I prepared two arrangements this week and they're as dissimilar as they can be. The first one is soft and very pink.
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| The early blooms of Camellia 'Taylor's Perfection' provided the inspiration |
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| Back view: As the Camellia blooms are likely to drop within 2-3 days, I dressed up the back side so I can turn the arrangement around to provide interest when that happens |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Alstroemeria 'Inca Lucky' (recycled from one of last week's arrangements), Alstroemeria 'Inca Vienna', Camellia williamsii 'Taylor's Perfection', Antirrhinum majus, Boronia crenulata 'Shark Bay', Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata', and Plectranthus scutellarioides ' Florida Sun Rose' (aka coleus) |
The second arrangement doesn't include any true flowers. I initially planned to stick with the flower-like bracts of Leucadendrons of various kinds in shades of yellow, pinkish-red, and green but I changed things up a little at the last minute.
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| The dark Aeonium rosettes provided a focal point |
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| Back view: I added 3 stems of Hibiscus foliage to echo the color of the Aeoniums. The Hibiscus stems have small buds but I'm not sure they're developed enough to bloom. |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop', Hibiscus acetosella 'Haight Ashbury', Leucadendron salignum 'Chief', and L. 'Wilson's Wonder' |
January isn't looking much better than December in terms of rain. At present, there's a forty-five percent chance of a dribble of rain next weekend. I'm already drawing down on my stored rainwater.
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
A large and very pink Camellia came with my garden. It is nice enough when blooming but I like it best when million of pink petals skirt on the ground bellow, contrasting with black mondo grass. For a short moment in time it is quite spectacular. Hopefully you wouldn't mind when I say that I like the back view of the first vase even better than the front, mostly for the contrasting colors.
ReplyDeleteLove the second, riotous vase. Leucadendron 'Chief' has so many colors, Wow. If we don't count the Hibiscus buds, is this the first bloom-less vase ever? Chavli
That's a good question, Chavli. I'm pretty sure the answer is "no" as I've put together arrangements comprised of succulents before without any kind of flowers as I recall. It's not common for me, though!
DeleteIt's a good thing I planned ahead in preparing the arrangement with Camellias as all 3 of those blooms hit the floor this morning. I'm blaming the heater for their premature drops.
Such a dramatic second vase. And I love the soft pink camellia and alstroemeria against that dark plum coleus. Sorry to hear about the rain. It and the snow keep winging their way here instead. I am sure there will be flooding midweek but we should be safe. Feast or famine as they say. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
ReplyDeleteI know that El Nino conditions don't guarantee a good rain year for California (especially when it comes to the southern part of the state) but I admit to being disappointed, Donna. December-February are usually our wettest months.
DeleteI love the soft pinks, especially with the contrast of the coleus. Hopefully you will get a nice day of rain soon, you are truly a dry January!
ReplyDeleteThat 'Florida Sun Rose' coleus is a real marvel, Tracy. I've found growers that will mail the plants (in season, which looks like May) but no one offering the seeds themselves. So I'm trying to get cuttings through the colder temperatures. I expect I'll be able to find the plants in local garden centers during the summer months without paying hefty shipping fees.
DeleteYour pink vase is bright and cheery and almost spring-like, whereas the second one is, as you say, very different. I really like its earthy tones
ReplyDeleteI love the dark-colored Aeoniums but rarely cut them as they're nowhere near as prolific as the solid green ones. The good news side of cutting them for a vase is that I should be able to put them right back into the soil next week.
DeleteLove the diversity Kris. The camellia vase is irresistible. I also like the moody dark vase with the Aeonium rosettes.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the Camellia blooms were too big and fluffy, Susie - they dropped even faster than I'd expected. In contrast, the second arrangement will probably last for weeks if I wanted to hang onto it that long.
DeleteWhoa! Dramatic difference. Sweet vs. Ominous. Cool! :)
ReplyDeleteAny rainy season is going to be disappointing compared to last winter's miracle, even an "average" one. Winter is not over yet--there's still many chances for more rain ahead.
I hope so, HB. I knew it was very unlikely we'd have anything like last year's rain. What I fear is the 4 inches we had a couple of years before.
DeleteFirst vase is lovely but the alien quality of the second -especially the brilliant use of hibiscus buds- really gives me squee! Best wishes for upcoming rain.
ReplyDeleteI'm nominally disappointed that the Hibiscus buds didn't open in the morning sunlight but you can't have everything ;)
DeleteI love the Taylors camellia, an old favorite. I like to use succulents in vases, too. The aeonium makes for a dramatic statement! Amelia
ReplyDeleteI should figure out a way to use a large number of green Aeonium arboreum rosettes, Amelia - I've got a huge number of those that I know I won't even be able to give away.
DeleteBoth vases are very different and equally as lovely in different ways. That's a great idea to make the vase double-sided so you can turn it around when the camellias drop. I'll keep that in mind for when mine are in bloom.
ReplyDeleteSadly, Camellias aren't real vase material but they're so lovely I can't help sharing them on occasion. In this case, all those in full bloom dropped within a day and it's unlikely the remaining buds will open.
DeleteYour forward thinking is clever Kris, planning a reverse side of your arrangement! And it is such a pretty vase, showing what I imagine are regular winter flowers in your climate. The second one shows just how amazing it is what can be done with no 'flowers' as such. I am envious of your Aeoniums. I am nursing one along that has failed to flourish as a houseplant for years, but at least it is still alive so there's hope yet!
ReplyDeleteAeoniums are made for Southern California, Cathy. I can cut there heads off one minute and plant them the next so I use them heavily as filler material. Unfortunately, the darker types aren't as prolific as the all-green ones.
DeleteBarbie vs. the Dark Side... I'll take the Dark Side please! Rain, we had .81 just in the last 24 hours. I would love to share! It looks like that's going to turn to snow and probably the worst form, freezing rain, later in the week. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're garden is facing freezing rain, Loree. It's been exceptionally dry of late here - not only is there no rain in sight (the slim chance we had for the coming weekend is fading) but our humidity levels have also fallen.
DeleteYour second vase is a delightful surprise, Kris, I love it. I bet it'll last a long while, too. Sorry we are getting all your rain, it seems. Another deluge expected tonight. Wish I could send you this storm! Eliza
ReplyDeleteI wish you could too, Eliza. It looks as though the storm originally forecast for late Saturday/early Sunday isn't going to reach us after all.
DeleteOh they are most different vases indeed Kris as you say. I like both but the dark and dramatic creation really caught my eye. Sadly aeoniums will not survive the winter here outdoors otherwise I would be tempted.
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky in that Aeoniums are virtually foolproof plants here, Anna.
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