I got an early start on Sunday, planning to take advantage of a break in the rain.
 |
| I was rewarded by a pretty sunrise |
Unfortunately, that break didn't last as long as I'd expected so I wasn't able to dilly-dally about my selections this week. There also weren't a lot of flowers that held up under the near constant rain we've had over the last couple of weeks. I grabbed what I had available. My Aeonium arboreum succulents (aka tree houseleeks) are in bloom, and they're not bothered by rain at all. Only a relatively small portion of those succulent rosettes bloom each year; however, my informal count indicates that there are nearly a hundred in bud or bloom at the moment. I've referred to the tall bloom stalks as "Triffids," a reference to an old science fiction movie that featured carnivorous plants that attempted to take over the earth. Three of these ended up in a vase this week with just a few other stems.
 |
| Almost all the Aeonium arboreum bloom stalks have a dunce-cap shape with small florescent yellow flowers |
 |
| Back view: I used Acacia cognata as a foliage filler and the colorful bracts of Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' as a "floral" accent |
 |
| Overhead view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Aeonium arboreum, Argyranthemum 'Mount Everest', and Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' |
I filled just the one vase. Luckily, both of last week's arrangements are still looking good.
 |
| Both last week's arrangements were almost fully intact. The original Anemone coronaria 'Lord Lieutenant' in the arrangement fell apart yesterday morning but I'd already rescued another stem of the same anemone as a replacement. |
It looks as though the rain may be done for at least awhile beginning today. I'm looking forward to dry conditions for a change so I can get back to work in my garden. Hopefully, the plants in my cutting garden won't be flattened next week.
To find other IAVOM creations, check in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2026 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Somehow you made those funny dunce-caps work! Acacia as filler adds so much. Beautiful sunrise, have fun out there today. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tracy. I'll probably start beheading the flower stalks soon as they really are distracting. As I recall, I've given the stalks away before and I may try that again ;)
DeleteThe yellow-green combo makes the Aeonium blooms appear chartreuse, not a particularly easy color to mix with others. The plants you chose to add calm the glare of the chartreuse: well done!
ReplyDeleteChavli
Thanks Chavli. The Leucadendron bracts don't stand well on their own but they did take the edge off the Aeoniums!
DeleteI do have and Aeonium arboreum, but I certainly don't aspire to see flowers on it at any time soon - those flowerheads of yours are amazing, and what a great idea for a vase. The white argyranthemum really sets them off well too, How lovely that previous arrangements have held up well too - here, I have just disposed of about 3 previous IAVOM vases which, although dry and stick-like, still held a attraction of sorts
ReplyDeleteYes, I thought the white daisies helped a lot!
DeleteI LOVE your bouquet with aenoniums, 'Cousin Itt', and the leuc. Unusual and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWell, I agree on the "unusual" aspect! A few of those Aeonium bloom stalks go a long way ;)
DeleteThe aeonium flower is amazing! Simply gorgeous! I love the soft foliage you used with it too. Good to hear you have had so much rain. Isn't it a shame it couldn't be spread over the year for you a little more!
ReplyDeleteIf only I had room for a really large cistern to collect the rainwater I get, Cathy. As it is, I've 3 tanks that can hold a total of 475 gallons of rainwater flowing off our roof surfaces. I can't store more than that at one time and our rainfall mostly falls over a relatively short period each year with very long dry stretches. The added problem is that I can't even collect all the rainwater we get during our larger storms, such as those carried by the recent atmospheric rivers.
DeleteI love the Aeonium, too. Not your typical cut flower. I was surprised to read about how much rain you are getting. We are down 10" here. Happy New Year to you! Ame.lia
ReplyDeleteIn recent years, 10 inches of rainfall in a 12-month period would be considered a moderately good year here, Amelia! Our former "norm" used to be 14-15 inches. According to our rooftop gauge, we've had nearly 8 inches since the start of our "water year" on October 1st but that may be understated as we had a temporary clog in the system. Surveys from our area suggest my part of the peninsula may've received 10-12 inches and of course the the nearby valleys, foothills and mountains received MUCH more.
DeleteNice combination and texture, simply perfect! Amazing how last week's are still going strong. What is your rain total so far? Eliza
ReplyDeleteWe just passed 8 inches for the 2026 "water year" so far (counted from October 1st 2025) but that may be understated here. It's certainly far lass than the valleys, hillsides and mountains go but then the peninsula always receives less. We're doing great - unless the rain ends far before the end of the season, which is usually somewhere between April and early May.
DeleteThe Day of the Triffids will never be frightening again as I have your lovely arrangements nicely nestled in my psyche. Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it countered the dread of the Triffids, Noelle!
DeleteThe Acacia cognata foliage definitely tames the odd aeonium blooms nicely.
ReplyDeleteI still need to rid the garden of their oppressive presence, Loree! I'll soon be beheading the stalks and may try another giveaway of the flowers ;)
DeleteAll the different greens with a bit of pure white and yellow looks fresh and new, like the air smells after the rain. Good.
ReplyDeleteNot many Aeoniums in bloom here this year. I mostly have the 'Zwartzkop' and they seem slower than the green ones.
It seems to be the apple green Aeoniums are most prone to blooming. I really do have about 100 in bloom at the moment but then my front slope is loaded with the plants, which are my go-to filler. Next fall, I think I'm going to have the tree service take out both of the messy western redbuds that came with the garden so I'll have to remove a LOT of the Aeoniums to accommodate that exercise.
Delete