I planted my first Protea 'Pink Ice' in the ground in 2018, after it spent two years in a large pot without flowering. Almost six years after planting it in the ground, I finally have flowers. I planted another Protea cultivar last December and it's already developing flowers so I'm guessing that the magic ingredient was two years of good rain. I only cut two flowers because I want to enjoy them outside too.
 |
| The Protea blooms are very heavy and I struggled to find the right vase, making do with this one my mother bought me in Finland many years ago, on her one and only trip to her parents' home country |
 |
| Back view: I used a mix of Leucadendron foliage (as well as Rudbeckias) to fill out the vase. Leucadendrons are members of the larger Proteaceae family. |
 |
| Top view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Correa 'Wyn's Wonder', Cuphea 'Honeybells', Rudbeckia hirta ''Sahara', Dahlia 'Excentric', Leucadendron salignum 'Chief', L. s. 'Blush', and Protea neriifolia 'Pink Ice' |
The first Dahlia 'Hometown Hero' blooms are just getting started but I decided to wait until those flowers are more fully open to cut them for an arrangement so instead I made use of a mix of the dahlias that keep toppling over.
 |
| I included 4 varieties of dahlias in this arrangement |
 |
| Back view: a few Rudbeckia served to fill holes |
 |
| Top view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Creme de Cognac', D. 'Fairway Spur' in 2 forms, D. 'La Luna', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Indian Summer' (coleus), Rudbeckia hirta 'Sahara', and Dahlia 'Summer's End' |
Once again, I also put together a small third arrangement for the kitchen island, utilizing more dahlias of course.
 |
| Vitex trifolia is at its exuberant best in late summer, although it droops in vases during the first 24 hours after its stems are cut as shown here. Digitalis purpurea is also still flowering in my cutting garden so I had to cut Dahlia 'Mikayla Miranda' to show off both. |
I'm glad the dahlia train is still running but I've already started thinking about my cool season cutting garden, even if its been far from cool here thus far. Our morning marine layer continues to keep it cooler along the coast than it's been in the inland areas but last week's temperatures were in the mid-80sF (30C) most days. This week may be cooler but that remains to be seen. Meanwhile, our 2025 "water year" started October 1st and my year-to-date precipitation total now reads 0.02/inch. That is wholly attributable to moisture from the heavy marine layers. There's still no rain in the forecast for us in the foreseeable future.
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
Gorgeous, worth the long wait for Protea flowers! I agree, they appreciate extra water. That's my luck anyway, with Proteas and Banksias they seem to want way more water in my garden than advised. Hometown Hero made a late appearance, it's very pretty.
ReplyDeleteWell, we're always told to water more in early on to give plants time to become established but 6 years seems like overkill, doesn't it?! 'Pink Ice' actually developed some buds last year but they just dried up in their infancy.
Delete'Pink Ice' is lovely, and the flowers look beautiful with the Dahlias and other elements. I'm partial to salmon and peachy tones, so I love that second arrangement, too. But the lavender/purple arrangement is also stunning. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth. It's already hard to imagine how I'm going to make up a single arrangement (much less 3) once the dahlias are gone.
DeleteOh to have flowers all year. That orangey dahlia is beautiful. And I don't think I have ever seen a Protea either in a garden or arrangement. What a unique flower.
ReplyDeleteSouthern California does have its positive attributes, Donna - at least if you ignore the months on end without rain, the wildfires and the earthquakes...
DeleteI just love Proteas although could never grow them here. You can be rightly chuffed with those, and have combined them elegantly with other special blooms.
ReplyDeleteThanks Noelle. The Proteas certainly kept me waiting!
DeleteProteas are my favorite - just fantastic and I love it, so jealous..I think it is too humid for them here. I will try to wish some of this rain your way.. Amelia
ReplyDeleteIf only we could meld our climates, Amelia! I hope Hurricane Milton shifts direction and heads someplace else where it won't cause harm.
DeleteLove those proteas! Occasionally, they are offered for sale here and they are so long-lasting in a vase, and then they dry and last even longer. Can't complain about that!
ReplyDeleteYour dahlias continue to shine, you grow stunning ones.
What will you be growing for winter? Eliza
I'll be watching how well the Proteas last in a vase and later as the blooms dry, Eliza. For my cool season cutting garden, I'm planning to plant anemone bulbs, Consolida ajacis (larkspur), Nigella, Orlaya, foxgloves, and sweet peas to start with. Most of those won't bloom until late winter at earliest if they're not planted/sown until November. I'm also already looking for more of the double-petaled Osteospermums for my drier borders.
DeleteOh My! Proteas - congratulations. I always think they are such an exotic and belonging under a glass dome because those are the places i have only ever seen them! Your arrangements are beautiful, all of them.
ReplyDeletehttps://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2024/10/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-october-7th/
Even here in Southern California I consider Proteas exotic, Jenny. I'm very excited that I finally got them to bloom for me. They're not all that interesting as foliage plants ;)
DeleteHow exciting to see your protea, Kris! So beautiful. Your dahlias are beauties. Interesting how some come in so late in the season.
ReplyDeleteI'm really stymied about why those 2 dahlias have taken so long to reach bloom stage, Susie. I was about to throw the ' Belle of Barmera' tuber in the green bin when I noticed that it'd finally sprouted. 'Hometown Hero' was a new tuber, planted at the same time as all the rest, germinated in a timely fashion, and then sat there and did nothing for months.
DeleteYou just can't beat dahlias for such a wide array of colours. All are gorgeous. Exciting about the proteas. Love their furry blooms. Reminds me of Big Bird and other muppet avians. My dahlias were hit by frost on the weekend but they were really beautiful this year. Will be digging them up in the next week.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that cold weather is hustling your dahlias out the door, Elaine. That's one thing I've never had to worry about here. It's usually mildew on the foliage that leads me to bring the dahlia season to a close but, even with the return of the morning marine layer, that hasn't been a problem (yet). This year, it may just be that time is up and I need to get my bulbs, seeds and plants in the ground so I'll have cool season flowers in late winter/early spring.
DeleteYou have a wonderful spectrum of colours this week Kris. The dahlias are all beautiful, especially that last one - what an amazing shade of lavender pink blue purple! LOL! Love it! Have a good week Kris!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy. Dahlia 'Mikayla Miranda' is one of my favorites too, although less than many of my other dahlias this year.
DeleteAs amazing as those Protea blooms are and as jealous as I may be of you for being able to grow them, I'm gaga over the small third vase! It is - like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way, including the droopy Vitex trifolia. I love it!
ReplyDeleteChavli
The Vitex trifolia foliage is now standing tall, Chavli. It was already upright yesterday morning and I briefly considered updating my post but I just didn't have the time ;)
DeleteCongratulations!!! I am thrilled you are finally getting those gorgeous protea blooms. I can't imagine having them blooming in my garden. Here's to many many more!
ReplyDeleteThe Proteas definitely want more water than I'd been led to expect, at least as they're developing buds following the end of our rainy season. A lesson to remember!
Delete