I returned to my old standbys for flowers this week as there's nothing new in the garden to share. It's been colder than usual by our standards for the last couple of weeks with temperatures seldom reaching much over 60F (15C) but we also got a real rainstorm on Sunday and we're expecting a bit more overnight. I'm hoping the rain will work its magic in the garden, bringing new blooms in the coming weeks.
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| Grevilleas 'Peaches & Cream' and 'Superb' bloom year round. The small-flowered Grevillea alpina x rosmarinifolia joined in last month with colors that echo those of the large-flowered Grevilleas. |
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| Back view: The Mexican marigold (Tagetes lemmonii) is still going strong so I added a few stems of those, much to my husband's irritation. He didn't notice the scent the last time I cut them but he immediately wrinkled his nose this time. The Anthurium stems are the same ones I cut for IAVOM on November 21st! |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Anthurium 'Maine', Grevillea alpina x rosmarinifolia, G. 'Peaches & Cream', G. 'Superb', Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum', Rosa 'California Dreamin' (making a surprise appearance), and Tagetes lemmonii |
Believe it or not, Dahlia 'Lavender Ruffles' is still blooming, although the flowers seem to take an especially long time to open fully.
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| Once again, the dahlia bloom is huge, a full 8 inches in diameter, but I sacrificed a partially opened bud in cutting this stem |
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| Back view: I used stems of trailing Lantana from my back slope and the variegated foliage of mint bush (Prostanthera) as fillers in this small vase |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the left: Dahlia 'Lavender Ruffles', Lantana montevidensis, and Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata' |
The holidays crept up on me this year. We brought home a Christmas tree on Friday and the decorations are slowly going up. I'd hoped to make a wreath this year but I've yet to carve out the time to do that. Maybe next week...
To find other IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2022 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I took a minute to bask in the warm memory of "temperatures seldom reaching much over 60F". Sigh.
ReplyDeleteDespite reduced flower selection, your vases don't seem to suffer one bit. I like the more unusual combination and creativity that is spurred on by this time of year. Rosa 'California Dreamin' is a nice surprise.
Dahlia 'Lavender Ruffles' has gorgeous color and astonishing size... do you stake this dahlias?
chavli
My reaction to temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s has me recognizing how difficult it might be for me to adapt to winter conditions in the PNW, Chavli :( Re Dahlia 'Lavender Ruffles', I never staked that plant because its height at maturity was supposed to be less than 3 feet but the tallest stems did flop once those heavy blooms developed so, in the future, I plan to give it more support.
DeleteYou must have been thrilled with your inch of rain, Kris, even if you were hoping for rather more than that 😉 Love the colour of that dahlia, but am astonished at the sunniness of the first vase
ReplyDeleteAn inch of rain gives my garden a decent soak, Cathy, especially when it comes in slow and steady as was the case with these 2 most recent storm systems. Northern California got much more rain and snow than we did in the south but, as long as it doesn't get too warm too fast in the coming months, that northern snowpack may benefit us as well :)
DeleteYour grevilleas would be enough flowers for me, if only they were happy in Zone 8...
ReplyDeleteDiscovering Grevilleas - and Leucadendrons - was a saving grace when it came to gardening here, especially as drought conditions worsened, Loree.
DeleteI'm glad you're getting some rain. Great arrangements; I especially LOVE the warm colors of the first vase. That rose!
ReplyDeleteThat rose is very small relative to its usual size but, given that it showed up in December, it's impressive nonetheless.
DeleteI love the grasses in the first two. I am glad you got some rain, but surprised at how cool it is there. My husband just decided it was too cold to sit outside, 71!
ReplyDeleteIt's true that those of us who live in warmer climates are more sensitive to cooler temperatures. I can't remember if the explanation is thinner skin or thicker blood or something else altogether but the body adapts to the climate. During the winter months here, I can always tell visitors from locals - the visitors wear shorts and tank tops while locals wear sweaters and jackets.
DeleteBeautiful colors in that first arrangement. You have a great assortment of stand-bys! And I love the dahlia arrangement. Nice to see D. 'Lavender Ruffles' looking so splendid with that pretty variegated foliage; the lantana is perfect with it.
ReplyDeleteThat dahlia continues to amaze me, Susie. I'm trying to decide whether to wait another couple of weeks for the remaining buds to bloom or to dig the tuber up now and store it. Its foliage is looking increasingly awful.
DeleteThe lavender dahlia is Gorgeous! 😃 Well worth sacrificing the bud I would say, as this must make you smile every time you pass by. The foliage you used is so pretty too and I have never seen a lantana that colour before - a perfect match. The first vase is lovely too… soft golden colours go so well with the Pennisetum.
ReplyDeleteI think that dahlia's flowers look better in December than those the plant produced in summer!
DeleteI love the textures and the beautiful colors.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm glad you enjoyed them.
DeleteMagnificent dahlia! And always grateful for our rain.
ReplyDeleteIt was. I finally dug up the tuber for storage. Hopefully, it'll come back strong this summer.
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