I spotted the first and only bloom of
Lilium 'Montego Bay' late last week. I'd originally planted three bulbs but two of them appear to have vanished and, given that the single remaining bloom stalk produced only one flower, there was nothing much more to expect of it so I made it the focus of today's arrangement.
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| An abundant flush of flowers on Callistemon 'Cane's Hybrid' sealed the deal on a coral color theme |
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| Back view, showing the flower-like stems of Leucadendron 'Blush' |
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| Overhead view: The flower stem of Hesperaloe 'Coral Glow' was a last minute addition. The plant, or rather half of it, recently survived a gopher's strike. |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Callistemon 'Cane's Hybrid', Crassula pubescens ssp radicans, Hesperaloe parviflora 'Coral Glow', Leucadendron salignum 'Blush', and Lilium 'Montego Bay' |
I saved a handful of stems from the second of last week's vases, cramming them into the small vase that normally sits on our kitchen island.
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| The remaining stems include Leucadendron 'Jubilee Crown', L. salignum 'Safari Sunset', and Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Wine' and 'Queeny Red Lime' |
Feeling the pull of other projects, I didn't take the time to put together a second arrangement from scratch this week. For arrangements from other IAVOM contributors, visit our host, Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
'One and done' is all you need sometimes, and this is one of those times. The light green is excellent support to the coral-red theme: beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if in the process of creating a new spectacular hybrid, hardiness if sacrificed. Getting a single bloom from 3 bulbs must sting a little.
Chavli
The lily bulbs don't last long in the ground. The 'Montego Bay' lily bulbs were planted 3 or more years ago so they didn't vanish in one go. However, I don't think I can expect any more from them in future years. The same is probably true of Lilium 'Conca d' Or'. Only one of the 3 bulbs of that variety appeared this year. That stalk produced 2 blooms and yesterday the wind snapped the stalk at its base so I suspect that's the end of that one too. Gophers were present last year in both the areas the bulbs were planted and may have been a contributing factor :(
DeleteOh Kris, lovely arrangements! There's something about the color scheme you've gone with this week. It's very pleasing to my eye. And the combination of foliage and blooms is fabulous. Happy IAVOM!
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth. I think we both had good results this week.
DeleteThese are really lovely. Love the color combinations, and the addition of the bottlebrush is so nice and soft.
ReplyDelete'Cane's Hybrid' is my favorite Callistemon, Tracy. And it's definitely the most vigorous.
DeleteLovely mix of colours. You can't beat lilies for that wow factor. I used to grow over a 100 varieties when I did cut flower bouquets for the local farmer's market. They brought customers in in droves.
ReplyDeleteA hundred varieties! I'd have loved to see your lily garden field, Elaine!
DeleteThat's a lovely tropical treat, all the colors work so well together!
ReplyDeleteI found photos of a previous use of the 'Montego Bay' lilies I called "tropical punch" so it wasn't my first pass using the lily for IAVOM it seems ;) On the other occasion, I mixed it with a similarly colored gladiola, which I believe I subsequently removed.
DeleteThis shows the impact that just one lily bloom can make, and you have done a great job introducing complementary material with just the right range of peachy shades and foliage. And well done for rescuing the remnants of a previous vase too!
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time throwing out flowers and related foliage material when it's still in good shape, Cathy ;)
DeleteVery peachy keen. I love all the textures. Your zinnias seem to be thriving. A.melia.
ReplyDeleteThe earliest zinnia seeds I sowed this year are doing well but there are lots of seedlings still struggling from later sowings. Hopefully, we won't get a major heatwave before they toughen up!
DeleteLike a bowl of tropical fruit: sweet!
ReplyDeleteLeucadendron + zinnias, of course I like!
As 2 of the 3 'Montego Bay' bulbs are gone and I don't think the last one has enough vigor to make another year, I plan to replace them and also the 'Conca d'Or' bulbs in a nearby area. The latter fielded only one bloom stalk this year and it snapped at ground level in the wind yesterday, which means it's not likely to build up any energy to bloom again either. I'm looking at the bright side - I get to shop for more lily bulbs.
DeleteA pretty lily, I always enjoy your coral themed arrangements, Kris. Hope it isn't too hot out there for you and the marine layer is holding. We've had several foggy mornings this week that make me think of you, and then at mid-day we switch from CA to FL when I think of Amelia as it gets hot/humid with thundershowers! Eliza
ReplyDeleteWell, that's whiplash weather to be sure, Eliza! I might find the rise in humidity tolerable in exchange for rain, although lightning probably isn't a favorable element given our dry ground conditions. The marine layer actually raises our humidity some but not to Florida levels.
DeleteSo pretty Kris, in your signature colour scheme. Is that lovely lily fragrant?
ReplyDeleteYes, although not as strongly scented as either 'Orange Planet' or 'Pretty Woman'. Of course, it was only one flower, which also made a difference.
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