Our morning marine layer is still in place but it's retreating earlier and earlier each day. Yesterday, we were socked in at 6am but the sunshine cut through the gloom well before 8am. I dashed out the door before breakfast (albeit after feeding the cat) to cut flowers. Our temperature hit 89F (31C) on Saturday but, although Sunday ended up a few degrees cooler, it was still on the toasty side.
I'd already decided to cut a stalk of Lilium 'Friso' and planned to accent it using stems of Daucus carota 'Dara' but I struggled a bit to find plant material that'd help the lily stand straight in its vase. I settled on Myrtus communis, which is just now producing its first flowers.
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| 'Friso's' flowers tend to point downward and the stalk wants to lean in one direction or another under its own weight |
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| Back view: The Daucus flowers are especially prolific this year, all self-sown |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Argyranthemum 'Grandaisy Dark Pink', Cuphea 'Starfire Pink', Daucus carota 'Dara', noID ruffled Leucanthemum x superbum, Lilium 'Friso', and Myrtus communis |
Much as I love lilies, my second floral arrangement turned out to be my favorite this week. I still don't have many foxglove stems in bloom but, given the warmer temperatures, I thought it best to cut what I had before they fried.
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| I used a small piece of plastic-coated hardware cloth to support the flowers I cut, which works well |
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| Back view |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Ageratum corymbosum, Consolida ajacis, Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple', Digitalis purpurea, Pelargonium peltatum 'Lavender Blizzard', and Polygala myrtifolia |
We're headed into the 4th of July holiday. The reminders that fireworks are illegal here given the high risk of wildfires and numerous warnings that violators will be prosecuted and fined finally seem to have made a difference. The fact that Southern California was devastated by a series of wildfires earlier this year may also have had an impact. We usually hear "practice" fireworks every day and night for a month or more prior to the holiday but there's been far less of that this year. We've heard a couple of what I assume were authorized public displays (presumably overseen by fire department personnel) but that's it. We'll see what happens this coming Friday!
For more IAVOM posts, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
So beautiful... and I'm with you regarding the second vase: it's a marvel of color. I love it, well done!
ReplyDeleteIt serves as a reminder to myself of how well the purple smoke bush works in arrangements. I'm one of those who like the scent of the cut branches. I'm inspired to incorporate it in my next flower arrangement!
Chavli
Upon reading your comment, I immediately walked over and took a whiff of the smoke bush leaves in my vase, Chavli. I picked up very little in the way of scent from it but then I've always had a poor nose for scent. I do love the color of the foliage.
DeleteNext time, sniff the end of the branch after you make a cut; that's where you'd be able to smell it. -Chavi
DeleteOkay! I'm glad the problem can't be wholly attributable to the functionality of my nose ;)
DeleteAh 4th of July, I wonder what it will be like here. We had a freakish storm on the 20th and 21st that dropped 1.75" of rain. However yesterday was 90 and today is headed to 94 so I doubt that moisture is doing much at the surface any longer. It's so nice to see your lilies, we're not quite there yet.
ReplyDeleteOur morning marine layer is gradually giving in to summer and unleashing more in the way of heat but, at the moment, it's still hotter in your part of Oregon than it is in my part of SoCal. Our temperature at the moment stands at 84F. I'm afraid it'll soon be hard to commit to working in the garden beyond the morning hours.
DeleteI like how "firecracker-y" the first arrangement is, nice timing! Our firework practice has been down this year as well, knock on wood. We will see what the next few days are like.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised at how quiet it's been here so far, Tracy, which of course doesn't mean it's been absolutely silent. Friday will be the big test as to whether the message about avoiding wildfires here has actually reached the majority of the population. It usually sounds like we're in the middle of a war zone on the 4th.
DeleteThat's great news that the fireworks might be reduced this year. Hard to choose, but the first arrangement with the ammi and lilies might be my fav.
ReplyDeleteIt's been an especially good year for Daucus 'Dara' - it's planted itself all over the place!
DeleteYour foxgloves are always so beautiful, Kris, so I agree with you on your second vase, although the first one has its merits too with those lilies and the daucus
ReplyDeleteWhile most of my foxgloves have been reluctant to bloom this far this year (and can't be expected to respond well to the heat as it ramps up in July), I've been impressed by the 2 plants that have produced flowers, Cathy. I was also happy with how that second arrangement fell into a graceful shape, given that I too often tend to crowd materials together ;)
DeleteBoth beautiful. I love the daucus and I don't know why I have never grown it as I am keen on umbellifers. Lovely lily too. Your foxglove arrangement is very elegant. I have never tried picking them, are they longlasting in water?
ReplyDeleteFoxgloves do pretty well in a vase, usually lasting just shy of a week in tap water. I've added a "flower food" to the vase water on this occasion so we'll see what difference, if any, that makes. I think that functions primarily to keep bacteria from developing in the water.
DeleteBeautiful vases, as always. I'm a huge fan of Foxgloves, so that vase really caught my eye. The vessels for your arrangements are lovely, too. Our temps have been similar lately, except with humidity, so I can relate. While we always have some days in the 80s and 90s during summer, we're having more this year. While I don't mind, the actual gardening is happening more in the morning. Stay cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth. Southern California has historically been known for its "dry heat." It's seemed less dry in recent years but, as I haven't actually tracked the readings, that's not in any way a definitive conclusion. It's currently running between 45 and 55 percent (after the marine layer lifts) and my guess is your humidity levels are higher than that.
DeleteBoth vases are gorgeous, Kris. The lilies must smell divine!
ReplyDeleteI hope fireworks will become a thing of the past, much to the relief of all, esp. pets who are the most traumatized. Eliza
Our small city is using drones for the official city's 4th of July display but that's still not the norm in the broader area. This will be my adopted shelter cat's first experience with the fireworks that explode all over the South Bay and I don't expect she's going to like it - she still hides whenever the gardeners are here using their leaf blowers :(
DeleteI love Myrtus communis foliage--my nose loves the scent of it. The Continus folige is quite striking visually. So fabulous flowers but the foliage is, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd fireworks suck.
For some reason, the Myrtus always catches me by surprise when it starts to bloom. I can'r miss the Cotinus, though - it gets bigger every year and some of its branches have taken to trailing along the ground.
DeleteOh, your foxgloves are so lovely Kris! I only had a few small ones turn up this year and just hope they have set seed and there will be more again next season. The pink Daucus are very pretty too. Our white ones have recently started opening in the meadow and there are so many at the roadsides this year too.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering how long it's going to be before the Daucus takes over my garden, Cathy. It clearly likes to spread itself around ;)
DeleteThe Daucus is wonderful. I was wondering if I could grow it, though I'm probably too far south. The foxgloves are fantastic but I love the first vase. Happy Fourth. Hope it is quiet. Amelia.
ReplyDeleteAt least the lead up to the 4th has been far quieter than usual. However, I spotted a fire in a residential area surrounding the harbor (from my kitchen window) yesterday afternoon. I don't know how it started but the timing makes it a wee bit suspicious.
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