Monday, May 25, 2026

In a Vase on Monday: Sunshine ahead (I hope)

By the time Memorial Day rolls around, we can usually count on sunny days. After all, it's the unofficial start of the summer season in the U.S. However, that's not been the case this year. It's been gloomy and on the cool side more often than not. The political environment can also be seen as chilling. At least it usually gets sunny by the mid-afternoon most days here. Fortunately, my garden provided its own sunshine this week.


The orange lilies finally came through with their flowers this week.  I think this variety is 'Orange Planet', which I planted in 2021.

Back view, filled out using Alstroemeria 'Claire' and Shasta daisies called 'Sweet Baby Izabel' (Leucanthemum x superbum)

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana',  Alstroemeria 'Claire', A. 'Inca Sundance', Leucanthemum x superbum 'Sweet Baby Izabel, Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi', and Lilium 'Orange Brandi'

View of arrangement in place


Depressing as circumstances have been on many fronts this year, it's time to dig in and slog through the ballot that's currently sitting on my desk.  At the same time, some 50,000 people in Orange County to the near south of us are under evacuation orders due to a serious toxic chemical leak. What a way to spend a holiday weekend!

I hope you've had an opportunity to spend time in your garden - or someone else's - this week.  You can check in with Cathy at Rambling and others who put something "In a Vase on Monday" here.


All material © 2012-2026 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

30 comments:

  1. So beautiful!! Sunshine in a vase indeed. The 'Orange Brandi' lily has such a lovely soft glow... I hope the buds open too. Well done.
    Chavli

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    1. The next 3 lilies should open before their stems shuts down but I can't be certain some of the other flowers won't finish first ;)

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  2. I love this color palette! Hot Summer sunshine. I saw the chemical leak on the news last night, how horrible. Ugh I hope they figure it out. My ballot is sitting next to me as well. I wish I felt better about it.

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    1. There are mixed messages on the chemical leak - positive some signs but the evacuation hasn't been lifted yet.

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  3. Che bella composizione! I gigli mi ricordano proprio l'estate infatti qui sono ancora piccoli e massacrati dalla grandine, vediamo che ne verrà fuori!

    Sono sempre felice di sentirti e ti auguro di rimetterti in forma al più presto!

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  4. Fabulous Kris, not only sunny colours but all very special flowers.

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  5. Very pretty, as always. I finally got my ballot to the P.O. yesterday, after my walk. I found some choices especially difficult. It appears an imminent threat of a catastrophic explosion has been relieved by a crack in that MMA tank. Hopefully there are still trustworthy folks within the EPA response team.

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    1. We're dropping our ballots off tomorrow morning. The situation with the chemical tank leak in Garden Grove sounds better but the evacuation hasn't been lifted yet.

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  6. Well that arrangement is sunshine indeed, wow! We've had lots of sunshine up here, maybe the same weather system that's got you gloomy has us sunny? Today though, high winds and rain is immanent. I'm glad I'm not a Memorial Day camper.

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    1. Well, it's no fair if we finally get a lift in our marine layer if it's offset by high winds and rain for you :(

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  7. My goodness that is a bright cheerful vase....like a creamsicle! Yummy. Love the lily.

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  8. Hi Kris, I love all your sunny colors. We were in Florida in April and had good weather on Sanibel Island. The week after we left I think the rainy weather returned.

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    1. Southern California has been even more variable - and cold - than Florida of late I think!

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  9. These flowers are so beautiful! I'm always looking for ways to spruce up my garden and I think I'm going to need to add these in there for next spring! Thanks you so much for sharing!

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    1. It took me years to trust in lilies but most now come back pretty reliably here, Alex ;)

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  10. Was für eine wunderbare Vase voller leuchtender Farben. Ich bin hier zufällig gelandet und finde die Zusammenstellung der Blüten sehr schön. Ganz besonders mag ich die Lilien.

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  11. Oh, that is lovely Kris - pure golden sunshine! The lilies are fabulous. I do hope you get some real sunshine this week… we are still in the middle of a heatwave and I am only just acclimatising after our cool spring, but I'd gladly send you some blue skies and a bit of warmth If I could!

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    1. I was surprised to wake up to sunshine at last on Monday morning but the gloom was back again on Tuesday!

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  12. Kris, this arrangement is truly sunshine itself. The flowers are placed beautifully. Send care and compassion for your continued healing (and for our country).

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  13. This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. My week has been pretty good, I just got a new cabinet painting for my kitchen. Have a great week!

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  14. Oh yes, most definitely sunshine in a vase, Kris - what a lovely shade of yellow those lilies are!

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    1. All the lilies opened over the course of the week too!

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  15. I was reading about the Garden Grove evacuations in the news and thinking about all the times I drove down that way! What a mess. Is the weather just a case of (nearly) June gloom, perhaps? No way to tell with the weird weather this year, I guess... On the garden front, I LOVE Alstroemeria and was happy to see it make an appearance, even as filler!

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    1. I may be becoming delusional but the May Gray/June Gloom seems to start earlier and hang on much longer than it used ti, Angela. Hopefully, it won't persist into July!

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