In a Vase on Monday: Summer Skies

I started tearing my cool season cutting garden apart this weekend.  I'm only halfway through the process, partly because I took the time to package a lot of the floral material to give away to neighbors, but I held some of it back for this week's IAVOM arrangements too.  I stole the name of this post from the name of the larkspur I cut down: 'Summer Skies'.  Although our morning marine layer is still in place, we're getting more sun and blue skies in the afternoon.  According to Sunday's Los Angeles Times, a "heat dome" is expected to settle over California later this week; however, it's possible that coastal Southern California may be spared.  I can only hope that's the case - early June is too soon for a major heatwave.

I paired stems of larkspur 'Summer Skies Mix' with 3 tall stems of Agapanthus for a wispy blue and white arrangement

Back view, showing off Salvia 'Mystic Spires' and Prostanthera ovalifolia (aka mint bush)

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Centranthus ruber 'Albus', 2 variations from the Consolida ajacis 'Summer Skies Mix', noID Agapanthus, white and blue variations of Nigella papillosa, Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata', and Salvia 'Mystic Spires'

My second arrangement incorporated some of the Nigella from the cutting garden but otherwise consisted of blooms from elsewhere in my garden.  The wild carrot (Daucus carota) is very plentiful at the moment.

I paired the abundant wild carrot stems with Alstroemeria and ivy geranium (Pelargonium peltatum)

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: noID Alstroemeria, Daucus carota 'Dara', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Nigella papillosa, and 2 varieties of Pelargonium peltatum in burgundy and dark pink

I considered creating a third arrangement using a Hippeastrum that surprised me by blooming in a neglected pot on my south side patio.  I decided to leave it where it was because the flower stalk and the individual blooms are so big I was afraid they'd overwhelm just about anything I paired with it.

The individual flowers of the Hippeastrum are larger than my open hand.  The bulb, purchased in 2022, was sold as 'Appleblossom' but its coral color suggests otherwise

I did cut sweet peas to fill a small vase on our kitchen island, though.  The remaining sweet peas, on vines extending well above my head, are slated for removal as I clear the third raised planter in my cutting garden this week.  While the flowers only last a few days, their scent is heavenly and I'll miss them when they're gone.

Lathyrus odoratus 'April in Paris', represented by the ivory flowers with lavender edges, is as highly scented as it's reputation claims

My fingers are crossed that we sidestep the worst effects of that heat dome.  I really need to get my summer-flowering plants in the ground as soon as possible but temperatures in excess of 100F (38C) won't help there.

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

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

In a Vase on Monday: Excess Flora

Although temperatures remain on the cool side thanks to our morning marine layer, I can already see signs of the shift toward summer.  The first Agapanthus flowers have already opened, lily flower stalks are up, and several of my dahlia tubers have sprouted.  Space for the latter is limited until the current contents of my cutting garden are cleared.  I've given flowers away now and then since the start of spring but Mother's Day seemed a good opportunity to step up my game.

I relied solely on the sweet peas, larkspur and love-in-a-mist flowers dominating the raised planters in my cutting garden to fill a dozen plastic bottles.  I left them on the curb with a note wishing passers-by a happy Mother's Day late Saturday afternoon and all of them were gone by 10am Sunday morning.

I made up a floral arrangement for a neighbor last week and liked it enough to create something similar for our own dining table this week.

The ever-blooming Grevillea 'Superb' has been working overtime on flower production, leaving even its sturdy stems dragging on the ground in some cases

Back view: The peach foxgloves have also been producing stalk-after-stalk of flowers.  Even the Aeoniums are obstructing paths with dense sprays of flowers.

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi Verde', Alstroemeria 'Inca Sundance', Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Peach', Grevillea 'Superb', Leucadendron salignum 'Chief', and Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi'

I swung to the other side of the color wheel for my second arrangement, taking advantage of the first blooms of the Echium gentianoides I planted in the fall of 2022.  I'd almost forgotten about it and, when I saw the foliage, I momentarily mistook it for a Euphorbia.

This Echium has the brightest blue flowers of any plants I've grown in the genus.  It's foliage has narrow white stripes and leaves unlike any other Echiums I've seen.

Back view: The Echium's buds start out pink so I considered pairing it with pink flowers but settled instead for white accents

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Centranthus ruber 'Albus', Consolida ajacis 'Summer Skies Mix', noID white Lathyrus odoratus, Echium gentianoides 'Tajinaste', and Nigella papillosa

I recycled leftovers from last week's arrangements and combined them with some of the material I cut for this week's vases for a third arrangement.

The "leftovers" included Alstroemeria 'Claire' and Argyranthemum 'Grandaisy Dark Pink'.  The newer ingredients included Nigella papillosa and Dorycnium hirsutum (aka hairy canary clover)

I've still got more flowers than I know what to do with.  I'm planning to clear out the raised beds of the cutting garden within the next three to four weeks so, absent an early heatwave, I anticipate giving away more flowers before the month is out.

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

 

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

In a Vase on Monday: Everything everywhere all at once

I never thought I'd say that I have too many flowers available to cut in my garden but that's how I felt on Sunday morning.  I usually fixate on a few flowers and create an arrangement (or two or three) but, with temperatures rising, the spring flowers that prefer cool temperatures are rushing to the finish line while the summer flowers are already getting ready to move in.  Lilies are developing stalks; Agapanthus are sporting buds; and daylilies are already blooming here and there.  I've started potting up my dahlia tubers to get them sprouted so I can move them into my cutting garden when the cool season flowers are ready to clear out.  With mildew and rust already afflicting their foliage, I focused on making use of them while they're presentable.

My first vase made use of some of the peach foxgloves that shot up all at once.

I wasn't sure how I felt about mixing the pale peach foxgloves with the bright orange Leucospermums at first but I think Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer' helped to tie the whole thing together.

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer', Digitalis purpurea 'Peach Dalmatian', Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi', noID Ranunculus, and Xylosma congestum

The second arrangement made use of the sweet peas and larkspur, as well as a few of the remaining blue Dutch Iris.

The larkspur grew especially tall this year yet only recently started blooming, at which point its stems started to topple over.  The first variety of the sweet peas began blooming in mid-February.  Another variety joined the display in March but I didn't see any evidence of others until late last week.

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: white Anthirrhinum majus (snapdragons); Consolida ajacis 'Summer Skies Mix' (larkspur) in various colors; Iris hollandica 'Sapphire Beauty'; and a mix of Lathyrus odoratus, most recently including 'April in Paris'

And yes, there's a third vase this week.  The stems of Alstroemeria 'Claire' included in one of last week's arrangements was still in good shape so I added two of the last anemones, as well as stems of the dark pink snapdragons (after removing their rust-covered foliage).

Anemone coronaria 'Rosa Tigrato' put on a good show but she doesn't appreciate the rising temperatures

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Allium neopolitatum, Antirrhinum majus, Hebe 'Wiri Blush', Alstroemeria 'Claire', and Anemone coronaria 'Rosa Tigrato'

For more IAVOM creations, 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: Just peachy

On Saturday, I noticed that the Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri) on our back slope was sporting five blooms.  Although I've tried to remove the thuggish plant twice, even enlisting my husband's help to dig it out once, it inevitably reappears, producing tall, sprawling stems topped with fragile blooms beloved by the bees.  I headed down the slope early Sunday morning hoping for at least three intact blooms and came back with only one but I was committed to a white and yellow arrangement so I persevered.  Some peach colors infiltrated the mix as I tried to fill it out.

Although the Matilija poppy was the inspiration for this arrangement, the 'Golden Celebration' rose assumed the lead role

Back view: I used stems of Argyranthemum frutescens and Pandorea jasminoides to add the touches of white I'd originally hoped to get from the poppies

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', Achillea 'Moonshine', Alstroemeria 'Claire', Romneya coulteri (aka Matilija poppy), Antirrhinum majus 'Chantilly Peach', Argyranthemum frutescens 'White Butterfly', Pandorea jasminoides, and Rosa 'Golden Celebration'

 

We had another stretch of hot weather late last week, with temperatures reaching 90F (32C).  The seemingly constant pattern of flip-flopping temperatures has stressed many of my plants.  My cool season flowers, like the foxgloves, sweet peas and larkspur, were slow to get going but now seem to be ready to throw in the towel.  The larkspur made an especially poor showing this year and I decided I'd best make use of the remaining presentable blooms before they're gone.

With the addition of a beefy stem of Delphinium elatum 'Morning Light', the arrangement was off to a lop-sided start but I did my best to give it better balance by adding numerous stems of Consolida ajacis (larkspur), Orlaya grandiflora, and Nigella papillosa

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Consolida ajacis, Delphinium elatum 'Morning Light', Lathyrus odoratus x belinensis 'Erewhon', noID white Lathyrus odoratus, Nigella papillosa, and Orlaya grandiflora

 

Nine of my dahlia tubers have sprouted thus far and I've already moved seven of these from their temporary pots into their summer homes, the raised planters and half barrels that make up my cutting garden.  As I remove the cool season plants, the space they occupy will be filled by other dahlia tubers and the zinnia and sunflower seedlings I've grown from seed in plastic pots.  Summer is breathing down our necks here.  Southern California had its first major wildfire last week and, on the heels of that, there was a smaller fire less than five miles from my home in a nearby park.  Swamped by over 80 firefighters and assisted by water drops from helicopters that flew directly over our house a couple of times, it burned just ten acres before it was extinguished.  Luckily no structures were damaged but it was a stark reminder of the challenges summer poses.

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

 

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

 

 

In a Vase on Monday: Another take on orange and blue

Remarkably, we got a touch of rain late last week.  It wasn't much, just 0.18/inch (4.6mm) but, as I expected nothing, it was appreciated.  In what appears to be an unfortunate pattern, the low pressure system that permitted the rainstorm in the north to move into the south part of our state was quickly replaced by another round of Santa Ana winds and soaring temperatures.  We briefly hit 87F (30C) yesterday and today could be warmer still.  The winds can quickly wither flowers so on Sunday I cut blooms with relative abandon for In a Vase on Monday, the weekly meme hosted by Cathy of Rambling in the Garden.

The rain spurred another flush of blooms on the snapdragons in my cutting garden, inspiring my first arrangement.  Thus far, the snapdragons are free of rust so I want to take advantage of them while I can.

I also took this opportunity to cut the last of my Narcissus, two remaining blooms of Leucospermum 'Brandi', and a single 'Lady Emma Hamilton' rose.  I won the David Austin rose in a drawing at the Capitol Region Garden Bloggers' Fling in 2017.  I received the rose in the spring of 2018 but it's produced fewer than a handful of flowers since.

I dressed up the back of the arrangement with 2 stems of my 'Pink Meidiland' rose and added some height using stems of Leucadendron 'Jubilee Crown'

Top view

Top: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana' and Antirrhinum majus 'Chantilly Bronze' and 'Chantilly Peach'
Middle: Leucadendron 'Cloudbank Ginny', L. 'Jubilee Crown', and Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi'
Bottom: Narcissus 'Geranium', Rosa 'Lady Emma Hamilton', and R. 'Pink Meidiland'

 

The first bearded Iris to bloom in my back garden prompted my second arrangement, although I admit I agonized awhile about cutting it.  It looked beautiful on Friday following our brief rainstorm but Saturday's vicious wind did it no favors and I was afraid that the blooms currently in bud would suffer if I left it alone so, without thinking about it too long, I cut the stem and moved on.

This is what the Iris germanica 'City Lights' bloom looked like on Friday.  It's a reblooming variety so I'm hopeful I'll see another bloom stalk this fall.

The Iris wasn't looking its best by Sunday morning but I trusted that the buds were far enough developed to open even after the stem was cut.  I grew the Nigella, Orlaya, and larkspur from seed.  I'd collected the Nigella seed from plants I grew last year.

The sweet peas tucked in the back of the arrangement were also grown from seed but they've been very disappointing.  Almost all are the same dark blue color even though I planted seeds of 4 different mixes.

Top view

Top: Centranthus ruber 'Albus', Consolida ajacis (aka larkspur), and Delphinium elatum 'Cobalt Dreams'
Middle: Globularia x indubia (aka globe daisy), Iris germanica 'City Lights', and Lathyrus odoratus
Bottom: Nigella papillosa 'African Bride', Orlaya grandiflora, and Scabiosa columbaria 'Flutter Deep Blue'

 

As usual, I cut too many flowers.  The pink Alstroemerias I thought I could incorporate into the first arrangement didn't mesh with the prevailing orange tones so they went into a small vase for the kitchen island.  When I couldn't cram everything I'd cut for the second arrangement into the vase I'd selected, the extra stems went into the kitchen island arrangement as well.

In addition to the noID pink Alstroemeria, this vase includes Orlaya grandiflora, self-seeded Lagurus ovatus (aka bunny tail grass), and Agrostemma 'Ocean Pearls'

 

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

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