In a Vase on Monday: A tad simpler

I tried to stop my vase stuffing ways this week by being more selective about what I cut during my stroll through the garden in pursuit of plants for "In a Vase on Monday."  That's hard to do with spring in full swing!  I'd nothing specific in mind when I headed out with my clippers and, somewhat to my own surprise, the first plant I focused on was Festuca californica, a native California bunch grass.  It's been in my garden for almost 4 years but I don't remember ever seeing it in bloom prior to this year, another side-effect of ample winter rain perhaps.  In any case, use of the delicate grass required that I stick to the plan to allow my plant materials space to breathe in their vase so the grass wouldn't be lost.

While I limited the types of flowers for this vase, I think I should have used fewer stems of each

or trimmed the foliage a bit more

The grass didn't photograph well from above

Clockwise from the left, the vase contains: Phlomis fruticosa, noID Alstroemeria, Festuca californica, Pelargonium peltatum 'Pink Blizzard', and Prunus laurocerasus

The inspiration for the second vase was one of my favorite Pelargoniums, 'Oldbury Duet', which made its appearance in the front garden several weeks ago.  I've been wanting to do something with it ever since.

Front view, showing the rippled side of the small crystal vase

Back view, showing the vase's clear side

Top view with the sweet peas hogging the scene

Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: Hebe 'Wiri Blush', Lathyrus odoratus, Pelargonium 'Oldbury Duet', and Stachys 'Lilac Falls'

There are more flowering plants in the wings.  My Gaura lindheimeri began to open the moment my Bloom Day post was in the can and it appears that Centaurea 'Silver Feather' may bloom for the first time this year.  The pleasures of spring continue to unfold but warmer weather is in the offing so it remains to be seen which plants will realize their potential.  You'll probably see whichever do in future vases but here are this week's efforts in their places:

The first vase sits on the dining room table and the second in the front entry

Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she and other bloggers have "In a Vase on Monday."


All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Bloom Day Postscript

One of the glories of spring is that each passing day brings new revelations.  While some of the new arrivals may still be around to celebrate April's Bloom Day, others may not so I'm going to go ahead and share a few (well, maybe more than a few) now.

Echium webbii (a dwarf) is now blooming alongside Felicia aethiopica

Ajuga hybrid 'Mint Chip' has appeared with the first blooms of Anagallis 'Wildcat Mandarin'

Aristea inqualis, planted in 2014, has finally produced its first blooms

Iris douglasiana 'Santa Lucia' is in bloom along the driveway.  I've had a remarkably difficult time getting Pacific Coast Iris to bloom here but this winter's rain appears to have provided the help I needed.

Ageratum corymbosum has had buds for months but, the day after March Bloom Day, they finally began to open

This noID Delosperma has appeared in spots all along the street-side succulent bed.  I thought it made the pretty Agave 'Blue Flame' shown here look even prettier.

Polygala myrtifolia 'Mariposa' produces a smattering of flowers most of the year but now it's really blooming!

The 2 Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbuds) that came with the garden just burst into bloom

The first Eustoma grandiflorum (Lisianthus) of the season has appeared!

Higher than normal temperatures last week knocked out most of my daffodils but Narcissus 'White Lion' seems to be a sturdier sort

The Prunus laurocerasus hedge is blooming on the southwest side of the garden

A few noID Calendulas, presumably from seeds I scattered 2 years ago that never germinated, have bloomed, nicely complementing Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark'

This is a poor photo of a relatively new addition to the garden, Verbascum arcturus

I've had California fescue (Festuca californica) in my garden for a few years but this is the first time it's flowered like this

There are blooms on fruit trees too!

Blossoms on the navel orange tree (left) and peach tree (right).  Both trees came with the garden but the noID peach was invisible until we removed the giant Yucca elephantipes at the bottom of the back slope a few years ago.

And more of the Pelargoniums are blooming.

Clockwise from the left: Pelargonium 'Tweedle Dee', noID, 'Golf Ball', 'White Lady', and 'Vectris Glitter' 

I even have my first rose bloom, appropriately perhaps, 'California Dreamin'.

I've been fighting an onslaught of aphids on all my roses and it looks as though I need to leap into the fray again

I hope this post isn't too obnoxious.  Spring does come very early in coastal Southern California.  Unfortunately, summer's heat does as well so we have to celebrate when we can.


All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party