We've had more clouds than sun since the last "atmospheric river" moved through California the middle of last week. Another one is expected to move through our area Tuesday into Wednesday and the longer-term forecast projects the possibility of still another stretch of rain Sunday through Wednesday. This is unusual for us and even though the current storms, originating from Hawaii, bring warmer temperatures than those originating from Alaska, I'm missing the regular doses of sunshine we're used to. So I created my own.
 |
| This sunny arrangement was inspired by the tiny puff-ball flowers of Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt'. Generally grown for its foliage, the heavier-than-usual rain this year seems to have encouraged more flowers than I've ever had before. |
 |
| Back view |
 |
| Top view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', noID yellow Calendula, Correa 'Wyn's Wonder', white and yellow Freesia, and noID Narcissus |
The the unusual flowers of Salvia africana-lutea inspired my second arrangement. I've used its flowers only once before in a vase but I thought I'd take another stab at it.
 |
| I'm happier with this version than I was with the arrangement I created in April 2019 |
 |
| Back view: I added a few flowers of the equally unusual Isopogon anemonifolius, as well as ivy (Hedera) flowers. English ivy is a weed here and nearby impossible to control on my back slope. |
 |
| Top view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: noID orange Calendula, Isopogon anemonifolius, noID Hedera, Ranunculus, Salvia africana-lutea, and Xylosma congestum |
As last week's rain plastered many of my Freesia flowers flat into the dirt and another storm is on the way, I cut still more of them for an arrangement on our kitchen island.
 |
| Views from the front, top and back |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia floribunda 'Chiapas', purple and white Freesia, and Helichrysum petiolare |
 |
| Two additional stems of the yellow/gold Freesia went into my small cactus vase by the kitchen sink |
The atmospheric river carried a substantial amount of rain and we're expecting a similar amount this week. Although my husband's repairs to our chimney held up against February's rainstorms, we weren't quite as lucky this month - one small area is still leaking. The tarp is back on the chimney and, hopefully, the next repairs will be done by a professional. Flooding hasn't been an issue in our immediate area but it is in other areas, and homeowners in the mountains to the east of us have really struggled, with some thirteen deaths attributed in one way or another to record snowfall there that kept many people confined to their homes for a long period with no heat or power or access to medical treatment. As far as our long-standing drought goes, the situation has greatly improved, with no areas currently listed in extreme or exceptional drought and parts of the state are now considered drought-free. Most of Los Angeles County is now simply classified as "abnormally dry." The most critical issue now is how to restore groundwater, severely depleted after too many dry years. Creating means to store and conserve the excess water received from the atmospheric rivers that appear likely to reoccur at intervals in the future so it's available for use during prolonged periods of drought also remains a major challenge, especially as out-of-state water resources become more limited.
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All
material © 2012-2023
by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
