Admittedly, Spring arrives early in coastal Southern California but it feels especially early this year. I call it Spring when I spot new flowers whenever I walk through my garden, which is generally at least two times a day. Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is just around the corner and maybe when I tabulate what's flowering for my post, I'll discover that this year isn't an anomaly but, at the moment, it feels like one. Finding flowers to fill my vases wasn't at all difficult - what was difficult was deciding what to rule out this week.
As much of the US is still shuddering in the face of very cold weather, it's remained warmer-than-usual here. Unfortunately, we still haven't had any rain and even our marine layer, when it's appeared, has been light, usually clearing at my elevation by the time the sun rises. However, there are two decent chances of rain on the horizon within the next ten days. I focused on the Hippeastrums that might be marred by rain, should it actually show up.
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| Hippeastrum 'White Nile' got the starring role in this arrangement. I hadn't originally planned to pair it with snapdragons but they've taken off in the past week and, all too soon, the sweet peas are going to demand some of the space the snaps currently occupy so cutting them seemed a good idea. |
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| The back view is much like the front |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: dark and light pink Antirrhinum majus, Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold', green Eustoma grandiflorum (aka lisianthus), Hippeastrum 'White Nile', and Narcissus papyraceus |
The second Hippeastrum is flashier than the first, although I was happier with how the first arrangement came together than I am with the second.
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| Hippeastrum 'Flamingo Amadeus' is dramatic but I had a harder time finding other flowers that provided the right contrast with that orangy-pink color. More white might have been better. |
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| Back view |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', white Freesia, Grevillea 'Superb', Hippeastrum 'Flamingo Amadeus', and Leucospermum 'Spider Hybrid' |
For more IAVOM creations, check in with Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2026 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
It's amazing how many blooms and buds you have! Your first arrangement absolutely gives springtime abundance. They are all lovely, I hope when the rain comes it falls gently.
ReplyDeleteThe snapdragons really appreciated all the warm days we've had, Tracy - but I'd gladly trade some of that warmth for a little rain ;)
DeleteI'm sorry to hear that you haven't had any rain. But I guess it's better than the dreadful, icy cold that has taken hold of so many regions. Wish I could send you some rain...everything's under water here. Your vases are delightful, Kris. I suppose the Hippeastrum are growing in the borders?
ReplyDeleteThe Hippeastrums I cut for these 2 arrangements were grown in pots, Annette. I always grow the new bulbs in pots and plant the ones I like best in the ground afterwards in the hope that they'll naturalize. I've mixed results thus far and those grown in the ground flower on a schedule entirely different from those potted up immediately upon delivery from the bulb vendors.
DeleteSo many flowers! I love that Hippeastrum 'White Nile'.
ReplyDelete'White Nile' is definitely a keeper. I hope the 3 bulbs I have will naturalize once planted in the ground.
DeleteYou may think the hippeastrum is the star of your first vase but for me it was those gloriously fulsome antirrhinum that jumped out for me, Kris - what variety are they? Yours always look stunning, unlike any that I grow. When I look beyond them I do admire the hippeastrum and the gorgeous lisianthus and the overall effect is really attractive. A week or two you had a limited choice of blooms but how quickly things changed! You have also managed to create a second vase that works well too, as always finding just the right shade of plants to include
ReplyDeleteI couldn't deny those bountiful snapdragons their time in a vase, Cathy. They were part of a mix I bought as a 6-pack of plugs and the only ID was Antirrhinum majus. In the past I've purchased named cultivars by mail order but the supplier I'd previously used turned over its ownership so I haven't been able to get those I'd favored and had to "make do" with these plugs from my local garden center. In this case, by luck or due weather conditions, they've done well ;)
DeleteBeautiful, Kris! Thank you, feeling flower starved here. I need to find some Snaps, yours are Gorgeous!! Ame.lia.
ReplyDeleteI got those snapdragons as plugs from my local garden center. In the past, those haven't done well here and I purchased disease/rust resistant snaps by mail order but my former supplier changed hands. So far, those from the garden center are doing well :)
DeleteThe arrival of spring must be the most exciting time of the year in a garden Kris - your joy comes shining through in this post 😂 Your hippeastrums are gorgeous and I especially like the combination with the snapdragons and narcissus. I've not heard of that narcissus so will have to look it up. Hope that you get some rain soon to encourage that extra bit of magic.
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious burst of joy and colours.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and captivating.
Thank you so much for sharing, and warm greetings from Montreal, Canada ❤️ 😊 🇨🇦
It is lovely seeing those big and colourful snapdragons Kris. And isn't the Flamingo Hippeastrum gorgeous! Both vases are beautiful and have a warming effect on me!
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