The removal of some twenty plants from my garden is scheduled today, with the crew expected to arrive at 8am. Yesterday, when it came time to select materials for IAVOM, I decided once again to select flowers that might be in harm's way as collateral damage is virtually inevitable with work like that.
My first vase made use of a Hippeastrum and stems of an Alstroemeria in a bed occupied by two large shrubs destined for removal, one of which tree-sized.
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| The small touches of peachy-pink in the Alstroemeria 'Claire' led me to add stems of peachy Aeonium flowers, which in turn led to the inclusion of the coral-pink flowers of Grevillea 'Superb' and snapdragons sporting similar colors |
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| Back view: The combination surprised me as it's a bolder mix than usual for me but I like it |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi Verde', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Alstroemeria 'Claire', Antirrhinum majus, Grevillea 'Superb', and Hippeastrum 'Luna' |
I hadn't intended to use the Salvia lanceolata I used last week again but I ended up doing so when I caught sight of Iris 'Lion King' blooming in my back garden border. All my other Dutch Iris had already finished blooming and I'd given up on 'Lion King'. As I recall, I've previously combined its flowers with Salvia africana-lutea but Salvia lanceolata is actually a better match so I cut more stems of the latter, as it's on my list to be removed.
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| Dutch Iris 'Lion King' looks very copper-colored in my photos but it actually has burgundy tones in its petals |
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| I clipped a few of the first flowers of Achillea 'Moonshine' to fill out the back of the vase. I associate those flowers with summer so it seems too early for them but I noticed that my Agapanthus are also developing buds. I hope summer's heat isn't on their heels! |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', Achillea 'Moonshine', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Iris hollandica 'Lion King', Leucospermum 'High Gold', and Salvia lanceolata |
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, the gracious garden blogger that hosts this meme on a weekly basis, come rain or shine.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Both arrangements are scrumptious– I really love your peachy flowers, Kris. 'Lion King' and the pale alstroemeria are particularly beautiful as well. Eliza
ReplyDeleteI'd like to find more Alstroemeria 'Claire' - it seems to be harder to find than the pinky versions here.
DeleteBeautiful arrangements, I hope the day goes well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Loree. The crew is making fast work of the job. It's already something of a shock. There's a lot more light in my office now, though.
DeleteThere were many 'ooh's and 'aah's while I was viewing those vases. I love all the intricate colors that tie all the elements together. The wider the spectrum the more lush and satisfying to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteTrue to form, I feel a pang of jelousey seeing your Iris 'Lion King'... though the purple varieties are extremely reliable, I'm less the successful with others.
It would be an emotional challenge with the removal crew today, but I think you are ready for it now, anxious to put it behind you and move on. Good luck.
Chavli
I didn't sleep very well last night, even though I thought I'd already come to terms with the removals, Chavli. It was hard to watch Leucadendron 'Pisa' come down seemingly within minutes (although removing its stump with a grinder was a bigger task). But the work was done in less than 3 hours with a crew of 5. Now I just have to decide what else I can get away with planting.
DeleteLove the antirrhinum Kris - it really makes that arrangement shine. And the second vase is glowing too. The Abelia foliage is a perfect match - in fact all the plants are so well coordinated. Lovely and rich golds and bronze. Hope the plant removal went smoothly with no collateral damage!
ReplyDeleteLuckily, the collateral damage was minimal. Lots of weeds were unveiled once the plants were removed, as well as gobs of fibrous roots and fleshy tubers of masses of asparagus fern the birds have "seeded" in certain parts of my garden. I've already spent a couple of hours trying to dig up the latter and have only made a dent thus far.
DeleteSorry to hear about the weeds (those asparagus ferns are nasty) but good to hear collateral plant damage was minimal. Oh, 'Pisa'! :^( That must have hurt.
ReplyDeleteVery somber, that 2nd arrangement. Fit the gloomy weather here. The greenish Hippeastrum is a beauty.
We got over 0.11" of rain over the weekend--did you get some? A couple of ladies at the gym were remarking it was raining pretty good down right at the coast.
That was a decent soak for you. We just got 0.03/inch - nothing to crow about but appreciated nonetheless. The marine layer is hanging about for a good part of each day of late.
DeleteWatching the Leucadendron come down was indeed painful :(
Pretty arrangements. I hope you slept better last night after it was done. I'm sure that was stressful and losing the Leucadendron painful indeed!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it's done, although looking at empty spots throughout the garden still makes me twinge, Tracy! I need to do some plant shopping...
DeleteGosh, they must be large shrubs if you need contractors to remove them, Kris - hope it went OK. What a pretty mix you have in your first vase this week, and I am most intrigued by the second vase, paricularly the curious 'Lion King' I am not an iris fan at all, but this one really appeal to me somehow...I shall look out for it
ReplyDelete'Lion King' is an unusual mix of colors and it can be a little challenging to find suitable companions for it - I've found that yellow flowers work best.
DeleteThese arrangements are all stunning Kris. The colour combos are fabulous. Oh I do empathize with having plants removed, the guilt of having to make the decision on these living friends and the loss. But then amazing what opportunities open up and the trauma is forgotten. I hope all went well without too much disturbance.
ReplyDeletehttps://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2025/05/05/in-a-vase-monday-may-5th-2025/
Thanks Jenny. The collateral damage to plants was minimal but we discovered that one irrigation pipe had been damaged, unfortunately after it'd gushed a river of water. Once the disrupted areas have been cleaned up and can be replanted, I'll feel better but, at the moment, I can't help cringing over some areas.
DeleteWhat a glorious array of flowers and beautiful arrangements. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI love the Lion King vase, a masterful job of combining an unusual color palette. Amelia.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had more 'Lion King' in my garden, Amelia. I'm going to look for more bulbs this fall as they do make an interesting display in the garden and in a vase.
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