With spring already off to a roaring start here, there were plenty of flowers to choose from on Sunday. However, with the wind blowing and the skies showing the possibility of rain, I hustled to cut materials for two vases before breakfast. As it turned out, the promise of rain never materialized, although it remained windy and cold all day. (Our version of "cold" means that temperatures ranged from the low-to-mid 50sF/10-13C.)
I cut just three stems of my favorite Leucospermum (because I couldn't bear to cut more this early in the season) but I'm not entirely happy with the flowers I selected to accompany them. The mix is a bit busy for my liking.
 |
| The Leucospermum's pollen presenters have a pale lavender color when in bud but, as the flowers open more fully, the pink elements gain more prominence . I chose to emphasize the pink but in retrospect I think I should've skipped the flashy Alstroemeria stems. |
 |
| Back view |
 |
| Overhead view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Alstroemeria 'Inca Vienna', noID pink Alstroemeria, Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold', Leucospermum 'Spider Hybrid', Anemone coronaria 'Rarity', A. c. 'Rosa Chiaro', Sparaxis tricolor, and Narcissus 'Katie Heath' |
My second arrangement made use of flowers that may not be available to me much longer. I didn't have high expectations for it but I'm relatively pleased with it overall. It was inspired by the fluffy red flowers of Calliandra haematocephala (aka red powder puff) but anchored by one of Hippeastrums currently rushing to the plant's seasonal finish line.
 |
| I have 4 Calliandra shrubs, all of them planted by a prior owner as foundation plants alongside the house and garage. With a new ordinance requiring removal of plants that could provide fuel in the event of a wildfire, I'm afraid I may have to remove all of them, as well as other shrubs close to the house. |
 |
| Back view: I'd originally planned to stick with a red and white color scheme but I added touches of soft yellow to give the arrangement more verve. The elements could have used a bit more space but the heavy Hippeastrum demanded the support offered by this vase. |
 |
| Overhead view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Calendula officianalis 'Cantaloupe Mix', Freesia, Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' foliage, Calliandra haematocephala, Grevillea lavandulacea 'Penola', Hippeastrum 'Elvas', and noID Narcissus |
Although Sunday's rainstorm passed us by, both weather services I check currently show a seventy percent chance of rain this coming Wednesday so I remain hopeful I'll be able to replenish my collection tanks. I need something to be hopeful for - the daily news about the performance of our country's leaders becomes more depressing and disgraceful with every passing day. I think the tide is turning but that can't happen fast enough.
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, who leads the merry Monday band of ardent amateur flower arrangers.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
How sad to have to consider shrub removal... I do love your Calliandra's blooms: can you find room for any one of them elsewhere in the garden?
ReplyDeleteChavli
That Calliandra gets big and likes some support so I'm afraid all 4 plants are going to be a loss, Chavli. But I'm going to invite the arborist who owns the tree service I use to offer recommendations, ideally before the County Fire Department conducts its inspections.
DeleteWow! I love anemones and yours are sensational. I've never had luck growing them, but when I visit the local conservatory, I always take as many photographs of them as possible. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe Anemone coronaria do better than Ranunculus here, which I find surprising - the anemones look far more delicate.
DeleteI love the Calliandra. I hadn't heard about the new ordinance requiring homeowners to remove shrubbery, that could be a job and half! I wonder how that will play out, how many will follow and how it will be enforced.
ReplyDeleteThe "defensible space clearance" ordinance is a creation of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and went into effect in mid-February. The LA County Fire Department has been conducting inspections for years now in high fire-risk areas and we've always passed but they're about to get tougher. Our tree service, owned by an arborist, offered consultations to established customers a few months ago but notice of a pending inspection (and the impact of the recent fires) has got me nervous about exactly what they're going to treat as "flammable vegetation."
DeleteThat second arrangement is a winner! Looking at the first image I thought for sure the anemone were magnolias, and then later the Sparaxis tricolor was doing a great tulip impersonation.
ReplyDeleteEven though that particular Hippeastrum isn't one of my favorites, I admit I like that second arrangement better than the first one this week, Loree.
DeleteHow wonderful to have an abundance of flowers to play with. Loving those anemones and leucospermum! Eliza
ReplyDeleteI have 5 Leucospermums now but the 'Spider Hybrid' is my absolute favorite. My arrangementthis week didn't do it justice.
DeleteIt is the abundance and variety of blooms that differentiates your spring from ours, Kris. I especially love that 'white' hippeastrum today, with its fulsome petals
ReplyDeleteThat Hippeastrum is more ivory than white, which is why I think I was comfortable adding some soft yellows to the mix. Hippeastrum 'Marilyn' is a pure white but the wind had tipped her on her side in the pot, so she didn't make the cut this week ;)
DeleteI have high hopes the tide is turning Kris. I am fascinated by fire resistant landscaping, a friend from school worked for the city of San Diego for a while, their answer to foundation planting was Burford Holly! Not my favorite. I love the Powderpuff in the second arrangement. We have that here, it is so odd to prune I never bought one. Amelia. Good luck with rain!
ReplyDeleteYou're right that the red powder puff is an awkward thing to prune, Amelia. The shrub really wants to send its branches out like vines. Used as a foundation plant by prior owners here, the shrubs have been trimmed as hedges by gardeners since their installation to keep them from growing into pathways. They'd probably prefer to grow outward but would need a lot more space than they were given when installed.
DeleteYour definition of "cold" made me chuckle Kris. We're just about reaching the temperatures you mention and after our winter it definitely feels most pleasant 😂 You already have so much to pick and I imagine that there is a lot more to choose from. Narcissus 'Katie Heath' looks most appealing and I love the soft colours of the leucospernum. I hope that the tide turns sooner than later!
ReplyDeleteThere are spotty protests everywhere but the pure chaos created by the actions of the current government has made focusing on any single issue difficult. However, if tariffs worsen inflation rather than providing the relief some voters thought they'd get from the party in charge, that may bring about a general backlash that starts crushing the members of that party in local elections, which in turn may tee up a tsunami in 2 years when the mid-term elections are held. The courts aren't moving fast enough.
DeleteFor me these are such interesting and gorgeous combinations. The idea of Narcissus with Calliandra and Leucospermum just seems an oxymoron but no! I see it is absolutely possible!! Wonderful. Do the narcissus last in those, to me, 'warm' temperatures? Wishing you rain.
ReplyDeletehttps://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2025/03/03/in-a-vase-monday-march-3-2025/
Narcissus have always done remarkably well here, Jenny. Perhaps that's because they save themselves from the miserable heat of summer by dying back in late spring, returning when the temperatures are cooler. Fortunately, they can handle a bit of drought.
DeleteLots of fabulous flowers--tho I would guess it's a color issue in the first arrangement--pure hues of color (noid Alstroemeria, Rosa Chiao, Sparaxis) next to the tones of the Leucosperum. Hues and Tints (hue + white) with Tones (Hue + grey) not wholly harmonious. Or maybe it's just the photo or my eyes! Had eyes checked today including dilation--hard to see for a while.
ReplyDeleteMost of my Amaryllis are just starting to wake up.
Yes, I think I just got carried away cutting flowers without looking at the big picture in composing that first arrangement. My Hippeastrums were planted late because I ordered bulbs late. Overall, I'm not overly impressed by this years bulbs. Hopefully, those previously planted in the ground (none of which are showing signs of sprouting yet) will deliver a better show (eventually).
DeleteBoth vases are lovely Kris - the first shows all those spring beauties jostling for attention and the second is also spring-like but calmer. Your anemones really are stunning! Sad that some of your shrubs will have to go. Are there rules on building materials for new houses too? Hope you get that rain!
ReplyDeleteThere should be new rules on building materials but I fear that the pressure to rebuild in the areas that were badly burned this year will override those concerns, at least in the short term, Cathy. It remains to be seen how extensive the restrictions on existing landscaping will be. My own precautionary actions may be more restrictive than those used by the Fire Department (I hope).
DeleteKris, love seeing your burgeoning spring flower assortment. The anemones grab my heart. I didn't recognize the sparaxis tricolor, will have to see if that would grow here. I am dismayed and outraged and have a thousand other feelings about what is happening. It's a lot easier to destroy than to build and I fear for the future. Hoping the allies will rescue us from these terrorists.
ReplyDeleteChaos is the brand of this president. Even though that was evident during the first round, a lot of voters seem to have dismissed what that could mean for them personally.
Delete