Last week was an emotional roller coaster. With two major fires burning in Los Angeles County Tuesday evening, we got very nervous when our house was permeated with smoke and we heard fire engines passing through the area. However, we were lucky and remained so throughout the week. Driven by high winds, the smoke from the Eaton Fire in the Altadena-Pasadena area blew our way but, although our air quality has remained poor, no fires have broken out in our immediate vicinity. The closest, the Palisades Fire, is thirty-five miles to our north. At one time, eight fires were burning in our County. It was down to three yesterday but the Palisades and Eaton fires are still largely uncontained and continue to threaten surrounding areas. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed, many people have lost everything, and 150,000 are under evacuation orders. People are scrambling to rent - or buy - houses to lend their lives a semblance of normalcy. Rebuilding is going to take years, especially as entire communities have been razed - there are no stores, schools, or churches left in some of them.
Unfortunately, we're expecting the winds to kick up yet again today. My own area is considered at high risk of fire danger so we'll remain on edge like many of those elsewhere in the Los Angeles area, probably until we finally get some rain - and no one knows when that might happen.
I could only manage one floral arrangement this week. I'm keeping my time outdoors to a minimum and wearing a mask while working outside until our air quality improves, which forecasters also predict could remain stagnant until that miraculous rain arrives.
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| I started off with Leucadendron 'Chief ', which has pink and yellow flower-like bracts, and added the larger yellow flower-like bracts of Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder'. I cut stems of Narcissus to provide an extra flourish. |
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| I dressed up the back view using Aeonium stems. I have a LOT of Aeonium flowers at the moment. |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Aeonium arboreum, Alstroemeria 'Inca Sundance', Narcissus 'Geranium', Leucadendron salignum 'Chief', and L. 'Wilson's Wonder' |
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
You are putting on a brave face and fixing a cheery vase in the face of all the chaos and devastation around you. Hang in there, Kris. Everyone is thinking of you and your neighbors, wishing for rain.
ReplyDeleteChavli
It looks as though we can at least expect the marine layer to pay us a visit along the coast on Saturday, Chavli. Rain is still unlikely, although there is a small (10%) chance for the weekend. Meanwhile, fingers are crossed that the winds don't whip up too high later today and tomorrow.
DeleteA beautiful arrangement, as always. I'm watching the fires from afar and it's so awful to see. Please stay safe!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nikki.
DeleteThat's a lovely arrangement, as always, and I'm so sorry all of you are having to go through this. I hope there is some type of relief on the way, whether in the form of rain or cooler, calmer, less windy weather. Best wishes and take care!
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth. I do wish Mother Nature would cut the wind and send us a little rain. We may get a marine layer on Saturday. Hopefully, it's not too little to late.
DeleteMy heart goes out to all those affected by these devastating fires, either directly, or indirectly through stress and worry. Praying for winds of change, not Santa Ana's, but ones laden with life-preserving rain. 🙏🏼 Eliza
ReplyDeleteEvery newscast, every news article is heartbreaking, Eliza. I know I'm lucky and, despite a scare last Thursday, my friends and family have also dodged immediate contact with the fires. As to air quality, the horizon was relatively clear earlier this morning but the haze is already back.
DeleteChe bello! Sà di primavera con tutti quei narcisi! Qui devo aspettare ancora perchè le notti la temperatura è di circa -5/-8 gradi celsius.
ReplyDeleteMi dispiace moltissimo per gli incendi, ne parlano spesso anche qui mostrando immagini terribili di quello che sta succedendo! Spero davvero che da te non succeda nulla di grave!
Ti mando un caro saluto e spero di risentirci presto con buone notizie!
Thanks for the good thoughts, Gabriel! We have our emergency bags packed just in case but we are doing okay so far.
DeleteKris, you managed a very cheery arrangement despite what you're living through. I'm glad you're limiting your exposure to the smoke, although being cooped up is no fun whatsoever. I'll be hoping for a heavy marine layer Saturday. That seems a long ways off.
ReplyDeleteYou must be permanently on tenterhooks, Kris, and perhaps reluctant to go to sleep at night - 35 miles is not a lot when the fires have moved as quickly as they do. And now you need to avoid going outside and getting on with any semblance of normal life because of the air quality. My thoughts are with you and your family and friends and neighbours in Los Angeles.
ReplyDeleteYou have used Leucadendron to such good effect in recent vases, bridging the divide between foliage and flowers, and I love the greenish yellow shades today. I have added a few more aeonium in the Coop recently, but I can't imagine them ever blooming! Those flowers are astonishing!