After a bright, sunny start to Sunday morning, the clouds moved in, the sky turned a dingy gray, and it got very muggy. I usually spend a good amount of time just tidying up my garden while cutting flowers for "In a Vase on Monday"; however, this week I decided to make a quick job of it and get myself back indoors. Historically, coastal Southern California has been known for its "dry heat" but higher humidity is becoming increasingly common. It also didn't help that there's also a new wildfire fire burning in Northern Los Angeles County, contributing to both the gloom and the sharp decline in our air quality.
I picked one of my favorite dahlias, 'Labyrinth', as the centerpiece of this week's arrangement.
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| I paired the 'Labyrinth' dahlias with Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) and Grevillea flowers in similar peachy tones. These colors can lift anyone's spirits, even under the gloomiest conditions. |
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| The back view of the vase was taken over by splashy stems of Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left are: Dahlia 'Labyrinth', Eustoma grandflorum 'Apricot', Cuphea 'Honeybells', Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream', and Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' |
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| Finished arrangement in place |
I'll tackle tidying the garden on another, hopefully cooler, day. How much cooler weather we can reasonably expect this summer and fall with El Nino conditions forming in the Pacific are questionable, though. While those conditions can mean drought and food shortages in many parts of the world, they can also mean deluges and floods here in California I generally welcome rain but too much rain too fast can become a significant problem as well.
For more IAVOM posts, check in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2026 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I like the tiny mouse: is she riding a butterfly? Magnificent Dahlias, and beautifully arranged. Hope the weather improves for you.
ReplyDeleteYes, she's riding a butterfly ;) She comes out of the closet each summer at some point, Noelle. As to the weather, it's following the same strange pattern as yesterday.
DeleteThis is quite a wow vase with that dahlia and the rest of the yummy flowers. Hoping you don't get flooding rain. Here we will be on the recovering end of that drought like weather. We haven't had rain in 10 days which is so strange for us. And aren't expected to have any rain for at least another week maybe 2..
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine seeing rain in intervals of 10 days, Donna, except during our all too brief rainy season, which lasts from late October to March or thereabouts. Even then it's nowhere that consistent.
DeleteI second the motion for no fussing this week. Currently, in my location, 87° F with 42% relative humidity. According to my humidex calculator, that reads, “Evident discomfort.” Meanwhile, that’s a beautiful little arrangement you’ve got there.
ReplyDeleteOur humidity is measuring 60% now and it was higher still yesterday. Our temperature stands at 82 so far. It's back to gloomy again too.
DeleteLabyrinth is such a beauty and your Eustoma grandflorum 'Apricot' ties it nicely together with the other elements in your vase. This has been a tough summer everywhere. Hope the weather improves so you can enjoy being outside.
ReplyDeleteI'm counting myself relatively lucky with our temperatures thus far, even though the humidity is more uncomfortable than usual. I'm just afraid that they're likely to go up as the summer progresses.
DeleteBeautiful! "Labyrinth" is one of my favourite dahlias too :)
ReplyDeleteIt IS a great dahlia in both color and shape!
DeleteSuch a gorgeous Dahlia Kris, and as you say, very uplifting to gaze at that indoors when it is unpleasant out. Hot and muggy here too today and I am also debating whether to do some tidying up (the veg beds need attention) or just sit in the shade! Take it easy when your air quality is so poor Kris!
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