The first of the Dutch Iris to bloom in my garden are already finishing their run but others have emerged in different areas to carry on the show. I felt compelled to use some of them in a vase this week as a nod to their beauty but, read from a different perspective, the title of my post also says something about my mental state. Last week marked yet more horrid news from the current administration. The Hands Off! protests held on Saturday across all fifty US states, one of which I attended with protest signs in hand, were reassuring - and, hopefully, they're just the start. The rallies in the US reportedly brought in hundreds of thousands of attendees (100,000 in Washington, DC alone). According to the Fire Department's estimate, the local event I attended brought in 7500 people.
My first arrangement contained four varieties of Dutch Iris.
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| I'm not sure the addition of the pastel yellow snapdragons was a good call but I needed something balance the varied blues of the Irises |
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| Back view |
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| Overhead view |
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| Top row: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Anthirrhinum majus, and Iris hollandica 'Eye of the Tiger' Middle: Iris hollandica 'Mystic Beauty', 'Pink Panther', and 'Sapphire Beauty' Bottom: Phlomis fruticosa, hybrid Salvia 'Bee's Bliss', and Scabiosa 'Flutter Deep Blue' |
Much as I like blue, I'm happier with my second arrangement this week.
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| The pincushion shrub, Leucospermum 'Sunrise', is putting on an especially good show this year and it kicked off this arrangement |
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| Back view, including a few of the species tulip, Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia' |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', Alstroemeria 'Inca Sundance', Calendula officianalis, Grevillea 'Superb', Leucospermum 'Sunrise', Narcissus 'Sunny Girdfriend', and Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia' |
Although we had temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70sF (23-25C) this past weekend and the local TV forecasters have been predicting even higher temperatures this week, the online services I consult are showing temperatures in the mid-to-upper 60sF (17-20C). Unfortunately, given low humidity and windy conditions, I'm already quickly depleting my rainwater reserves and there's little chance of more rain in the foreseeable future. At least California's northern mountains are showing a good snowpack, which should help us limp through the summer.
For more IAVOM creations, check in with our host, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I love that last shot with the two vases next to each other, it really shows the range of flowers in your garden!
ReplyDeleteIt's spring! Even I'm a little overwhelmed by the flowers at this time of year. Some spring bloomers are already on the way out, though...
DeleteSo many gorgeous flowers to soothe the soul. They are lovely! You go girl - would join you if I could!!
ReplyDeletehttps://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2025/04/07/in-a-vase-monday-april-7-2025/
I was pleased to hear that several countries outside the US joined in on the rallies, including one in Canada, Jenny :)
DeleteLovely combinations, Kris! Blue/yellow is a favorite of mine, and the orangey Leuco and Grevillea are outstanding. Yes, I too, was heartened by the groups protesting on Sat. and all in good faith and without incident. The world is relying on us! Eliza
ReplyDeleteI hope it's just the beginning, Eliza!
Delete| am heartened to hear the size of the turnout for these protests, Kris, and to know that they all happened peacefully and without trouble - well done for doing your bit.
ReplyDeleteNo need to avoid blues in your vase though - we can't get enough of them in our gardens! Yellow is a always a good contrast for blues,and I always envy your your perfect spikes of antirrhinum! Your grevillea always makes a statement and you have found good partners for it in Cynthia and the Sunny Girlfriend
Tulipa 'Cynthia' and Narcissus 'Sunny Girlfriend' are both looking better this year than ever!
DeleteAmazing and beautiful photos. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda!
DeleteThose blues. The flowers are gorgeous, Kris. I am so happy you were there to support democracy. I’m limited in how much I can wander away from home since I'm looking after my husband, but I'm heartened at the outpouring of Americans to right these wrongs.
ReplyDeleteI was impressed by the number and passion of the people who attended too, in addition to the positive reactions of the people who drive by. It gave me hope.
DeleteThe plethora and selection of blooms in your garden is mesmerizing! So much beauty to absorb. This is what spring is for, isn't it.
ReplyDeleteBy comparison, I have a handful of tulips in my garden, with fleeting blooms and a few Pieris... lovely but not vase material :-D
Chavli
Hopefully, spring's arrival is simply delayed but will not be denied in your part of the country, Chavli. Spring arrives very early here as winter is but a vague concept for us.
DeleteLovely. The colors create dramatically different moods in each arrangement. The first elegant but remote, the second like a slow burning fire.
ReplyDeleteAs I buy a package or two of those dutch iris every year, collecting more, different cultivars, I notice the subtle differences, and the very good range of varying opening times, for a sustained period of bloom. All imports from the EU, so I suspect they will largely disappear from US garden centers and mail order suppliers if this tariff thing continues. As more and more Americans are directly damaged by the policies of this administration, hopefully a widespread strong swing in the pendulum to the side of democracy. We are going to see shortages of various goods, some much more important than iris, and no way to get them.
Ugh, I hadn't even thought about how bulb availability will be affected by the tariffs! I only just received the 'Zeba' lily bulbs I ordered last July from Holland...
DeleteTrump's comments about "short term" pain fully ignore the very real issues people are likely to experience putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads over several years and possibly much longer. The manufacturing plants he talks about will take years - perhaps a decade or more - to build and, rather than providing jobs, most will probably be fully automated, providing far fewer jobs than people may realize.
The sunrise is making that arrangement so warm and inviting! I thought of you at the protest, we had a small one here locally. I keep thinking/hoping he'd back down on the tariffs, but either he just doesn't get that its a huge loser of an idea -or something else is up his sleeve.
ReplyDeleteHis ego is huge and he's seemingly incapable of acknowledging mistakes - he once famously said he would if he ever made one. Apparently, 6 bankruptcies (including the failure of a casino) don't count as mistakes. He also has a different concept of "short term pain," not that he'll be remotely affected if it takes a decade to build up manufacturing factories in the US. And he has no empathy for "losers" less wealthy than he is.
DeleteKris, these are luscious. I love the blue iris and can only imagine how you grow them, in containers?? Thank you for protesting, this is just so appalling. The most tasteful word I could come up with. Amelia
ReplyDeleteI've been having trouble selecting appropriate words to describe the situation lately myself, Amelia.
DeleteI love the pincushions Kris - what an apt name for them! My personal preference would be the lovely blue and yellow combination. The irises are beautiful… hard to believe it will soon be iris time here too.
ReplyDeleteDutch Iris signal the true beginning of spring here, which is probably why I've planted so many over the years.
DeleteOops, forgot to add my name to that comment. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the ID, Cathy. I was wondering who that comment came from!
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