First and foremost, I want to recognize Cathy's 9th anniversary of the In a Vase on Monday meme. To keep a meme running and fresh for that period of time is an achievement in itself. To pull people together in a supportive network from different backgrounds, climates, and countries is stellar. Thank you, Cathy! Thanks as well for pulling together the first, and possibly not the last, virtual meeting of IAVOM participants. It was wonderful to put a face and a voice to some of you I've exchanged messages with for years.
Now, for today's vases, I should note that there are no true rosebuds to be found in my post this week. My garden is at low ebb when it comes to flowers at this time of year and it's been a disappointing year in general with respect to roses. However, some Leucadendrons, which have colorful bracts rather than true flowers, provide a facsimile of rosebuds and I made use of them in a starring role in my first arrangement.
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| I added a succulent Aeonium rosette to serve as the focal "flower" in this arrangement |
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| Back view: The velvety burgundy leaves of the coleus, Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Vino', provided color contrast |
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| Top view showing off the "rosebuds" of Leucadendron 'Blush' |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi', Leucadendron salignum 'Blush', Correa 'Dusky Bells', variegated Correa 'Wyn's Wonder', and Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Vino' |
I put together the first arrangement on Saturday afternoon to share during Sunday's Zoom call, which was held at 9am Pacific Time. I cut a few other flowers late Sunday morning for a second arrangement (as I'm prone to do).
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| My original Dahlia 'Lavender Ruffles' (as opposed to the other one that produced its first and only flowers in late October) is still producing fresh foliage and buds but the flowers are opening very slowly |
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| Back view: The addition of the Persicaria capitata foliage helps to give the arrangement an autumnal flair (at least to my eyes in a part of the world where colorful fall foliage is an anomaly) |
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| Top view: The dark green foliage is Pelargonium graveolens 'Bontrosai'. Both the stems and the leaves are naturally twisted. The foliage has a strong lemon-rose scent. |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Lavender Ruffles', Hebe 'Grace Kelly, Pelargonium peltatum, Nemesia 'Banana Swirl', Persicaria capitata, Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata', and Pelargonium graveolens 'Bontrosai' |
Cutting flowers has been a ritual for me for many years but prior to my discovery of IAVOM I did that on a haphazard schedule. Now it's something of a Sunday ritual, one that both my husband and my friends respect. It's an opportunity to focus on the beauty of my garden (even when it isn't especially forthcoming with flowers) and to assess what needs work at the same time. Cutting, arranging, and photographing flowers and foliage also provides me a deeper understanding of the plants, which is valuable in itself. Altogether, IAVOM is a win-win.
To find Cathy's own arrangement and those of other contributors, check in with her at Rambling in the Garden.
* "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may" is the first line of the poem 'To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time' by the 17th century English poet, Robert Herrick. The entire poem can be found here.
All material © 2012-2022 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Hi Kris! Wasn't it great to finally meet yesterday! When you held up your posy I was convinced I was seeing tulips! The Leucadendron are a wonderful rose substitute and the rich velvety Coleus are a perfect match. I bet the second vase smelt lovely while you were making it. I had several scented pelargoniums this summer near my front door, to brush past when I went in or out. Some have been brought indoors now and I shall see how they do through the winter. You are right about how different we and our gardens all are, and yet we have this common passion about plants. And you are also right about how cutting flowers teaches us so much about our plants.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week Kris!
It was good to see you too, Cathy! I've heard Leucadendrons likened to tulips before and in fact think I may have made that comparison myself on occasion ;) The scent of the Pelargonium 'Bontrosai' is indeed very strong. I love that plant, although I've allowed it to ramble a bit and took time to cut it back yesterday in the process of gathering stems for my 2nd arrangement. I hope it springs back but, as an insurance policy, I've planted cuttings in the hope of getting more to plant elsewhere and to give away.
DeleteSucculents and leucadendron bracts as flowers is something I can appreciate! I love how you described your cutting and arranging as a ritual (that others respect), and that bit about gaining a deeper understanding of the plants. Perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks Loree! Succulent rosettes make useful (if heavy) substitutes for flowers at this time of year.
DeleteIt's a wonderful thing to bring people together. Easy to tear things apart, much more of an achievement to build something wonderful. Cheers to all of you IVOM-ers!
ReplyDeleteBesides that, the gardening advantage of arrangements are an outstanding way to try plant and color combinations.
Alas, not one of my talents. Always enjoy yours!
The IAVOM posts are as much about the individual plants included in the arrangements as any artistry in their compilation, HB. Master plantswoman that you are I expect you could add a lot to the group if you chose to contribute (periodically, if not regularly).
DeleteOur meeting for the first time yesterday was remarkable, and how clever of Cathy to organise the zoom. When I first admired your vase yesterday I thought the center piece was a grouping of tulips...two beautiful arrangements so thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTulips are even more unlikely flowers in my garden than roses, Noelle! It was good to see you yesterday.
DeleteWhat a glowing introduction - thanks Kris 😊The leucadendron makes a brilliant stand-in for roses, and we would be forgiven for assuming they were rosebuds - the coleus goes so well with them too. Love the lavender shades in your second vase as well, and that;s a useful little persicaria - must look that one up
ReplyDeleteThat particular Persicaria is a virtual weed here, Cathy. It certainly self-sows. In fact, I cut those stems from plants that added themselves to 2 pots containing blueberry shrubs on my back porch. Luckily, these particular "weeds" are easy to manage and pretty as well.
DeleteLovely 'roses' and late pink dahlia, it's a pretty one (which most dahlias are, right?). Sorry I missed that Zoom call. I haven't posted arrmts much the past couple years, but I still blog with many participants. It would have been fun to see and hear everyone. Maybe I'll catch the next one. Eliza
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your participation would be very welcome, Eliza.
DeleteBrilliant and unorthodox arrangements today. Love it.
ReplyDeletechavli
Unorthodox arrangements are a necessity at this time of year, Chavli. I've planted plugs, sowed seeds, and buried bulbs but it'll be quite awhile yet before I have new blooms to offer.
DeleteOh my goodness, I love the Leucadendrons! I remember seeing them frequently when we visited family in San Diego. Your arrangements are lovely, as always. :)
ReplyDeleteI remember how you like Leucadendrons, Beth. I wonder if one of the smaller varieties could survive in a pot with some winter protection in your climate? Not that I'd expect you'd find many for sale locally.
DeleteHi Kris, so good to see you Sunday. Isn't it great that we now know a bit more about the person behind the blog. You always say you don't have much to pick but then you always present us with the most beautiful, varied bouquets. That Leucadendron is stunning indeed and I didn't know that Plectranthus comes in such a colour. I planted a Leptospermum 'Winter Beauty' two days ago. Have a good week :)
ReplyDeleteIt was good to "meet" you too, Annette! I hope your new Leptospermum performs well for you - I don't know that one but I've been pleased with the Leptospermums I grow. As to the Plectranthus scuttellariodes, that's the new classification for what are more commonly called coleus. They're annuals in most places, although 'Vino' (and 'Salsa Verde', which occupies the same barrel container) has held on for over a year in my garden. The plants are huge and continue to do well.
DeleteOh it was so good to see you on Sunday Kris and I do hope that we get the chance to do meet up again! November is always a low point here too but I couldn't put together such riches as you have! The leucadendron does an excellent impersonation of a rosebud. Is the coleus a perennial for you? I love scented geraniums too but always struggle to get them through the winter. We're fortunate to have an excellent nursery nearby with an excellent stock of rooted cuttings which I treat myself to a few of each spring 😂
ReplyDeleteI was happy to see you on the Zoom call, Anna! I expect that winter in coastal Southern California isn't anything like winter in your part of the world - we don't get freezes or snow (although, sadly, not much rain of late either). Coleus are generally treated as annuals here. They can limp along into our colder months but generally don't thrive. I don't know if 'Vino' is somehow different from most but both it and its companion in the same container have grown to almost monstrous proportions over the past year (despite regular trimming) and show no signs of giving up. I think they may just be in the perfect spot where they get the right amount of light and water but are protected from the harshest sun conditions and drying winds.
DeleteWho needs roses when you have such gorgeous rosebud pink leucadendrons, Kris? I love how you have arranged them together in a cluster. So pretty. Sorry to miss the zoom call - it was about 3 in the morning here so a bit early for me :)
ReplyDeleteI knew the call was at a ridiculous hour for you, Horticat - it was 9am for me, which was plenty early enough! Cathy had planned to provide a recording to you and others who couldn't make it but I think she missed the first half.
DeleteHi Kris. Such a delight to see and hear you again. I have fond memories of hanging out together and visiting gardens around DC (seems like such a long time ago). Like Cathy I immediately read the Leucadendrons as tulips. They make great rosebuds too! Fabulous arrangements. I need to remember coleus next year when I'm planting. Such a wonderful addition to the garden. Easy to overwinter in water.
ReplyDeleteIt was great to see you again too, Susie. Coleus is easy to propagate by cuttings, although 'Vino' has saved me even that effort by carrying on for more than a year without a pause.
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