I'm prone to stuffing my vases. Once I cut stems for an arrangement, I'm reluctant to discard any of them. Restraint isn't one of my strong suits. However, with the volume of flowers significantly diminished at this time of year and a visit from family scheduled for Sunday, it was time for me to keep things simple when preparing this week's contribution to "In a Vase on Monday." I have just one arrangement to share and it contains only four elements, one of which was a late addition attributable to pruning an overgrown shrub.
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| The central features of the arrangement, stems of Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset', aren't even flowers. The red rosebud-like elements are bracts (modified leaves). |
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| Back view, (again) featuring the small flowers of Leptospermum 'Pink Pearl', which is currently one of the most abundant flowering plants in my garden |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Cuphea 'Starfire Pink', Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl', and Leucadendron salignum 'Safari Sunset' |
Our daytime temperatures jumped into the low-to-mid 70s (21-23C) late last week. Our humidity level fell at the same time and forecasters are predicting that our Santa Ana winds will pick up again over the next couple of days, spurring renewed concerns about the possibility of wildfires as conditions are so dry. Sadly, there is still very little chance of rain showing in the ten-day forecast.
For more IAVOM creations, check in with our host, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
You have weather that is almost the opposite of ours, but do enjoy it, and hope there are no emergencies caused by wild fires, which must be dreadful. I love the colours in your vase this week and placed on that pretty table runner too.
ReplyDeleteIf we just got a modicum of rain I'd be contented with my climate, Noelle. Our rainy season is short as it is and it's alarming when it stalls this long before it even starts. We haven't had a bonafide rainstorm in over 7 months now.
DeleteGorgeous arrangement, I love it and I'm going to copy it. Enjoy your company, ugh I do hope you get some rain soon. We are maybe getting some Saturday, who knows.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the 10-day forecast essentially shows the chance of rain as a flat line at the moment, Tracy. Even the marine layer hasn't added a trace of precipitation since November.
DeleteOoh I love that delicate Leptospermum. New Zealand produces such wonderful additions to our gardens(when we can grow them!) so lovely to see yours. I had to resort to sticks this week!!
ReplyDeletehttps://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2024/12/08/iavom-monday-december-10/
That Leptospermum only looks delicate, Jenny. Its foliage is very prickly. The tiny flowers have a paper-like quality to them.
DeleteI love this; such a sophisticated arrangement. The fabulous dark leucadendron sets of the little srcumpled tissue paper- like flowers of the leptospermum so well. This is a plant which I did manage to grow for a few years but it succombed to a hard winter. I love it.
ReplyDeleteLeptospermums are great plants and, fortunately, well suited to my climate. Although it's not particularly fun to prune as it's very prickly
DeleteI love that arrangement and it would be quite perfect with my holiday decor this year! (you know, if you wanted to Fed Ex it up here...)
ReplyDeleteHa! Well, the next time you're down this way, I'll cut you a fresh bouquet, assuming that the components are in season.
DeleteThe color on the Leucadendron seems to hold for an amazingly long period of time. One of those plants that can mess with my mind at first glance, thinking the leaves are flower petals.
ReplyDeleteMost of the Leucadendrons masquerade as flowering plants, Jerry. That's one reason I seem to have so many of them!
DeleteI love Leptospermum and these really shine next to the Leucadendron. I love the Christmasy colors, too! Hope you get some rain soon. It is way long overdue! Eliza
ReplyDeleteIf Mother Nature doesn't come through on the rain, I hope Santa steps in with a Christmas miracle, Eliza ;)
DeleteThis is very elegant Kris. The soft acacia foliage and the Leucodendron are excellent for shaping the arrangement and the close-ups of your flowers are lovely - especially the pink Cuphea. I think I have only seen it in bright scarlet here.
ReplyDeleteThe Cuphea was the last minute addition to the vase, Cathy. I have several of these shrubs, all of which benefit from a severe pruning at this time of year ;)
DeleteIt is somewhat startling to see a single contribution from you, a rare occurrence indeed :-D
ReplyDeleteThis is such a good vase though! I love all the components. I tried to guess which was the late addition due to "pruning an overgrown shrub"; there are multiple possibilities.
I hope you enjoy you family visit.
Chavli
I've been cutting back my Cuphea 'Starfire' shrubs, Chavli. They needed it as they get sloppy late in the season. However, the Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' could use pruning too..
DeleteI like it! The colors look great in the vase .. sophisticated is a good description. I'm also a bit short on flowers. Hopefully some moisture appears in our gardens Amelia
ReplyDeleteBased on recent news reports, it appears that much of the world is experiencing uncomfortable levels of drought at the moment, Amelia. There was one year in which we got just over 4 inches of precipitation in total here and I can't help worrying that we may be facing another one like that :(
DeleteLeptospermum is just a show-off with all those flowers! Love the leucadendron, makes the vase even stronger. Hope your weather gets damper!
ReplyDeleteThe current round of Santa Ana winds, originally projected to be "mild," is proving to be more troublesome than expected, Susie. There's a scary major fire burning in the Malibu area. I can't smell the smoke here, at least not yet, but the tell-tale haze blankets the horizon. My in-laws lost their home in Malibu to one such fire decades ago so I understand how dangerous fires in that area can be.
DeleteThat's a lovely one. Lepto and Leuco were made for each other.
ReplyDeleteThe wind blew hard here late last night but it weakened to nothing this morning. Thankfully.
I agree about that Leptospermum and the Leucadendron, HB - the red eye at the center of each 'Pink Pearl' flower provides a great echo of 'Safari Sunset's" bracts.
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