We've had a welcome break in the rain since last Wednesday. More rain is expected Tuesday night into Thursday morning this week but it's been nice to have sunshine and blue skies again in the interim. Our climate usually delivers plenty of both and I have to admit I've missed them, much as I've appreciated all the rain we've had this year.
My first arrangement was inspired by the Dutch Iris 'Sapphire Beauty'.
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| The yellow flame on 'Sapphire Beauty's' falls almost requires a pairing with yellow flowers. The Leucospermum 'Goldie' stems I cut last week were still in great shape so I reused them in this vase. |
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| Back view: I keep using stems of Acacia 'Cousin Itt' as my foliage filler because the plants need pruning and I can't bring myself to throw away all those puffy yellow flowers |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Freesia, Limonium perezii, Iris hollandica 'Sapphire Beauty', and Leucospermum 'Goldie' |
My second arrangement was inspired by the calla lilies blooming on my back slope. Last year's poor rainfall gave me just two blooms but this is clearly going to be a much better year.
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| In retrospect, I should've varied the heights of the lilies more |
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| Back view: I limited the floral colors to yellow and white |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Argyranthemum frutescens 'White Butterfly', Freesia, noID Narcissus, and Zantedeschia aethiopica |
I recycled some of the Alstroemeria from last week's pink and white arrangement and cut a few new blooms to fill out a small vase for the kitchen island. The 'Lady Jane' species tulips are still plentiful but I couldn't bring myself to cut any more.
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| Views from 3 sides. The contents include 2 varieties of Alstroemeria, Argyranthemum 'Aramis Bicolor', Artemisia californica, and dark pink and white Freesia |
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All
material © 2012-2023
by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Leucospermum 'Goldie' hovering over the acacia tioy blooms... fireworks above and fireflies bellow!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I grow calla lilies, (yet weeks away from leaf or flower), I forgot about the yellow center... and some reason never used it in a vase. I absolutely will this year. It looks soft and regal with other yellow/white elements.
Chavli
Fireworks and fireflies - I love that metaphor, Chavli! There are a lot of very artistic arrangements online featuring calla lilies, not that I've ever attempted anything on that scale. The flowers have very long stems and I felt almost sad to cut them as short as I did, as if I was missing an opportunity.
DeleteAll are lovely but I especially love the first. Something about blue and yellow that is outstanding together. Much as the rain is needed it can get a bit wearing when it happens day after day. It's part of the reason I moved inland to the prairies from the BC coast.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I periodically talk about moving to the Pacific Northwest, Elaine, partly because the long-term water situation in California concerns me and partly because we have family in the Seattle area. However, the extended period of colder-than-usual temperatures this year have had me wondering if I could actually handle real winters. My heritage is Scandinavian but I'm SoCal born and raised.
DeleteThose first two bouquets are spring personified. Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteEven though the atmospheric rivers keep on coming - there's another cold one due this week - spring has a firm hold on things here, Linda. Based on this morning's weather report, I understand that our storm may unfortunately impact conditions in your part of the country later this week - I was sorry to hear that!
DeleteHaving worked in Seattle's U-District for years (home to the UW Huskies) I can't see that blue/yellow vase combo and not be taken right back. I think they're colors are more purple/gold but it's close enough. You have so many flowers for the last week of March, amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe spring flower display is actually lagging by 2-3 weeks this year, Loree, presumably due to the persistence of colder temperatures, but spring is nonetheless entrenched. Blue and yellow are also the colors of the UCLA Bruins - and Ukraine of course.
DeleteI especially like the yellow and white vase this week, such a pared back palette and the spathes of the arum link brilliantly with the yellow of the freesias. The blue and yellow of the first vase always make for a winning combination and I like how you recycled elements of a previous arrangement in your last offering - definitely vase value in your posts, Kris
ReplyDeleteLeucospermums in particular have a long vase life, Cathy. It would seem a shame to toss those flowers out after just a week. My other Leucspermums have buds and I'm watching them unfold all so slowly.
DeleteLavish presentation of those beautiful Dutch Iris 'Sapphire Beauty'. So gorgeous. Your top view of the calla lilies is dynamite.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't fond of calla lilies before I moved here, Susie, but now they always seem like a mini-miracle to me. The plants completely disappear as soon as summer arrives, only to magically reappear all over the back slope when the rain returns.
DeleteYour vases as always are stunning and look like you had the luxury of florist flowers. I will always be amazed at the variety your yard can grow year round. I suppose every climate has its pluses and minuses, and I try not to be jealous of the bounty your climate showers on you. I think the greatest bonus of living in Ohio is I get a much needed winter break from gardening. I'm not sure my body would hold up for year round back breaking work. How do you handle that part of the nonstop garden work?
ReplyDeleteI've often felt some envy at the break gardeners in colder climates get during the winter months but, at the same time, I don't think I'd be happy with a break of longer than a month. For all practical purposes, we do pause for a period at the height of summer when working outside can be miserable, at least midday. Doing anything other than monitoring soil moisture is foolish then too - planting anything other than a succulent or 2 is a recipe for failure.
DeleteThe Iris are gorgeous. I have been out of Iris country so long I had forgotten about Dutch Iris. The Callas are luscious from all the rain. It seems strange to see you happy for a break in the rain. Weather is so weird. Dry as a bone here. Amelia
ReplyDeleteEven my sandy soil is relatively saturated, Amelia. I haven't actually stopped collecting rainwater, although I'd intended to do so when facing the last atmospheric river, but I'm only collecting what I can distribute in the garden within a week. Meanwhile, my rain tanks remain full.
DeleteSo striking Kris! Your garden is a floriferous wonderland at the moment!
ReplyDeleteIt's spring - and we've had LOTS of rain this year, Horticat!
DeleteIris time! It's wonderful. Your bouquet shows off those beauties perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that, if I looked back at prior arrangements including that "Sapphire Beauty' Iris, they might look remarkably similar, if not identical, HB. It just seems like a natural mix.
DeleteYou have such a wide choice of perfect flowers in your garden, all treasures.
ReplyDeleteThanks Noelle. I have a hard time passing up an opportunity to try any flower in my garden ;)
DeleteI let out a big sigh when I saw your sunshine and blue skies in a vase Kris! Goldie is a stunning flower for using in vases, and your Freesias are such a lovely soft yellow. Hope your sunshine is back soon - we are still getting snow flurries again today!
ReplyDeleteIt was warm enough to take a walk without a sweater yesterday afternoon, Cathy! It's been months since I've done that. It's sunny again today but rain is on the way and should reach us overnight, with a second front now due to follow on Thursday. Early April is usually the end of our rainy season, though.
DeleteI am experiencing serious flower envy, Kris... Gorgeous arrangements! 💕 Eliza
ReplyDeleteThe way things are going, Eliza, April's Bloom Day could be epic ;)
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