With the extra rain we've had for two years in a row, my garden exploded this spring. I spent a good part of last week just pulling weeds and clearing paths covered by excessively exuberant plants - and I've barely made a dent in many areas. When it came time to cut flowers for "In a Vase on Monday," I decided to see if I could find any vase-worthy Matilija poppies at the bottom of our back slope. As I headed down there, I realized that, despite my efforts to tidy-up the area two weeks ago, it's more chaotic than ever now.
 |
| I took this photo after my first pass at cleaning things up earlier this month. It was relatively neat even if the pathways were narrow; however, while I moved on to other areas of the garden, blissfully believing everything was tidy enough on the slope for awhile, the plants didn't stop growing taller and wider at lightning speed. |
I had to cut tall, flopping stems of Centranthus and succulent flowers and artichoke plant foliage just to make it down the concrete-block stairway. And a machete would've been useful to reach the poppies! I spent more time cutting back and pulling spent plants and weeds than cutting flowers.
 |
| I managed to get 4 intact poppies (Romneya coulteri) and one promising bud, while shattering the petals of a few more in the process. Some readers may remember that I've tried to rid my garden of this plant, which spreads by adventitious rhizomes, and repeatedly failed. Another attempt will be made this fall. |
 |
| Back view: The Japanese honeysuckle, which came with the garden and is firmly entrenched within the rampant ivy that blankets the upper level of the slope, is also impossible to get rid of without resorting to poisons. At least it has a nice scent! |
 |
| Top view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Leucospermum 'High Gold', Lonicera japonica, Romneya coulteri, and Tagetes lemmonii (aka Mexican marigold) |
While I was down there, I was astounded to see that the bearded Irises were more floriferous than ever before. I cut two tall stems with multiple blooms as the starting point for a second arrangement.
 |
| This is another arrangement that looked better to me when stuffed in the bottle I used to collect my materials than after I formally arranged them in a proper vase. I probably should've picked a different vase and left out the Limonium, both of which come across as too blue by comparison to the Iris, although the differences are less jarring in person than in these photos. |
 |
| Back view: In addition, the delicate Renga lilies (Arthropdium cirratum) got lost among the other elements |
 |
| Top view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Arthropodium cirratum (aka Renga lily), Limonium perezii (aka sea lavender), Nemesia, 'Nessie Plus White', noID Iris germanica, Polygala myrtifolia, Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata', and Salvia canariensis var candidissima |
I still need to haul two piles of debris up the slope and I plan to spend at least a couple more hours there this week in an effort to rein in the mess. Meanwhile, the march toward summer continues and the cutting garden needs to be cleared out soon to make way for dahlias and other summer bloomers.
For more IAVOM creations, visit our host, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Late May exuberance is about what I'd expect in gardens that experienced a generous rainy season. Weeding and tiding up the 'pit of chaos' is preferable to the alternative. The back slope looks amazing this time of year.
ReplyDeleteTwo excellent vases on this memorial day holiday. I'm particularly fond of the first, putting Romneya coulter to good use (I wish it wasn't such a thug). I can't remember seeing Lonicera japonica in previous vases: their scent is heavenly!
Chavli
It's recently occurred to me that drought offers one advantage: it keeps the weeds down. I'm not sure I can remember a year when the weeds have been as bad as they are now, Chavli. However, it may be that my garden is simply more crowded and the weeds have found better places to hide!
DeleteAs to the Romneya, I do love the flowers, although they don't have an especially long vase life. The bees love them even more but, if I ever succeed in removing it and stopping its spread, they'll find enough to love elsewhere ;)
I think you urged everything to grow with your cut back. I love both arrangements, even the unwanted blooms!
ReplyDeleteI admit that I expect Centranthus to produce more flowers when I cut it back but I didn't expect to find it toppling all over the place less than 2 weeks later, Tracy. Of course, the fact that I see Centranthus all over the hillsides in my area should have been a clue!
DeleteI love the yellow and white arrangement, and can imagine how frustrated you must have been to discover things had gone wild when you thought they were managed. Ah gardening...
ReplyDeleteThe truth is I'm probably more accustomed to gardening under drought conditions than those we've had the last 2 years, Loree. And then the garden is also well-established (apparently with rainy-condition time bombs).
DeleteLoving both but this week the white and yellow are popping. All that weeding is why I gave my garden over to someone younger. I do miss it though. I love that view of your garden.
ReplyDeleteI once dreamed of having a 2-acre garden, Donna. I'm now relatively happy that dream didn't come true as I struggle to keep up with the half acre I have! The fact that the garden isn't at all flat doesn't help, though.
DeleteI am intrigued to read just how much difference your small (in relative terms) amount of rain made to growth in your garden - there are clearly advantages and disadvantages for you. At least you have been able to use some of your energetic but pretty thugs in your first vase, Kris! How will the poppies last in your vase? Love the colour of that tagetes, and the impact of the salvia in your second vase
ReplyDeleteThe Matilija poppies probably won't last more than 3 days in a vase, Cathy - one had already crumbled by this morning. That Salvia canariensis is a remarkable plant - it's also huge but the flowers hold up a lot longer than those of either the poppies or the Irises.
DeleteLOVE those white poppies! ...and the Leucospermum which seems so exotic to me up here in the frozen north!! Interesting my same iris are almost ready to pop. The differences and similarities are so interesting!
ReplyDeleteBoth the Matilija poppies and the Leucospermum are suitable to a Mediterranean climates like ours in coastal Southern California. I suspect your climate is both too wet and your winters too cold for them, Jenny ;)
DeleteYour garden looks lush and lovely as always. I love the golden tones of the Centranthus and Poppy arrangement, and in the other vase...Irises are definitely another favorite. It's nice that you show us the different angles of your arrangements. I need to remember to do that one of these days. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHa! And I've been thinking I should probably start streamlining my IAVOM posts, Beth.
DeleteBeautiful vases, Kris. I love those 'fried egg' poppies, even though I know they are a bit of a garden menace. I can just imagine you with a machete hacking your way down your back slope on a flower safari, lol! 😆
ReplyDeletePlentiful rain makes the garden happy, but more work for the gardener. ;) Eliza
I took another stab at the back slope again late this morning, Eliza. However, I only got as far as the bottom of the concrete block stairway. There's a LOT more to do :(
DeleteBountiful blossoms this Monday, Kris. I love the white and gold together and am amazed by the poppies! wonderful. I have tried the Mexican Marigolds several times to no avail. I do like them. Rain is a wonderful thing. Amelia
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow blogger, Hoover Boo of Piece of Eden, often says: rain is magic, Amelia!
DeleteThat's a beautiful Iris. Red-purple with blue-purple is tricky--sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
ReplyDeleteThere are some Romneya clumps in the neighborhood the size of trucks. Kinda scary. I know what you mean about being overwhelmed by growth that needs cutting back--managed to do some this morning--but like you said, there's so much more to do.
My wrists are acting up and, as they didn't respond to treatment with arthritis cream, I'm guessing that the pain is wholly attributable to overuse, HB!
DeleteCome sempre delle belle composizioni! Bello il tuo giardino davvero rigoglioso, è proprio il periodo dove si sfoltisce ma la settimana dopo è più denso di prima!
ReplyDeleteUn saluto.
Thanks Gabriel! The garden does keep getting ahead of me at the moment ;)
DeleteThose poppies may be a nuisance in your garden, but they look wonderful in a vase! As does the Lonicera. I am reminded of my rockery at my last house when I see your slope. It was almost impossible to weed if we had wet weather - take care you don't slip! I am a bit late commenting as I have also been fighting weeds and deadheading after another wave of rain making everything grow!
ReplyDeleteI understand the battle with the weeds, Cathy! I swear I've never had as many as I've had this year - and a lot of them are in seemingly unreachable spots :(
DeleteAn overflow of goodness! I can relate to the worry of those spready plants that are hard to control, but oh, how beautiful the flowers are. Especially love the poppies and Leucospermum. Have a good week, Kris.
ReplyDeleteTwo of the poppies are still intact, which is a bit of a surprise, Susie. They shatter so easily. In direct contrast, the Leucospermums last for weeks after being cut!
DeleteWow, the pit of chaos... Definitely, turn your back, and everything takes off. All that lovely rain went right into growth. Love that white and yellow arrangement, even if the matilja poppy doesn't last long. Ours is only 2' tall at the moment. Time to start staking it before it becomes a big, floppy mess.
ReplyDeleteMy Matilija poppy is not only a big flopping mess - it's also creeping further along the property line :(
Delete