin rose in a drawing at the Capitol Region Garden Bloggers' Fling in 2017. I received the rose in the spring of 2018 but it's produced fewer than a handful of flowers since. |
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| I dressed up the back of the arrangement with 2 stems of my 'Pink Meidiland' rose and added some height using stems of Leucadendron 'Jubilee Crown' |
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| Top view |
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| Top: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana' and Antirrhinum majus 'Chantilly Bronze' and 'Chantilly Peach' Middle: Leucadendron 'Cloudbank Ginny', L. 'Jubilee Crown', and Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi' Bottom: Narcissus 'Geranium', Rosa 'Lady Emma Hamilton', and R. 'Pink Meidiland' |
The first bearded Iris to bloom in my back garden prompted my second arrangement, although I admit I agonized awhile about cutting it. It looked beautiful on Friday following our brief rainstorm but Saturday's vicious wind did it no favors and I was afraid that the blooms currently in bud would suffer if I left it alone so, without thinking about it too long, I cut the stem and moved on.
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| This is what the Iris germanica 'City Lights' bloom looked like on Friday. It's a reblooming variety so I'm hopeful I'll see another bloom stalk this fall. |
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| The Iris wasn't looking its best by Sunday morning but I trusted that the buds were far enough developed to open even after the stem was cut. I grew the Nigella, Orlaya, and larkspur from seed. I'd collected the Nigella seed from plants I grew last year. |
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| The sweet peas tucked in the back of the arrangement were also grown from seed but they've been very disappointing. Almost all are the same dark blue color even though I planted seeds of 4 different mixes. |
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| Top view |
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| Top: Centranthus ruber 'Albus', Consolida ajacis (aka larkspur), and Delphinium elatum 'Cobalt Dreams' Middle: Globularia x indubia (aka globe daisy), Iris germanica 'City Lights', and Lathyrus odoratus Bottom: Nigella papillosa 'African Bride', Orlaya grandiflora, and Scabiosa columbaria 'Flutter Deep Blue' |
As usual, I cut too many flowers. The pink Alstroemerias I thought I could incorporate into the first arrangement didn't mesh with the prevailing orange tones so they went into a small vase for the kitchen island. When I couldn't cram everything I'd cut for the second arrangement into the vase I'd selected, the extra stems went into the kitchen island arrangement as well.
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| In addition to the noID pink Alstroemeria, this vase includes Orlaya grandiflora, self-seeded Lagurus ovatus (aka bunny tail grass), and Agrostemma 'Ocean Pearls' |
For more IAVOM creations, check in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2022 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Such wonderful flower arrangements! I can't wait for the summer when, hopefully, I'll be able to cut flowers from my own garden.
ReplyDeleteYour climate really is VERY different from mine, Nikki! By summer, our blooms start to bow out or go into hiding until summer's heat is done.
DeleteWonderful, the zonal (hardiness) variety you are able to grow continues to amaze me. The wind drives me crazy here, too. It creates watering situations! Love those Chantilly Snaps, bronze was always my favorite. I need to try some in the cool season.
ReplyDeleteNormally, I'd have turned the irrigation off for at least one cycle after even that pitiful rainfall we got on Friday but the wind dries things up almost immediately. I swear I don't remember wind as continuous as we've experienced this spring in prior years.
DeleteAaaah - your first vase has reminded me that I haven't sown the Chantilly snapdragon seeds that I tracked down after a long and was I thought was going to be a fruitless search! They look most attractive. All three vases look so colourful and summery in their content Kris.
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely try the 'Chantilly' snapdragons, Anna. They have a charm lacking in other snaps. Planting them in late fall worked for me this year as, despite the periodic heatwaves we've had, I've yet to see any of the rust that usually accompanies warming temperatures here. Then again, the seller claimed these plants were rust resistant :)
DeleteI really like how you arranged the flowers in the second vase to continue on with the swirl in the vase. Gives the arrangement movement. I always find it hard to pick flowers for arrangements but if it's going to be toasted yeah, pick it.
ReplyDeleteI started the cutting garden to diminish my hesitancy to cut flowers for the house, Elaine, but even so I sometimes hesitate to cut what's in my raised planters ;) Of course, IAVOM got me hooked on weekly arrangements so cutting flowers gradually got easier and easier...
DeleteI know that I only have to link into your post to have not just one vase of amazing flowers. Many thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Noelle. I am addicted to flowers ;)
DeleteThe blue and white is my favorite, The Scabiosa detracts to these admittedly clueless eyes. For some reason I'm "anonymous"? Did you add reCAPTCHA checking? Could be my browser.
ReplyDeleteI didn't add reCAPTCHA to my blog - it was a surprise to me when I typed my first comment this morning. I'm assuming that Blogger did this without prior notice. I'll check my settings to see if it's something I can fix.
DeleteNot quite enough blooms here to pick with gay abandon here, but the choice is increasing by the week 😉 It's so obvious from what you write that every mm of rain is precious and although it has been relatively dry here through March and April we do know we will inevitable get rain in due course. What a shame your rose has prouced few blooms as Lady Emma Hamilton is a beautiful rose and blooms prolifically here. Your delphinium in the second vase is such a glorious blue, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI live in fear that one day irrigation will be controlled to such an extent, I'll have to replant my garden entirely in succulents, Cathy. As it is, I regularly bring up the idea of moving north with my husband...
DeleteDavid Austin gave me my choice of rose shrubs and I selected 'Lady Emma Hamilton' because I'd seen its beautiful flowers in UK blog posts. I've been disappointed by its low bloom levels but, to be honest, none of my roses (most of which were inherited with the garden) bloom especially well. I expect I'm not giving them enough water.
The colors in each vase are so compatible. The Fling rose is lovely and your snapdragons as well. The blue iris is stunning. We're having a heat wave (mid-80s) here too just as the irises are coming into their own, rushing along the season. You made a lovely arrangement with the rescued iris. Hope we both get some rain this week, Kris. Have a good one!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're getting an early taste of summer too, Susie. Rain in early May happens occasionally but it's not common for us to get rain after mid-April. Even the Los Angeles Times has declared the end of our rainy season.
DeleteAnother lovely pair, Kris. I understand about the iris... sometimes it is hard to pluck something at its peak in the garden, but the winds would have fried it. So in a way, you saved it. :) Glad you got a tease of rain, but sorry about the punishing Santa Anas, hard to catch a break! Eliza
ReplyDeleteThat's what I felt too! It looks like Blogger or Google has tossed you into the "anonymous" category too, Eliza. The implementation of reCAPTCHA isn't something I initiated and changing my setting hasn't worked so I guess we're stuck with it.
DeleteYes, I've tried both my google account and wordpress URL and both they claim to be invalid. :( So I'll just sign my name to comments so you know who it is!
DeleteSo frustrating! I tried turning off the reCAPTCHA "button" but that didn't change anything. Why it's throwing some people into the "anonymous" category and not others, I can't understand. It seems to be affecting both people using the Blogger and Wordpress platforms.
DeleteReally beautiful again....those irises are such a fav, I miss them...you used them perfectly. And I adore the orange flowers...so much variety.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna. I'm really pleased to have Iris germanica blooming in my back garden after an absence of years.
DeleteThe blues of the iris and larkspur make that arrangement shimmer, Kris. You have the perfect daisy to match too. The first vase is delicious! I really love pink and orange together. I had forgotten that snapdragons can get rust. But yours look really healthy.
ReplyDeleteApparently rust in plants is promoted in conditions that are both moist and mild. As with mildew, our marine layer is a factor but that condition is less common of late, meaning less rust perhaps but also less protection against hot afternoon temperatures. Like so many things, it's both good and bad :|
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