In a Vase on Monday: Going big

I've got two larger arrangements this week.  That's unusual for me as I've a limited number of long-stemmed flowers and therefore generally stick to medium sized vases.  However, my husband bought me a tall vase as a birthday present and a good friend brought me a bundle of peonies on Saturday.  The two were made for one another so I had to go big there!  The challenge was to find materials in my garden to support the peonies.

The tallest flower stems I could find to back up the pink peonies were 2 white Agapanthus, neither of which had fully unfurled.  The taller pink Alstroemerias I usually pair with these peonies were gone but I scrounged up a few mid-sized stems that don't contribute much.

Back view: Only one of the peonies has opened thus far and, in the absence of other suitable flowers, I relied on foliage to fill out the vase, including 2 varieties of very feathery Leucadendrons

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', noID Agapanthus, noID Alstroemeria, Leucadendron 'Jubilee Crown', L. laxum, and the noID peonies sourced by my friend from a chain store that generally offers them at this time of year

Coincidentally, I discovered two tall gladiola stems in the cutting garden bed holding my sweet peas last week.  I'd plopped several purple gladiola bulbs there years ago and tried to remove them at the end of that season but a few have stubbornly returned year-after-year ever since.  What's odd is that this year a white gladiola popped up with a purple one.  To my recollection, I've never planted a white gladiola anywhere.  In any case, cutting those two stems led me to seek out others of a similar height.

The unseasonably warm temperatures we've experienced on and off over a few weeks are quickly taking out my Renga lilies (Arthropodium cirratum) and my love-in-the-mist flowers (Nigella papillosa) so they were logical choices.  The sweet peas have rapidly picked up production and I cut some of those trailing stems to give them greater weight in the arrangement.

I filled out the back of the vase with the sprawling stems of Centaurea 'Silver Feather' 

A rather awkward overhead view

Top row: Arthropodium cirratum, Centaurea 'Silver Feather', and Digitalis purpurea
Middle: Gladilolus 'Vuvuzela', noID white gladiola, and Nigella papillosa 'African Queen'
Bottom: Lathyrus odoratus 'April in Paris', 'Lord Nelson', and noID lavender variety

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

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: Simple versus overcrowded

I'm prone to stuffing my vases to the hilt but I managed to keep my first floral arrangement very simple for a change.

I'd left this deep coral-colored Hippeastrum in a pot tucked into a shady corner last year without any expectation of it blooming so its arrival was a surprise.  It was sold to me as 'Appleblossom', which it most certainly isn't, but I've yet to put a name to the cultivar.

I've treated the first view as the "front" of the arrangement but this side view shows off the large trumpet flower to greater advantage

Back view: My ever-blooming Grevillea 'Superb' provided the perfect accent

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Grevillea 'Superb', noID Hippeastrum, and Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset'

However, a leopard can't change its spots.  My second arrangement went off the rails and is a tangled mess by comparison to the first arrangement.  An airier combination might have done more to show off the individual elements but, once again, I couldn't help myself.

My foxgloves have been relatively disappointing thus far this year but 2 giant bloom stalks in separate areas of the garden provided the inspiration for this arrangement

Back view: I added 2 tall stems of Salvia canariensis as a filler, along with 2 equally tall but slender stems of Arthropodium cirratum (aka Renga lily)

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: white Antirrhinum majus, Arthropodium cirratum, Lathyrus odoratus 'April in Paris', pinkish  and purple foxfloves (Digitalis purpurea), Nigella papillosa 'African Bride', Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata', and Salvia canariensis var candidissima

We had cooler weather last week but we're expecting another warm-up this week.  Temperatures up to 90F (32C) are predicted for the inland valleys.  Online sources suggest that our temperatures along the coast shouldn't soar above the low 70s (23C); however, I'm keeping in mind those sources were wrong about the impact of the last heatwave to hit Southern California.  Nevertheless, I'm hopeful they're right this time as I spent the weekend planting a couple of the beds left empty when I removed some flammable specimens - another round of temperatures in the mid-90sF wouldn't be helpful at this stage.

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

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: Purplish

One of my favorite plants is Arthropodium cirratum (aka Renga lily), native to New Zealand.  It has strappy evergreen leaves, tolerates dry shade, and produces sprays of beautiful flowers in early summer.  Much as I love it, I've found it difficult to use in floral arrangements (probably because I'm prone to cramming too much into my vases).  The plants have bloomed heavily this year and I was determined to use them in an arrangement that shows off the small flowers.

Resisting my usual predilection for stuffing vases, I used only 4 elements, 3 of which are tall and wispy

Back view: The small Arthropodium flowers have white petals with fuzzy purple and yellow stamens

Top view: I played off the purple in the Arthropodium's stamens using the flowers of Centaurea 'Silver Feather'

Clockwise from the upper left: Arthropodium cirratum, Centaurea 'Silver Feather', Dahlia 'Vancouver', and Leucanthemum x superbum

Staying with the purplish theme, I cut a flowering artichoke for a second arrangement, although it ended up being the only thing that went into the vase.

The artichoke is Cynara scolymus 'Purple Romagna'.  It's a full 12 inches in diameter and extremely heavy.  It's also more prickly than any of my agaves and I got stabbed repeatedly just cutting its stalk.  I used one of the only vases I had that could hold it without tipping over and it left no room for additions.

Our marine layer is slowly fading.  It was absent entirely at our elevation on Saturday morning and temperatures soared accordingly.  Unfortunately, heat, wind, and dry conditions contributed to a wildfire in north Los Angeles County on Saturday, approximately a hundred miles away.  It's already burned more than 12,000 acres and prompted evacuations, and it's still largely uncontained.  Luckily, here along the coast, our morning marine layer returned yesterday and it looks as though it'll hang around for most of this week, even if it's lighter and likely to clear earlier.

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

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

In a Vase on Monday: Fading fast

The flowers in my cutting garden are fading faster than I can cut them.  Flowers have been dropping from the foxglove stalks in large numbers.  The Minoan lace flowers are withering.  On the other hand, the sweet peas are trying to catch up with everything else but the majority of the blooms are so far above my head, they're hard to reach.  In the meantime, the dahlias in their temporary pots remind me daily that I've got to clear the raised planters (soon!) to give them space.

I cut almost all the purple foxgloves currently in bloom.  Some were immediately deposited in my compost bin.  As most have already bloomed to the top of their stem, I'm not sure how long they'll hold up in a vase.

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Arthropodium cirratum (aka Renga lily), Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Purple', assorted Lathyrus odoratus, and Orlaya grandiflora (aka Minoan lace)

 

My second arrangement was inspired by a gladiola that, like a minor miracle, returns each year albeit in an area where it stands out (in less than a good way) from everything around it.  The flower's unusual colors led me to combine it with a companion I'd never choose in any other situation.  Sometimes one has to let nature direct one's choices.

The peachy gladiolas are splashed with magenta and pink so I threw in 2 stems of "purple" snapdragons in to echo those odd dashes of color

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi', Antirrhinum majus 'Chantilly Purple', Callistemon 'Cane's Hybrid', and Gladiolus nanus 'Nymph'

 

I was going to stop at two arrangements but many of the "rust-resistant" snapdragons in my cutting garden are covered with so much rust I can't allow them to remain in place much longer.  When I discovered the the 'Golden Celebration' rose in a corner of my garden was blooming, a third arrangement became a fait accompli.

The 'Chantilly Peach' snapdragons held up well against rust in prior years but then our conditions were far drier in 2021 and 2022

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', Antirrhinum majus 'Chantilly Peach', Rosa 'Golden Celebration', and Xylosma congestum

 

 

Is that it, you ask?  No, it isn't.  At least two of the gladiolas I thought I'd pulled from the raised planters in my cutting garden two years ago have produced flower stalks, one of which was already fading.  I cut it, thinking to add it to my first arrangement but it just didn't fit.  It ended up in a tiny vase with sweet peas that complemented it well.

The vase contains Gladiolus 'Vuvuzela' and Lathyrus odoratus x belinensis 'Erewhon'

 

To find more floral arrangements, check in with our host, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

The tiny vase is sitting in the kitchen window but it didn't photograph well in that spot

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

In a Vase on Monday: A joy, even if brief

As a by-product of this year's heavier-than-usual rainfall, my back slope is now grossly overgrown.  It's difficult to walk down there at the moment as plants crowd the narrow concrete stairway from both sides.  On Saturday afternoon, I decided it was past time to cut back some of that exuberant growth.  I've only made a stab at that thus far but, while I was there, I noticed that the Matilija poppies (Romneya coulteri) were blooming.  Although I've repeatedly tried - and failed - to remove this plant since discovering what a thug it is, I can't ignore those lovely flowers.  They don't last long in a vase but I cut the freshest blooms I could find and created an arrangement around them.

Even the freshest of these poppies shatter within 2-3 days, collapsing in a pool of ruffled petals and yellow stamens.  They make quite a mess so I may regret my decision to cut so many of them for this vase.

Back view: I used my peach snapdragons as filler material because those flowers were overdue for deadheading.  The rust-resistant snapdragons aren't so resistant this year either.

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Achillea 'Moonshine', noID Lonicera (honeysuckle), Xylosma congestum, Antirrhinum majus 'Chantilly Peach', and Romneya coulteri

 

My second arrangement is something of a disappointment.  The purple foxgloves in my cutting garden have been begging for their time in the limelight and I had plenty of material to pair with them.  I tend to lean toward combinations of plants that coordinate closely in color but I took that a bit too far this week.  The resulting arrangement could have used more contrast to allow each element to show off against its companions.

All the stems I cut were tall so they demanded the heavy cut-glass vase.  Unfortunately, the center of the arrangement ended up looking like a dying star forming a black hole.

Back view: In retrospect, I should have skipped the Allium atropurpureum.  I looked for more Arthropodium cirratum (aka Renga lily) but the single stem I'd included was the only one with open flowers I could find. 

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Allium atropurpureum, Arthopodium cirratum (aka Renga lily), Coriandrum sativum, Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Purple', Cotinus coggygyria 'Royal Purple', Nigella papillosa, Salvia canariensis var candidissima, and Orlaya grandiflora

 

Our marine layer remains a persistent presence, seldom clearing before late afternoon.  The high level of humidity it creates. combined with warmer afternoon temperatures, is encouraging mildew and rust among the densely planted flowers in my cutting garden, many of which now stretch above my head.  I think it may be time to assemble bouquets to give away before the flowers lose their appeal.

 

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: Zombie gets a new life

I've been delighted to find that several of the Hippeastrum bulbs I've transplanted into garden beds here and there have returned and bloomed.  Last week, I featured a Hippeastrum 'Aphrodite' in one arrangement and, although that one came from a bulb still in its original pot, two more have surfaced in a bed in my front garden.  Late last week, I discovered that Hippeastrum 'Zombie' was blooming in another front garden bed but yesterday I noticed it wasn't looking its best.  A closer examination showed that it was in worse shape than I'd imagined so I cut it to see if I could use all or part of it in a vase.

Tempting as it is to blame the family of rabbits who've moved into my garden, the damage to both the Hippeastrum's bud and stem looks more like something slugs or snails would do.  Thanks to the raccoons, I don't usually have much of a problem with mollusks but maybe they've fallen down in the job (their only useful service).

The remaining 2 blooms of the Hippeastrum are also a little tattered but I did my best to distract attention from their flaws while playing up 'Zombie's' beautiful color

Back view: I remain awed by the vigor of the snapdragons I planted in early December.  The three plants just keep on giving - and there's still no rust!

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Antirrhinum majus 'Double Azalea Bronze', Gladiolus nanus 'Nymph' (in bud), Grevillea 'Superb', Hippeastrum 'Zombie', and Orlaya grandiflora

My second arrangement was inspired by one of my favorite plants, Arthropodium cirratum, commonly known as Renga Lily.  It's one of those all too uncommon plants that thrive in dry shade.  Over the years I've divided the plant and spread it around.  A New Zealand native, it has lovely evergreen foliage and produces graceful bloom sprays in late spring.  Unfortunately, it often doesn't stand out when combined with other flowers.

The Renga lily was easily eclipsed by the flashy Salvia and foxglove blooms

The sweet pea shown in this back view has a trace of magenta in it but it looks out of place; however, I'd wedged it into the arrangement and didn't have any more time to dither with it so it remained

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Artemisia californica, Arthropodium cirratum, Lathyrus odoratus, Digitalis purpurea, and Salvia canariensis var candidissima

Most of the sweet pea stems I'd cut for the second arrangement were too short to work in the vase I chose so they went into the small vase that usually sits on the kitchen island.  Last week's lily arrangement was still in good shape so, after a little fluffing, it found a new home in our main bedroom.

Most of the sweet peas (left) are from mixed packets so I can't identify them by name.  Three of the Lilium 'Royal Sunrise' blooms and all the Leucadendron stems (now 3 weeks old) were in still in great shape so I simply added several fresh snapdragons and a peach-colored foxglove to freshen last week's vase (right).

The two new arrangements ended up in the usual spots on the dining room and front entry tables.

For more IAVOM creations, check in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she and other contributors have come up with this week.

All material © 2012-2022 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party