I've been stuck in a rut when it comes to selecting materials to fill a vase. While I've spotted some new buds developing here and there, it's going to be a while yet before those buds become blooms. However, I thought I'd at least try to vary my color palette this week.
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This arrangement was kicked off by an orchid stem I discovered in bloom in my lath (shade) house. I picked up the noID Oncidium back in September. The new flower stem this month was a surprise.
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| Back view: I used other plants with purplish blooms to pick up the spots in the orchid flowers |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy', Grevillea sericea, Polygala myrtifolia, noID Oncidium, and Pelargonium peltatum 'Lavender Blizzard' |
At this time of year, I often use
Leucadendron stems to serve both as replacements for flowers and as foliage fillers in vases. My second arrangement is heavy on those stems with just a couple of softer notes.
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| The softer elements are a single stem of Eustoma grandiflorum (aka Lisianthus) and 2 stems of Antirrhinum majus (snapdragpns) |
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| The back view is all about the Leucadendron stems |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Antirrhinum majus, Eustoma grandiflorum, Leucadendron salignum 'Jester', L. s. 'Safari Sunset', and L. s. 'Winter Red' |
There's still no rain in our forecast. Saturday's front page headline in the Los Angeles Times was entitled "Southland Rainy Season Hasn't Been." When local weather gets a headline, it's a big issue. Our last rainstorm of any significance was May 5, 2024 when the downtown area got 0.13/inch. (Our own roof-top weather station recorded 0.17/inch.) I'm sorry I keep bemoaning the fact but, even in an area prone to drought, I remain incredulous about how dry it is this year.
For more IAVOM posts, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
The lull in flower production appears to stretche your design talents, so I'm excited to see what you come up with.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while (I think) since 'Itsy Bitsy' make a showing: I love this little bloom and what a wonderful mimicking of the orchid spotted splatter!
Chavli
'Itsy Bitsy' has been in nearly continuous bloom but I hadn't found a suitable use for it recently. As soon as I saw that orchid stem, I was determined to use the Gomphrena with it. I was a little concerned that the kittenish-cat might feel compelled to bat at the flowers but thankfully, so far, she's ignored the arrangement.
DeleteYour description of a lull, made me laugh out loud! With so many to choose from I think you have been spoilt. We certainly are being able to view two such lovely arrangements and vases too. Happy New Year to you and your dearest.
ReplyDeleteBeing a California girl born and bred, I can't really imagine how I'd deal with true winter conditions, Noelle. I can count the times I've seen snow in person on fewer than 5 fingers ;)
DeleteThey are both so cheerful. How fun to go into the lath house and find an unexpected bloom!
ReplyDeleteIf I were better about caring for and fertilizing the orchids in my lath house, I'd probably see blooms on them more often than I do, Tracy!
DeleteLovely leucadendron! We are so very wet. It just seems wrong...
ReplyDeleteIt IS very wrong, Loree! Although I've cast shade on both Mother Nature AND Santa Claus for the failure to deliver any of that rain being dumped on you up north on the our Southland, the real culprit is climate change. I suspect SoCal is indeed headed to looking like Baja California one day.
DeleteIt's hard to conceive of so little rainfall, and astonishing what you have still achieved in your garden. You are so good at making the most of whatever resources you have, invariably bringing us two or more vases every week. You have certainly been inventive with the use of foliage in lieu of flowers - indeed, I originally considered a vase just of foliage this week, until I thought of cutting the camellia
ReplyDeleteI was originally considering the use of succulents this week, Cathy. I've nothing against succulents and more and more of my garden is being covered in them but I do love more traditional flowers too. I was spoiled by 2 years in a row of good rainfall and I knew there'd be a reckoning eventually but this extreme a slap has gone farther than I expected...
DeleteGiven the rain totals your garden prowess is in full force here. Beautiful flowers and I love the color combinations. Amelia
ReplyDeleteThanks Amelia. At least we're still getting water from Northern California. I don't know what'll happen if that spigot gets turned off one day.
DeleteBecause I left SoCal part-time a few years back in the middle of what seemed like endless drought, this just feels like business as usual to me, the typical stubborn dryness. I wish it were wetter but then I also enjoyed going to the beach yesterday in 70-deg temps! I'm already mourning the outgoing administration's emphasis on climate change and dreading what's to come on that score.
ReplyDeleteI just reviewed the rainfall spreadsheet we created with data from the roof-top weather station we installed in mid-2015. I'd remembered that the water year we had 4.12 inches (2021) as the worst one but the record shows that we had 3.81 inches in 2018, 5.62 in 2016, and 8.63 in 2022 so yes, there have been more really crappy water years than I'd recalled. The haphazard switch from flood to droughts will undoubtedly continue.
DeleteHow bright and refreshing those flowers are to me! One would never know you are still in this everlasting drought. We have been thankful up here in the mountains for some more snow this winter as the forest fire situation was frightening last summer as I know it often is for you. Lovely arrangements.
ReplyDeletehttps://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2025/01/06/in-a-vase-monday-january-6-2025/
Thanks Jenny. According to state officials, our wildfire season is now more of a year-round rather than a seasonal thing. Our Santa Ana winds are a common fire trigger in Southern California and they tend to blow from November through March. Our rainy season usually helps temper the danger but so far this year there's been almost no precipitation in the southern part of the state so our danger is higher.
DeleteI like your "stuck in a rut" ... and your new ideas, too. I wish I was stuck in that kind of rut. LOL. I have been inspired by some of the participants, however, to gather some dried and/or evergreen elements, and one of these weeks I'll join in with the meme again. And I agree 100% with Amelia: Your arrangements are amazing ... for so many reasons, but one is the plenty of your garden in spite of the drought.
ReplyDeleteIrrigation is helpful, as is my heavy use of drought tolerant plants. I'm still hoping February will deliver an atmospheric river and allow me to collect some rainwater in my barrels, though!
DeleteThe orchid is a real star and you've made it really stand out in this wonderful arrangement. I also love seeing your leucadendron. The teapot container is beautiful, Kris. We finally are getting rain, lots! I remember though the frustration this past summer's drought. If only rain would come in the right amount and at the right time.
ReplyDeleteThe orchid was an unexpected and appreciated find on Sunday, Susie. I'm trying to see the current drought as part of a larger weather pattern but I can't help feeling frustrated :(
DeleteYour arrangements always look great to me. These two are no exception.
ReplyDeleteThere's NOTHING I can do to make it rain, so I'm just going to deal with the consequences as best I can, whatever they turn out to be.
Thanks HB. As to the rain - or lack of it - I'm trying to stop griping and put my practical hat on ;)
DeleteWish I could send you some of our rain. It has been a drizzly winter so far, some of it as sleet or snow. Your Leucadendron are always lovely, and a vase filled with them is a wonderful sight!
ReplyDeleteOh sorry Kris, forgot to fill in my name again!
DeleteThanks Cathy. It's too bad there isn't a rain exchange service we could call ;)
DeleteIt's amazing what you find to fill vases every week Kris. My favourite this week is your first vase especially the inclusion of that eye-catching pelargonium. I've just been reading about the wildfires in your region and am hoping that they're well away from you 🤞
ReplyDeleteWe were warned of "life-threatening" wind conditions affecting parts of Los Angeles today through Wednesday, Anna. While it's possible that the winds could get up to 80 miles per hour in some areas, my immediate area isn't expected to get worse than 40 mph winds. They could still trigger a fire in our high-risk area but so far we're fine; however, there's a major fire in Pacific Palisades, about 35 miles north of us.
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