I had Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria) in mind when I selected the title of today's post but the statement applies to other flowers in the arrangements shown below as well. Our marine layer and cooler temperatures are partially responsible for the resilience of some plants this year but others are just plain tough.
The first arrangement was inspired by two roses, which aren't tough at all. There was a chance of rain in the early hours of Sunday morning and the irrigation system was also scheduled to run. Neither does many favors for full blown roses so I cut four stems Saturday evening. However, the Alstroemeria and Grevillea stems I added are the toughies.
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| Grevillea 'Superb' is currently flowering so heavily, it demanded to be cut back. This shrub flowers year-round but I've never seen it flowering as heavily as it has this year. |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
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| Top row: Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' and Alstroemerias 'Third Harmonic' and 'Inca Husky' Second row: Grevillea 'Superb' and Alstroemerias 'Indian Summer' and 'Inca Sundance' Third row: Rosa 'Golden Celebration', R. 'Medallion', and Xylosma congestum |
My second arrangement was inspired by Helleborus 'Anna's Red'. Hellebores may bloom plentifully in many places but the same can't be said for their performance in my garden. Only two varieties bloomed this year. 'Anna's Red' surprised me by producing new stems relatively recently. I added stems of two more vigorous plants, an Alstroemeria and an ivy geranium (Pelargonium peltatum), to complement the hellebore, along with new blooms from Daucus carota 'Dara'.
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| I stuffed too much into this vase (as usual) |
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| Back view: The Daucus carota shown here may be the biggest one I've ever seen |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Salvia lanceolata, noID Alstroemeria, Daucus carota 'Dara', Helleborus 'Anna's Red', and Pelargonium peltatum 'Dark Burgundy' |
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
The flowers are loving your cooler weather. Especially love the colours of the first bouquet. Warm with lots of interesting texture. Have unsuccessfully tried to grow Daucus but after seeing that huge head will have to give it another try.
ReplyDeleteI think the Daucus really liked all the rain we got this year, Elaine.
DeleteI love both of your PERFECTLY "stuffed" vases. I mean, this is the season for saturation, isn't it? I hadn't realize you have so many Alstroemeria. The yellow roses in your first vase they help soften the magnificent riotous orange of Grevillea 'Superb' and Alstroemeria 'Indian summer'.
ReplyDeleteNoID Alstroemeria in the second vase provides similar service, placed just right, between the amazing (!) Daucus carota 'Dara' and intensity of Pelargonium 'Dark Burgundy'.
Chavli
I do have a lot of Alstroemeria, Chavli. Many of the pink varieties came with the garden but I added a lot more. They're usually dying back by this time of year but the cooler temperatures have allowed them to hang on. The rain helped produce some very tall stems this year too.
DeleteAwesome arrangements. I'm partial to the golds, salmons, oranges, and yellows...but the cool colors of the second arrangement (and your creative approach) are gorgeous, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth. I'm rather partial to yellow and orange tones too ;)
DeleteOh that fiery orange arrangement is super!
ReplyDeleteThanks Loree. I had to do something with those roses before they faded away.
DeleteBeautiful vases. That first one is particularly striking. The colors all go together so well. The daucus is lovely. I haven't grown it but was surprised how large it could be.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I've ever seen a Daucus flower even half the size of that one, Susie. It'll be interesting to see how big other flowers get.
DeleteYou do peachy shades so well, Kris, and fisrt vase is so warm and welcoming. The daucus in the second vase is astonishingly bountiful and works well with the other blooms but I fid it hatrd to believe that you could have a new flowering stem on a hellebore in the middle of June!!
ReplyDeleteI was startled to see new stems with flowers on that hellebore too, Cathy, especially as the plant took its time to bloom the first time and given how poorly the rest of my hellebores did this year.
DeleteStunning as always!
ReplyDeleteDid your get that rain on Sunday Kris? None of my daucus flowers have ever reached such proportions - what a fine specimen. I would be tempted to save seed from it in hope of equally vigorous offspring. As Cathy says it seems hard to believe that you have a hellebore flower open now but then I've seen them out out here in the autumn.
ReplyDeleteWe got 1/100th of an inch of rain on Sunday, Anna, but as any rain this time of year is an anomaly, I'm not complaining. If the chances had been higher I would've turned off the irrigation system. Forecasters contend that there are other chances of drizzle at intervals later this week but I'm not holding my breath even though the weather here has been odd of late.
DeleteWhat? Helleborus in June, and beautiful it is. I love the toasty colors in the first arrangement. Amelia
ReplyDeleteThe new hellebore blooms were a big surprise, Amelia.
DeleteKris once again you have outdone yourself. Both are so amazing in coloring and flowers. I have always wanted to be able to grow Alstroemeria. So many colors and so perfect cut and displayed in a vase.
ReplyDeleteAlstroemeria is well-adapted to my climate, Donna. I suspect it'd need a greenhouse in your climate.
DeleteBoth fabulous. I love the first with all your trademark colours. And the different shades of pink are gorgeous. I am going to try again with Daucus after seeing your impressive bloom. It's always fun seeing so many unusual flowers in your arrangements.
ReplyDeleteSorry Chris, I forgot to say that it is Chloris in the comment I just posted.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chloris. I suspect the ample rain this year was a factor in the growth of that Daucus and the UK gets a lot of that, at least under normal circumstances.
DeleteI didn't know hellebores could bloom this time of year. In England they start in December and here, mine start in February or March, but they were long ago finished here. It is always interesting how plants bloom so differently for different climates.
ReplyDeleteYour arrangements are beautiful as always. That hot colored one looks so fiery and feisty.
That particular hellebore always blooms late but I think its first flower stalks showed up in late March, Cindy. New blooms in June is something I've never seen before but the combination of heavier-than-usual rain this spring and much cooler temperatures may be at the heart of the matter.
DeleteLove the fiery oranges of the first vase– those alstros and grevilleas are amazing!
ReplyDelete#2 is cool in comparison. Burgundy and pink are a favorite combo of mine. Beautiful work, Kris! Eliza
Thanks Eliza. I was pretty happy with both arrangements this week.
DeleteOh, those roses. I am really getting into peach and orange blooms. Fun to see what you have in that color range.
ReplyDeleteI do seem to have a lot of peach and orange flowers, Linda. I can't say it was a conscious selection process but I'm pleased with the results.
DeleteWow vases crammed full! Flowery springtime, eh? :) My Hellebores are still producing new flowers, too. Great you have roses in your bouquet--I hope 'Golden Celebration' does well for you. It has been a great rose in my garden.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know my hellebores (or at least the 2 that chose to bloom this year) aren't alone, HB. I wish I'd put that 'Golden Celebration' rose in a better spot. I'm tempted to get another and plop it into one of my back garden borders ;)
DeleteOh, the abundance! I love that hot colored first arrangement. 'Golden Celebration' speaks for itself, and that grevillea is so unique. What a great color!
ReplyDeleteThe combination of far heavier-than-usual rain and cool temperatures have really given my generally dry garden a boost, Anna. Many of the cool season annuals took their time showing up but even now - in June when they'd usually be gone! - they're taking their time at exiting.
DeleteWow, they're just gorgeous! Wish I could grow Grevillea, it's so pretty. I've never seen such a huge Daucas flower and to have Helleborus at this time of year is amazing. I'm so glad that your garden is thriving with the rain and cooler temperatures. Same here, it really shows what plants need or like best. Let's enjoy the abundance while it lasts :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Annette. It appears that a strong El Nino pattern is developing in the Pacific, which usually means higher rainfall for us; however, that can come with floods and mudslides here and much larger negative consequences for other parts of the world. The adage "be careful what you wish for" comes to mind. Meanwhile, predictions are that cool temperatures may persist here at least through June.
DeleteGoodness, that Daucus is enormous! It seems strange to me to see it in flower at the same time as a hellebore, but they look lovely together. The first vase is a blaze of gorgeous summer colour. I always admire your Grevillea and that orange Alstroemeria goes perfectly with it - and your rose. Beautiful combinations Kris. Your garden must be looking wonderful with the cooler weather and rain too. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhile we've had a little drizzle off and on, we haven't had any measurable rain to speak of since early May, Cathy, but then we don't usually see any rain between April and November anyway. The cooler temperatures are wonderful, although I have to admit I miss seeing the sun!
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