In a Vase on Monday: The siren call of blue flowers

I recently discovered that my Mexican Abelia, now classified as Vesalea floribunda, had sprung back to life after a hard pruning months ago.  I obtained it many years ago from Annie's Annuals & Perennials as a four-inch plant and placed it on my back slope for reasons I don't recall.  It didn't do much over the years and, although I loved its fragrant flowers, I had no success in propagating it directly from cuttings but it spread well by layering and is currently spilling over its neighbors.  Once I saw how well it was doing, I knew I had to use it in a vase.  While the color is described in the literature on the plant as "cerise," I see it as pinkish lavender and collected other flowers in that color scheme to complement it.

It became another of my "everything but the kitchen sink" creations.  The single stem of Geranium 'Rozanne' I placed in front was probably a mistake, although the faint streaks at the center of the Geranium flower echo the color of the Vesalea blooms.  The Salvia stems were almost lost in the mix.

Back view: The Limonium perezii blooms presented a better match with the Vesalea flowers

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Argyranthmum frutescens 'Mount Everest', Hebe 'Grace Kelly', Salvia 'Bee's Bliss', Geranium 'Rozanne', Limonium perezii, Osteospermum 'Violet Ice', and Vesalea floribunda

I'd originally thought I could throw the flowers of Anemone 'Lord Lieutenant' into that first vase but the color difference was too pronounced in my view.  Still, I couldn't dismiss the brilliant blue of those flowers so I created a smaller second arrangement.

I've been very pleased that the 'Lord Lieutenant' Anemone bulbs I purchased in 2025 actually fit their specifications as described this time.  The cream-colored Matthiola incana (aka stock) was added for its delicious scent.

Back view: I used stems of a noID Ceanothus as my filler

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Lord Lieutenant', noID Ceanothus, Matthiola incana, Prostanthera ovatifolia 'Variegata, and Salvia 'Mystic Spires'

We've had a major reversal in the weather over the past week with temperatures reaching into the mid-70sF (23C).  It could get warmer still over this week.  The Santa Ana winds have been blowing and our humidity levels have dropped dramatically.  However, unlike last January, the winds pose little danger of sparking wildfires because we were so well saturated by the rain we've received since October.  In fact, according to news reports, the State of California is completely drought-free for the first time in twenty-five years.  Those conditions won't last forever but they're appreciated for now.  Hopefully, we'll get more rain before our rainy season ends in April.  At present, there's no significant chance of rain showing until early February.

For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

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

In a Vase on Monday: The Leucospermums show off

It's been a bit windy but the combination of sunny skies and slightly warmer temperatures has sent spring into hyperdrive.  I didn't even have to give much thought as to what to cut to fill a couple of vases.  I hadn't planned on a third arrangement but then I decided I couldn't leave the anemones to the wind's punishment.

I'll start with the two arrangements featuring Leucospermums.

While this is yet another blue and yellow arrangement, the contents are entirely different from those I used last week.  In addition to Leucospermum 'High Gold', I used 2 varieties of Dutch Iris.  The Irises began popping up in a variety of colors seemingly overnight.

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Iris hollandica 'Mystic Beauty', I. h. 'Sapphire Beauty', Leucadendron 'High Gold', Narcissus 'White Lion', and hybrid Salvia 'Bee's Bliss'

The second arrangement was inspired by Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi'.

Although inspired by the orange Leucospermum, this is another of my "everything but the kitchen sink" compilations

Back view: I threw in a foxglove and 2 calla lilies that probably didn't need to be there

Top view

Top: Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', Antirrhinum majus, and Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Peach'
Middle: Leucadendron 'Cloudbank Ginny', Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi', and Narcissus 'Beautiful Eyes'
Bottom: Narcissus 'Sunny Girlfriend', Ranunculus, and Zantedeschia aethiopica

I hadn't figured on Anemone 'Rosa Tigrato' delivering half a dozen blooms in my cutting garden but, having seen what wind can do to them, there wasn't really any question in my mind about cutting some of them for a third arrangement.

In addition to the red and white anemones, I included the stem of Helleborus 'Anna's Red' I'd used in one of last week's arrangements.  I was surprised that it was still in good shape and that one of the buds had opened.

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Rosa Tigrato', Grevillea lavandulcea 'Penola', Freesia, Calliandra haematocephala, and Helleborus 'Anna's Red'

There are a couple of chances of light rain next weekend and early the following week but those could easily disappear.  However, my fingers are crossed that we get at least one more good rainstorm before our rainy season comes to an end in mid-April.  My smallest rain collection tank literally sprung a leak during the last set of storms so I lost fifty gallons there and I don't have its replacement installed yet.  I'd like to start our long dry season with all my tanks full if possible.

For more IAVOM posts, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: A lot to choose from

With the return of warmer temperatures, the garden is in hyperdrive.  I had too much to choose from so I picked a couple of colors to focus on and got to work looking for flowers that met the profile.

My first arrangement started with the selection of the soft peach tones of Leucospermum 'Spider Hybrid'.

I added a touch of purple to pick up the grayish-lavender pollen presenters in the Leucospermum's flowers

Back view: The number of plants containing anything in the way of soft orange color was limited, hence the addition of 3 stems of Aeonium 'Kiwi' flowers

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left:  Abelia 'Kaleidoscope', Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi', Freesia, Leucospermum 'Spider Hybrid', Limonium perezii, and Narcissus 'Geranium'

 

I focused on vivid red for my second arrangement, accented with white flowers.

The vase I used has an irregular shape so I photographed it from 3 sides, all of which look a little different.  The red flowers are Argyranthemum and Freesia.

The white flowers are Anemones, Coleonema album (aka white breath of heaven), and Freesia

Alstroemeria 'Inca Lucky' melds the white and red flowers

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left:  Alstroemeria 'Inca Lucky', Coleonema album, Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey', Anemone coronaria 'Rarity' (although I think the variety may have been incorrectly identified), Argyranthemum 'Grandaisy Red', and white and red Freesia

 

I'd originally planned to add a deep burgundy Anemone 'Mistral Bordeaux' to the second arrangement but I didn't feel it fit so I popped that flower and a few other stems that didn't make the cut into a small vase.  Leftovers from one of last week's arrangement went into yet another vase.

The tiny vase containing the Anemone trying to pass as a rose is on my desk.  The vase of leftovers containing a Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi' flower sits on the kitchen island.

 

For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: Dodging raindrops

There was a good chance of rain yesterday morning, although it wasn't anything like the 85+ percent chance it normally takes for me to bank on it.  I got spit at but I managed to finish just before the rain came down.  While it was a strong shower, it was over in no time, delivering just 0.01/inch of rain; however. temperatures remained low (by own standards) all last week and we're not expecting to get above 60F (15C) for the next ten days so spring isn't exactly unfolding as quickly as I'd expected based on prior years. 

There isn't much new in the garden this week but what there was is plentiful.  I focused on Argyranthemum 'Aramis Bicolor Rose' because it was so floriferous.

I used my asymmetrical crystal glass vase with its prow-like front

Instead of a back view, I took photos of it from 2 sides

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Mount Everest', Argyranthemum 'Aramis Bicolor Rose', Crassula multicava 'Red', pink and white Freesia, and Hebe 'Wiri Blush'

The second arrangement is another case of throwing in everything but the kitchen sink.

The inspiration was Leucadendron 'Cloudbank Ginny' but those stems were almost lost within the rest of the flowers and foliage

I selected this as the back view but I think I like it better than the front view shown above

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: noID orange and yellow Calendulas, Echeveria agavoides, yellow Freesia, Leucadendron 'Cloudbank Ginny', noID Narcissus, Xylosma congestum, and Grevillea 'Superb'

There's no rain in the forecast until Friday at present but it appears that we're stuck with lower-than-normal temperatures for the time being.  Leucospermum 'Goldie' is getting ever-so-slowly closer to blooming but whether it'll show up next week remains to be seen.  The other Leucospermums are lagging well behind, as are most of the Anemones and all of the Dutch Iris and Scilla peruviana.

For more IAVOM creations, check in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: Going overboard (again)

It's Spring.  I can't help myself.  I started with a clear idea of what I wanted in my first vase and a vague notion of a possibility for a second arrangement.  And I ended up with four vases.   The problem arose at the start when, cutting materials for the first vase, I got carried away and cut more than the vase could hold.

Leucospermum 'Brandi' is one of my favorite flowers at the moment but this arrangement was actually inspired by my desire to use the last of the presentable Narcissi before the next stretch of very warm weather arrives later this week

I finally got a handful of Iceland poppies to bloom and added a couple to dress up the back of this arrangement

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia 'Kaleidoscope', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer', Leucospermum 'Brandi', Narcissus tazetta 'Geranium', and Papaver nudicaule (Iceland poppy) shown with Lotus berthelotii 'Amazon Sunset'

When I realized that I literally couldn't stuff anything more into the first vase, I pulled out another one for the overflow materials I'd already cut.

I'd thought that the flowers of Aeonium 'Kiwi Verde', currently blooming all over the garden, and the chartreuse and rusty red flowers of Salvia lanceolata might offer a nice complement to the orange Leucospermum but there wasn't room to cram those stems into the first vase

Back view showing off the Aeonium flowers

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi Verde', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Alstroemeria 'Claire', and Salvia lanceolata

I cut all my flowers on Sunday morning before I have breakfast so I already had flowers cut for what was supposed to be vase #2 but ended up as vase #3.

The noID snapdragons I grew from plugs are showing the first signs of rust so I cut them and the only Anemone 'Bi-color' still in good shape

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Edward Goucher', Anemone coronaria 'Bi-color', red and white Antirrhinum majus, Coriandrum sativum, and Penstemon mexicali 'Mini Red Bells'

The contents of the fourth arrangement weren't cut on Sunday.  The foxglove is a holdover from one of last week's arrangements and the sweet peas were cut late last week for the kitchen island but I'm sharing them to show off the magical color transformation of Lathyrus 'Blue Shift' as the blooms age.

The vase of "leftovers" too good not to share

These photos show how the color of Lathyrus odoratus 'Blue Shift' changes from magenta to purple to turquoise blue.  I grew these from seed.

Enough from me!  For more IAVOM creations, check in with our host, Cathy of Rambling in the Garden.

All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party