The weather has been bizarre this year - and I realize that this isn't just true of coastal Southern California. Here, we've had brief heat spells on and off since January but, each time I fear summer is moving in to stay, we flip back to cooler temperatures. After temperatures reaching 90F the prior week, last week our temperatures remained mostly in the mid-to-upper 60sF and that pattern is expected to hold through this week as well. Regardless of whether it's hot or cold, though, wind has become a regular feature and, in the absence of rain, that's drying out the soil and plants. While some of my cool season flowers are clearly on the decline, there are others not yet ready to concede the stage to their warm/hot season replacements.
To clear space in my cutting garden for Dahlia tubers and Zinnia seedlings, I've begun pulling out the scruffier Digitalis and Nigella plants. Flowers of both inspired my first arrangement this week.
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| I played off the dark color at the center of the Nigella papillosa flowers in selecting burgundy foliage to fill out the vase |
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| This side of the arrangement was meant to be the back but, when I placed it in my front entryway, it ended up as the front view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey', Fuchsia magellanica 'Hawkshead', Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian White', noID Lathyrus odoratus, Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Vino' (formerly known as Coleus), and Nigella papillosa |
In the interest of saving a few purple foxgloves that had flopped over in the wind, I used them as the starting point for my second arrangement.
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| I'd had pink Alstroemeria in mind to combine with the foxgloves but the latter's blue undertones had me abandoning that plan and seeking new partners |
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| Back view: I picked a tall Acanthus stem to add height. Acanthus mollis was a major feature in my former shady garden but the plant can't take the drier conditions in my current garden. While refusing to die, the plants disappear as temperatures rise, returning only briefly following our winter rainy season. At best, I get one or two flowers a year. |
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| Top view: I used a few tall stems of Arthropodium cirratum (aka Renga lily) as a filler |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Acanthus mollis, Arthropodium cirratum, Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Purple', noID Lathyrus odoratus, Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata', and Scabiosa columbaria 'Flutter Rose Pink' |
I expect I'll continue to winnow out the Nigella blooms at a steady rate. As the sweet pea foliage is looking uglier every day, those vines may go this week. I've given away cut flowers at intervals over the past few weeks and I may step up the pace there, assuming I can find enough bottles or cups to hold miniature bouquets.
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All
material © 2012-2022
by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I love the colors in your first arrangement! Glad you've got some cooler temperatures.
ReplyDeleteIt's practically cold here, Loree (although I suspect you wouldn't consider it so).
DeleteOh wow! I was going to comment on how striking teh onotone first vase was and then I scrolled down to your second one - both wonderful! The acanthus stem in the second one works brilliantly to set off the pinky-purply tones of the other blooms
ReplyDeleteI probably wouldn't cut the Acanthus if it had more than a single bloom, Cathy, but it makes more of a statement in a vase than it does in the garden ;)
DeleteThe arrangements look great. The Nigella is really something, easily double the size of mine, did not know that variety. We are in summer humid mode here - with wind to dry things out like you. So annoying.
ReplyDeleteWe've had higher humidity here since last week too, Amelia, but ours is linked to the return of the morning marine layer, which is also what's keeping our temperatures down. The inland valleys are considerably warmer. Climate scientists say our coastal marine layer is "doomed" (and it has become spottier) but, despite the morning gloom, I'm hoping it hangs on for many years to come.
DeleteI love the drama between the dark foliage tones and white blooms in the first vase, Kris. It’s really beautiful! That little fuchsia, with its pale green tips is so sweet.
ReplyDeleteThe acanthus really works in well with the digitalis in the second bunch - I’ve never thought of using that as a cut flower - it looks great. Two lovely bunches!
I think this is the third time I've tried that 'Hawkshead' fuchsia, Horticat. It looks to be doing well this time, although I can't claim it's a heavy bloomer. (Maybe a little fertilizer would help there.) I'm growing it in a half barrel with the coleus that shares the vase with it this week. The barrel has its own drip water irrigation, which may be the ticket.
DeleteThe first vase is so striking. Love the dark and light playing off each other. Didn't know Coleus has been reclassified. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteWikipedia doesn't seem to know the coleus has been reclassified either but CABI, Hortipedia, and Dave's Garden among others have addressed the change. I didn't get wind of it myself until last year. The frequency of changes - and resulting confusion - make me crazy too.
DeletePairing the Nigella with the dark foliage was very successful Kris. The Nigella is lovely - one I have never come across before. And a white Fuchsia! Gorgeous! I am loving your foxgloves. I simply cannot get them established here although they grow wild not far from us!
ReplyDeleteThe foxgloves refused to grow in my borders here, Cathy, but when I moved them into the more well-watered raised planters of my cutting garden they did well. I treat them like annuals for the most part, although occasionally I leave one or two in place to bloom again a second year. There's only so much room to spare in my cutting garden so most get the boot at the end of the spring season.
DeleteAfter a very hot spell it has cooled down here too thankfully. Both your bouquets are stunning, the first one is especially elegant. The digitalis look fab in a vase. You've such a good eye for arranging the flowers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Annette. I'm glad you've benefited from cooler conditions too.
DeleteTwo beautiful vases again...that nigella flower is so unusual. I love it and the colors of the vase you used to showcase it! I can't believe how bizarre the weather has been. We are getting your same weather. Clear, not too much rain and hot. Then plunging 20+ degrees into the 60s. Scary really. The pattern is predicted to continue here too.
ReplyDeleteIn general, the plants here have mostly taken the weather flip-flops in stride thus far, although I suspect that's because most of the heat spells have been relatively short (3-4 days in duration). But even some of my well-established shrubs have already shown burnt foliage and other signs of stress. I find it scary too.
DeleteBoth your vases again are perfect, I like the first one with the pale and dark leaves, and clever use of coleus.
ReplyDeleteThat burgundy coleus surprised me as it soared through what passes for winter here without any sign of decline, Noelle. Even through our winters are mild, most coleus plants left in the ground look so shabby that I'm compelled to pull them. I think the fact that this one is planted in a half barrel and protected from wind and direct sun with a drip irrigation line made the difference.
DeleteYour first vase is very dramatic and elegant, almost restrained. In particular I love Nigella papillos: wow!
ReplyDeleteThe second vase is more exuberant (that fox glove!). I don't remember noticing Arthropodium cirratum in the past arrangements. I love it's dainty look and the dark stems. Gorgeous.
Chavli
The Arthropodium only recently began blooming, Chavli. I used it once before this season but its flowers tend to get lost in a crowded arrangement as was the case in that instance. They held their own better in this week's arrangement. Arthropodium is one of my favorite plants as it handles dry shade conditions here - I've divided and spread the plants all over the place ;)
DeleteI like the dark tones in the first arrangement set off by the whites. I'm about to sow my Nigella seeds, so fingers crossed the do as well as yours. I'm excited about them. Your foxgloves look so luxuriant. Mine are the old garden variety, pretty but not as exuberant, and are just starting to bud up. Our seasons definitely are opposite. Eliza
ReplyDeleteI hope the Nigella seeds do as well for you as those I saved for myself did, Eliza. They took their time to reach bloom stage here - I think I sowed my seeds in or around late November and I didn't see blooms until April but perhaps that had to do with soil temperature. My seedlings were more crowded than they probably should have been too as I wasn't rigorous about thinning them.
DeleteI'm hard picked to pick a favourite vase this week Kris 😂 Is Coprosma a shrub? I've not heard of it before - such an attractive leaf. Wind can be so damaging as you suggest and dries out plants so quickly especially those in containers. We have had a couple of windy days in a row and were most relieved that the tree surgeon who was doing so major work here finished a day ahead of schedule!
ReplyDeleteYes, Coprosma is a shrub. Its common name is mirror plant as its leaves are usually shiny. Shrub and leaf size varies tremendously depending upon the variety. As to the wind, it's been easier to count the days without it than with it here this year! I don't mind wind now and then but a daily dose of it is a bit much.
DeleteHi Thank you for your lovely site. Wondering if I can bring in Linden Arrowwood for a floral display in my home
ReplyDeleteThe berries and foliage are so beautiful this time of year. Thanks again. Email: pcamktg@gmail.com