In a Vase on Monday: Dutch Iris blooms signal spring

In my view, spring isn't defined by a date on the calendar.  My garden tells me when it's spring.  It does creep in slowly, with one bloom here and another there.  I ask myself if this or that flower is a fluke, the result of a brief warm spell or its placement in a particularly sunny spot.  But some signals are clear.  In the case of my garden, the first blooms of Dutch Iris represent solid evidence that spring has arrived.  The majority of the bulbs sprouted six to eight weeks ago but the first blooms appeared last week.

A mix of Iris hollandica 'Sapphire Blue' and Leucospermum 'High Gold' is one one of my traditional combinations, as the Leucospermum usually blooms on a similar schedule

Back view: I used stems of Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' as a filler.  That felt appropriate both because the Acacia is sporting its tiny puffy yellow flowers at the moment and because I'm struggling with the prospect of removing some or possibly all of my Acacias in response to Los Angeles County's new "defensible space clearance" ordinance.  Acacias have been called out as one of several flammable plants of particular concern.

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Anemone coronaria 'Mr Fokker', Eustoma grandiflorum (aka Lisianthus), Freesia, Iris hollandica 'Sapphire Blue', and Leucospermum 'High Gold'

I took advantage of another Hippeastrum 'Marilyn' bloom for my second arrangement.  The flower was so top heavy that the plant turned on its side during last week's rainstorm, even though the rain never came down hard.  The stem of another of these bulbs snapped.  Overall, it hasn't been a great year for the Hippeastrum bulbs I potted up in December but I remain hopeful that the bulbs I planted in the ground last year will perform better if/when they bloom in late spring or early summer.

The Hippeastrum's petals turn white as the flower matures but it starts out with a definitely greenish tinge, leading me to lean into pastel flowers in lavender and mauve

Back view: I flip-flopped a couple of times when deciding which side of the vase should be treated as the front.  The vase itself is very narrow when viewed from the side.

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Mistral Rarity', Freesia in shades of pale lavender and pale yellow with touches of lavender, Hippeastrum 'Marilyn', and Polygala myrtifolia

Last week's rain totaled 0.44/inch but the two storms coming this week are expected to deliver more than an inch.  Originally projected to arrive on Monday, it now looks like the first one will be delayed until Tuesday afternoon.  In any case, the rain is projected to continue into early Friday.  Yet another storm is possible early in the following week.  We're still running significantly below average for our rainy season, which generally ends in April, but at least things don't look as sad as they did at its start.

For more IAVOM creations, check in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to discover what other contributors have to offer.

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

In a Vase on Monday: Spring prelude

The atmospheric river came through as predicted last week, delivering nearly two inches of rain here.  Our total for the 2025 "water year" (counted from October 1, 2024) now stands at 4.81 inches.  That's not great given that our rainy season usually ends in April but at least it already tops our totals in 2018 and 2021.  After colder-than-usual temperatures last week, it warmed up this past weekend and it's feeling more like spring.  The garden's showing more of what I'd characterize as spring flowers too, which those of you in colder areas of the Northern Hemisphere may appreciate as a prelude to the change of seasons.

The first of the fragrant Freesias opened over the weekend.  The first of the Calendulas I sowed from seed in November also popped up and I tucked a short stem up front.

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer', Calendula officianalis ' Cantaloupe Mix', noID Freesia, Grevillea alpina x rosmarinifolia, Leucadendron salignum 'Blush', Narcissus papyraceus, and Leucospermum 'Sunrise'

Two hellebores also made their initial appearance this week.  Cutting a stem of one of them inspired a second, smaller arrangement.

The Camellia stem was a last minute addition.  It probably won't hold up for long as a cut flower but, as many of the blooms hit the ground during the storm, I wanted a little time to enjoy one up close.

Back view

top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Bianco Centro Nero', Helleborus 'Anna's Red', Alstroemeria 'Inca Vienna', Camellia williamsii 'Taylor's Perfection', and Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold'

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: 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: New spring blooms keep coming

At this time of year new spring blooms seem to pop up almost daily.  I'm trying to pace myself when it comes to tossing them into floral arrangements but I ended up with three arrangements this week anyway.  The first of these was inspired by one of my favorite bulb flowers, Scilla peruviana.

As the Scilla peruviana, aka Portuguese squill, are only just beginning to unfold, I cut only one.  Despite the fact that its name suggests it originated in South America, the bulb is actually native to the area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

Back view: The tree-sized Ceanothus is in full bloom on the back slope so I took advantage of it

Top view: The blue Anemone coronaria and white and yellow Freesia are still plentiful

Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria, Auranticarpa rhombifolium, Lathyrus annuus, Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt', white and yellow Freesia, noID Narcissus, and Scilla peruviana

The second arrangement was inspired by the white and pink species tulips I found flowering in my back garden this past weekend.  I picked additional flowers to flesh out the vase but some didn't mesh with the tulips the way I'd envisioned.  I ended up separating what I'd cut into two separate arrangements.

Tulipa clusiana 'Lady Jane' has white and rosy-pink petals that look like candy canes when the petals close in low light

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Alstroemeria 'Inca Lucky', A. 'Inca Vienna', Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata', and Tulipa clusiana 'Lady Jane'

The "leftovers" I'd cut with the tulip arrangement in mind landed in the vase featuring a woman's clasped hands, manicured with pink polish.

The flowers shown in this arrangement are a deeper reddish-pink, leaning toward burgundy

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Argyranthemum frutescens 'Grandaisy Dark Pink', a pink Freesia exhibiting an uncommon color break, a normal pink Freesia, Hebe 'Wiri Blush', Helleborus 'Anna's Red', and Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata'.  I wasn't able to find anything on color breaks caused by virus or other conditions in Freesias but this is at least the second year I've seen these.

The first Dutch Iris blooms have just appeared and my Leucospermums are opening, albeit slowly.  As we're expecting warmer temperatures during much of this week, I expect the spring cycle may accelerate.

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: Spring is off to a bright start

Even though our daytime temperatures are back in the mid-50sF (that's cold for us!), I can feel spring advancing its pace.  I've already found buds on some species tulips.  I thought that seemed early but, when I looked back at my records, I discovered that the 'Lady Jane' tulips flowered in late March in 2023 and mid-March in 2022 so it appears my plants are right on target despite our rainy season's slow start.

In spring, I'm often tempted to cut everything in sight; however, I'm trying to slow down a bit and enjoy the season as it unfolds.  My first arrangement this week celebrates the red and white anemones in my cutting garden.

Catching Anemone coronaria 'Rosa Tigrato' at the right time has been a challenge.  Two of the flowers included in this arrangement are a bit past their prime whereas 2 others may have been cut too soon.

I used 3 stems of Calliandra haematocephala (aka red powder puff) to dress up the back of the vase

Top view

Top row: Alstroemeria 'Inca Lucky' and 2 Anemone coronaria 'Rosa Tigrato' at different stages of bloom
Middle: Calliandra haematocephala, Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey', and red Freesia
Bottom: white Freesia, Grevillea 'Scarlet Sprite', and Lobelia laxiflora

The white and yellow Freesias are blooming in large numbers at present so I decided to focus an arrangement around them rather than using them as accessories to other, bolder flowers for a change.

The flowers are all Freesias and Narcissi

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', white Freesia, yellow Freesia, noID Narcissus, and noID tazetta-type Narcissus

I cut flowers for a third tiny vase to enjoy at my desk just because I couldn't help myself.

Deep blue Anemone coronaria and noID purplish sweet peas.  I planted 5 different varieties of Lathyrus odoratus, 2 of which were mixes.  My guess is that this is one cultivar from one or another of the 2 mixes but I can't put a name to it.  Nor can I explain why none of the other cultivars within the mix are blooming.

We had low expectations for last week's storm but we received more rain than was forecast.  Another storm is on the horizon for mid-week and I'm hoping for a little more than is forecast there too, although not so much as to cause any more flooding or landslides in California.

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

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