I fully expected to be scrambling to find material to fill a vase this week. This was indeed the case with my first arrangement. I identified two flowering plants that might serve as centerpieces, a yellow Rudbeckia growing in a barrel in my front garden and the first buds of Senna bicapsularis growing along the fence separating us from a neighbor. I cut stems of both but in retrospect wasn't too pleased with either so I went searching for other plants to give them a boost. As is often the case in such circumstances, I cut more plants than I probably needed and end up with a hodge-podge.
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| Most of the Rudbeckia flowers had been nibbled by the grasshoppers still plaguing my garden and the Senna buds hadn't quite opened yet |
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| Back view: I threw in the shaggy Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) that made a lone late showing in my front garden and the orange berries of Auranticarpa rhombifolium (aka diamond-leaf pittosporum) |
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| Overhead view: 2 stems of Japanese anemone (Eriocapitella hupehensis) elevated the arrangement somewhat, although they were partially buried on the mix |
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Top row: Abelia 'Kaleidoscope', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', and Auranticarpa rhombifolium
Middle: Correa 'Ivory Bells', Eriocapitella hupehensis, and Lantana 'Lucky Yellow'
Bottom: Leucanthemum x superbum, Rudbeckia 'Juliana', and Senna bicapsularis |
I had some unexpected luck in putting together my second arrangement. Due to last week's heavier-than-expected rain, I wasn't able to get as much done in my cutting garden as I'd planned. I managed to get all the dahlias but one out of the raised beds, which I left in place temporarily as it still had buds. After the sun came out and temperatures surged into the mid-80sF (29C) days later, two new blooms of Dahlia 'Lady Darlene' made an appearance.
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| The 2 dahlias are smaller and redder than the 'Lady Darlene' flowers I've featured in prior vases |
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| Back view: I've plenty of colorful Leucadendron stems to fill out my vases |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Lady Darlene', Grevillea 'Ned Kelly', G. 'Superb', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Leucadendron salignum 'Blush', and variegated L. 'Jester' |
Despite delays, I completed the process of digging up one of the raised beds in my cutting garden and replanted it with spring blooming plugs and bulbs (anemone corms). Meanwhile, the local raccoons have been "helping" me clear the other two raised beds of grubs. (I've laid hardware cloth and wire cloches over the first bed to keep them at bay.) However, my sister-in-law will be visiting midweek so work will be delayed once again - but then my back will appreciate the break.
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
It's always a delight to see your vases, Kris, as they feature so often plants which are new to me. The bells of the Correa are so pretty. The red, fiery bouquet looks stunning in its mother of pearl vase. Hope the raccoons didn't do any serious damage. At least "our" badgers stick to the lawn. Happy autumn days
ReplyDeleteThe raccoons here have to get creative as there are fewer and fewer lawns here these days, Annette ;) My neighbors across the street do complain about them tearing up their lawn. Laying "hardware cloth" helps keep them away from newly planted areas but it can also be a pain in the neck.
DeleteI love the orange berries in the first one! And nothing beats Leucadendron & Grevillea combo, I'm so inspired from your garden with tons of winter interest - I've added several.
ReplyDeleteLeucadendrons and Grevilleas have become some of the most important mainstays of my garden, Tracy. I can't imagine my landscape without them.
DeleteOoh, what a lovely and intriguing vase that first one is - the fresh greens work so well with the yellows and oranges, and in a way the second vase does the same thing. Thanks so much for haring both of them, Kris
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy. You may be seeing a lot of those berries in coming weeks ;)
DeleteI like a little hodgepodge sometimes and am very intrigued to find another Pittosporum I have never heard of and it has cool fruit! I am not a fan of raccoons, even though it seems they are helping you. Hope you get more rain .Amelia.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that the "diamond-leaf pittosporum" was reclassified as Auranticarpa. It was used as hedge material by the landscaper who installed the garden years before we bought the property. It was replaced by Xylosma congestum when a lot of it suddenly died back - we removed 3 of the pittosporum/Auranticarpa ourselves when that happened on our watch. However, the plants that survive are very healthy so it may have something to do with their placement and the amount of water they get.
DeleteSo funny the vases you label hodgepodge are always the ones that really speak to me. I love the insouciance -looks like you were skipping through a meadow gathering wildflowers. And japanese anemone...swoon.
ReplyDeleteThe last of the Japanese anemones I inherited with the garden was nearly incinerated by late summer heat but produced a few nice flowering stems anyway. I'm hoping the recent rain will re-energize it and bring yet another flush of blooms.
DeleteTo my eyes at least, "scrambling" can produce the best vases. I love the wild combination in your first vase, it's so lovely. I'm a new fan of Rudbeckia 'Juliana': the pistachio-green center that shines like a jewel is very fetching and berries are fantastic addition to any arrangement!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad for the rain delay, allowing 'Lady Darlene' to produce the most intense bloom color! Smaller fruit often have more intense flavor, maybe it's the case with flowers too. Your second vase is stunning and a fine way to say goodbye to this year's Dahlias.
Chavli
That Rudbeckia is a winner, Chavli. I just wish the grasshoppers would stop nibbling at it. As to 'Lady Darlene', I still haven't pulled it out and it has another couple of fat buds ;)
DeleteI love the hodge-podge, it's very much an autumn bounty sort of arrangement.
ReplyDeleteThat one seems to be the favorite this week!
DeleteI love both of these, Kris! The orange Pittosporum berries– a combo of flowers and fruit– always speaks autumn to me. Love the fiery #2, wowza, gorgeous! Eliza
ReplyDeleteThanks Eliza. Those seem to be the only berries left in my garden since I had an overbearing Cotoneaster removed last here. I miss its red berries but at least the orange berries are plentiful!
DeleteOh wow, I really like that first one! You managed to capture the essence of autumn with those colors and despite the suspicious absence of chrysanthemums, mini-pumpkins, and plastic fall leaves that adorn the autumnal bouquets at our local supermarket ;) That Aurantiacarpa is so cool - I think I remember that from last year too
ReplyDeleteThat first arrangement seems to be the general favorite this week. Who needs dahlias?
DeleteEvery single item in your first vase is lovely Kris! The Rudbeckia really shines, and everything else compliments it and shows the progression of the seasons too. And the second one is so wonderfully fiery! I have been giving my back a rest too. Fortunately it has not been gardening weather anyway. Good to hear you had so much rain!
ReplyDeleteThere were hints of another chance of drizzle today but unfortunately we didn't get anything measurable.
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