It's feeling more like spring with every passing day. While our overall rain total is still woefully low, the rain we got earlier this month has given the garden the boost it needed. Temperatures have also risen over the last several days. We reached 77F (25C) yesterday, which was higher than expected. I'm seeing more buds and blooms every day; however, with the anemones in high gear, I elected to focus on them while they're plentiful.
My first arrangement was inspired by Anemone coronaria 'Rosa Chiaro'.
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| The most recent blooms of Anemone 'Rosa Chiaro' are a deeper peachy-pink than the earlier blooms. They were a surprisingly good match with the flowers of Argyranthemum 'Aramis Apricot' I used as an accent. |
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| Back view: The white snapdragons sold as 'Speedy White' have lived up to their name. I've cut them several times and they keep producing new, taller stems whereas my other snapdragons have yet to come back after their first light flushes. |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Alstroemeria 'Inca Vienna', Anemone coronaria 'Mistral Bianco Centro Nero', A. c. 'Mistral Rosa Chiaro;, Antirrhinum majus, and Argyranthemum frutescens 'Aramis Apricot' |
The second arrangement was designed around Anemone coronaria 'Rarity'.
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| The petals of Anemone 'Rarity' are an usual blend of lavender, lilac, mauve and pink |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Anemone 'Mistral Bianco Centro Nero', A. c. 'Mistral Rarity', Grevillea sericea, Limonium perezii, Osteospermum '4D Pink', and Polygala myrtifolia |
I hadn't planned a third vase but I cut the stem of one of the blue anemones by mistake so I filled a small vase to put it to use.
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| This vase includes 2 stems of Anemone coronaria 'Mistral Azzurro', one stem of A. c. 'Mistral Grape', 3 Moroccan daisies (Rhodanthemum hosmariense), and a stem of Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' |
Last week's arrangements held up well. Although the Camellia I expected would fall apart quickly lasted less than one day, a Camellia bud on the same stem opened over the course of a few days. I was also able to reuse two stems of the Alstromeria I'd included on that same vase in this week's first arrangement and the hellebore, still in good shape, landed in a small vase on my desk.
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| Helleborus 'Anna's Red' has proven to be both the most reliable and sturdy of my small collection of hellebores |
Visit our IAVOM host, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to find more arrangements compiled by contributors from materials in their gardens.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Wow, I am very impressed by the hellebore performance! When I saw the first arrangement I thought "party".... it belongs on the table at a big fun garden party.
ReplyDeleteThe blue anemones ('Mr Fokker' by my guess) are the most abundant, and they're all holdovers from last year. I'm surprised, especially as I didn't intentionally keep the corms when I replanted the cutting garden planters with dahlias and zinnias. I'll make a more deliberate effort to set them aside for use next year!
DeleteGorgeous Anemones. Fresh and beautiful arrangements - all of them. I can't imagine 25C already. I sure hope you get some more gentle rain going into spring. Our snowfalls have been most welcome to fill the reservoirs but if it melts too quickly it will run off and into the Columbia.
ReplyDeletehttps://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2025/02/24/in-a-vase-monday-february-24-2025/
Unfortunately, our forecasts aren't particularly promising with respect to rain, Jenny. One forecaster shows a 30% chance on February 28th and a 60% chance on March 11th but the latter is too far out to be reliable. Meanwhile, I'm relying heavily on the rainwater I collected during the last storms.
DeleteThey are lovely, those Anemones, and seem to appear when the rest of the garden is still awakening? They come back the following year? I might try them if they come back. Weird thing here: the Freesias are not flopping as they usually always do. Perhaps a dry winter has a few consolations (not many!!).
ReplyDeleteMy 'Anna's Red' is flowering for the first time--I bought it at a big discount last year at Roger's because it was flowered out. It's quite pretty as your bouquet illustrates.
Two varieties of the Anemone coronaria I grew in the raised planters of my cutting garden last year came back this year and, as I vaguely recall, that's happened at least once before - despite the fact that I dig up the beds between the seasons to prepare for other bulbs and plants without taking care to save the corms. I'm thinking about transplanting the corms in beds elsewhere in my garden, crossing my fingers that they'll come back in areas that get less water than my cutting garden.
DeleteBeautiful anemones, Kris. I love the lush jewel tones. The Argyranthemum goes well with 'Mistral Rosa Chiaro', and I like the way the buds change colors as they progress. Your weather sounds wonderful. I could really use a good dose of sunshine and warmth... I've been stuck inside a lot lately! Eliza
ReplyDeleteIt's possible that our temperature will reach 90F near the end of the week, Eliza. That's way too warm for February!
DeleteOh, these anemones are magnificent. The top views are especially pretty in all your arrangements. I came across some dried up corms today I'd never got planted last year. Think I'll soak them and see although mine don't do well usually.
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased with the Anemone coronaria bulbs (corms) this year and only wish I'd planted more, Susie! I hope your corms come through for you.
DeleteStanno benissimo le anemoni! Sono tra le mie fioriture preferite, soprattutto quelle di quel blu incredibile! Complimenti! Sono sempre felice di sentire della tua pioggia!
ReplyDeleteTi auguro una buona settimana!
We could still use a lot more rain before the rainy season ends in April but, at the moment, the chances do not look all that good. However, my fingers are crossed we will have some luck.
DeleteYour lovely snapdragons and A. coronaria have got me in the mood for spring Kris! I love the Alstroemeria too. A few would be hardy enough for here, but I don't think they would like our wind and weather exposed garden! However, I am looking forward to some anemones planted in pots and already shooting. Do you grow the snapdragons from seed?
ReplyDeleteNo, I generally buy snapdragons as small plants in 6-packs here. They're readily available and inexpensive started that way.
DeleteYour house is full of cheer right now! Beautiful spring arrangements, I love 'Mistral Grape' that's a cool one.
ReplyDelete'Mistral Grape' is a bit fragile relative to other plants in the 'Mistral' series but that color combination can't be beat!
DeleteFabulous vases as always Kris! Envying your anemones this year and wished that I had planted some.
ReplyDeleteThis year, I'm committed to saving the anemone corms to replant either in other parts of the garden or once more in the cutting garden next fall.
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