In a Vase on Monday: Change is in the air

A stretch of warmer weather earlier this month prompted the development of new blooms.  Even through temperatures dropped lower over the last few days (mid-60sF/18C), they're expected to climb again this week, at least for a time.  Meanwhile, last week's brush with rain delivered just one hundredth of an inch here.  There's currently no chance of rain showing in the ten day forecast but there's a moderately decent opportunity of some as we get closer to mid-February.  I remain hopeful that our brief rainy season, which started with such promise, won't bottom out early. 

The first of my Leucospermums is blooming but I didn't elect to use any of the stems this week.  However, I couldn't ignore Hippeastrum 'Amadeus Candy'.  I potted three bulbs in a single pot and two of the stems are now flowering with the bud of the third looking ready to open any day.

I had a surprisingly difficult time finding flowers to echo the bright pink of the petal tips.  Two Grevilleas with small flowers stepped up to help.  The white jasmine with pink buds was provided courtesy of a neighbor's plant that's currently spilling over my side of our fence.

I used more pink snapdragons this week to fill the back side of the vase

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Antirrhinum majus (aka snapdragon), Grevillea rosmarinifolia, G. 'Scarlet Sprite', Hippeastrum 'Amadeus Candy', and Jasminum polyanthum

The 'Bordeaux' and 'Lord Lieutenant' Anemones continue to produce new blooms and two more varieties are slowly unfurling.  I used one of the newbies and 'Lord Lieutenant' in my second arrangement.

Anemone 'Mistral Azzurro' is one of the new bulb flowers to make an appearance.  It's looking paler than I recall when I previously grew it but perhaps I just cut the first 2 flowers prematurely.  Interestingly, I've learned that these Anemones, like tulips, continue to grow taller after they've been cut.

Back view

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Lord Lieutenant', A. c. 'Mistral Azzurro', Limonium perezii, Matthiola incanum (aka stock), Osteospermum 'Violet Ice', and Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata'

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

All material © 2012-2026 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: Sunny with blue skies

Although I've complained aplenty about the lack of rain this year, I know we're far luckier in the weather department than people in a good percentage of the United States at present.  We haven't been buried under snow or ice; we haven't lost power or had frozen pipes; we're not struggling to keep warm or heating snow to have water.  We're starting off the week with sunny skies and unseasonably warm temperatures.  We could reach a high temperature of 80F (26C) today.  Hopefully, some of that warmth will blow eastward.

It definitely feels like spring even if that transition is still officially a month away so I chose flowers that reflect that vibe.

The second stem of Hippeastrum 'Lemon-Lime' bloomed last week so I cut it, knowing that it wouldn't hold up well against the warm Santa Ana winds we're expecting

I added little bits of this and that to complement its soft yellow color

Top view

Top row: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Coleonema 'Album' (aka Breath of Heaven), and Euphorbia rigida
Middle row: Euryops chrysanthemoides 'Sonnenschein', Hippeastrum 'Lemon-Lime', and Isopogon anemonifolius
Bottom row: two noID Narcissi and Pyrethropsis hosmariensis (aka Moroccan Daisy)

The arrival of the blue-flowered Freesias last week and the abundance of blue Anemones in my cutting garden prompted the second arrangement.

The "blue" Freesias read more lavender/purple to my eye but the paper-like flowers of Limonium perezii (aka Sea Lavender) did a good job of linking them to the Anemones

Back view: I noticed that the Auranticarpa rhombifolia shrubs (aka Queensland Pittosporum) had begun to bloom when I wasn't looking and, after cutting off the leaves to expose the flowers, I added a couple of those stems to lighten up the arrangement

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Lord Lieutenant', Argyranthemum frutescens with lavender/blue Freesia, Auranticarpa rhombifolia, white Freesia, Limonium perezii, and Xylosma congestum (sporting blue/black berries)

For more arrangements created from material gardeners have on hand, visit the creator of In a Vase on Monday, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: More than I expected!

When I stepped into the garden on Sunday morning, I really had no idea what I could put in a vase this week that I hadn't already used recently.  I made an entire circuit of my garden ruling out possibilities until I saw the white snapdragons in my cutting garden.  They'd been beaten down by rain on Saturday (one-third of an inch) and their stems were lying on their sides as if to say "save me" so I cut them.  That started me on a roll collecting bits of this and that in white and blue.

Anemone 'Lord Lieutenant', also in my cutting garden, had one small bloom and another bud just opening

Back view: the Osteospermums have responded quickly to the shift back to cooler temperatures and sea lavender (Limonium perezii) is beginning its annual flush

The top view highlights the bloom of a noID tazetta Narcissus that was supposed to be Narcissus 'Geranium'

Top: Anemone coronaria 'Lord Lieutenant', Antirrhinum majus, and noID Ceanothus
Middle: Echium handiense (recycled from last week), Lavandula multifida, and Limonium perezii
Bottom: noID Narcissus, Osteospermum 'Violet Ice', and Westringia fruticosa 'Morning Light'

As I was assembling my varied collection for that vase, I suddenly remembered that I'd seen buds on a bearded Iris by my shade house the week before.  I'd planted all blue and white varieties in that area - or so I'd thought.  The Iris in question was indeed blooming but it wasn't blue or white.  I cut it anyway and then did another round of the garden looking for suitable companions for it.  I checked my records, which showed no Iris in a mauve and burgundy color, leading me to conclude that the rhizome I planted had been mislabeled.

I played off the yellow beard of the Iris and the flower's petal colors in selecting the plants to accompany it in a vase

Back view: as usual, Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy' came in handy

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold', Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey', Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy', Hebe 'Purple Shamrock', noID Iris germanica (possibly 'Prince of Burgundy' or 'Right Already'), Narcissus 'Geranium', and Hebe 'Grace Kelly' (in bud)

Buds are forming throughout my garden.  I could swear that the Freesias next to my backyard fountain covered themselves in buds in response to Saturday's rain.  More rain is expected this week and I hope I'll be tripping over new blooms in the weeks to come.  Spring does come early in coastal Southern California!

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

All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Bloom Day - April 2020

Spring is in full force here and at this time of year it seems impossible to cover everything that's in bloom.  I decided to focus on the blue flowers and give shorter shrift to those in other colors.  Still, be forewarned, this is a long post even for me.

Blue blooms are prominent in my garden in spring when the Iris bloom and again in summer when the Agapanthus bloom.   I seem to acquire more blue Iris every year and they're make a particularly big splash this year.

I've added Dutch Iris to the garden in increments over the last 4 years.  The largest number of these surround the fountain in the back garden.

Iris hollandica 'Sapphire Beauty' was blooming last month but the flowers are more prolific now

'Mystic Beauty' made its appearance this month

The Pacific Coast Irises are going strong his month too.  This is Iris douglasiana 'Santa Lucia'.

I have only one Iris douglasiana 'Wilder than Ever' but I wish I had more

The only bearded Irises in my garden that have done well are those I transplanted to our the back slope after moving in.  My guess is that this is dwarf Iris germanica 'Darth Vader'.  It has a lovely fragrance!

Felicia aethiopica 'Tight & Tidy' makes a nice blue clump alongside the Iris

Bulbs of hybrid Anemone 'Mistral Azzurro' were a great investment

The blue Freesias bloomed after most of those in other colors were done

Almost all my lavenders are blooming.  Left to right are: Lavandula 'Goodwin's Creek', L. multifida, and L. stoechas.

Limonium perezii (aka sea lavender) is blooming in several areas

I cut back most of my Osteospermums last month when they bloomed out.  Osteospermum 'Violet Ice' was an exception.

This Plectranthus neochilus lost most of its foliage variegation but it's flowering better than ever.  It's too bad it smells like skunk.

A few newcomers are just getting started.

Ageratum corymbosum with its purple foliage opened its first buds last weekend

Echium candicans 'Star of Madiera' had been blooming for just days but it's already drawing in bees in large numbers

Psorlea pinnata offers blooms that smell like grape Kool Aid

There are a host of other blue blooms that deserve a nod.

1st row: Abelia sp., Ajuga 'Mint Chip', Alyogyne huegelii, and Aristea inequalis
2nd row: Babiana rubrocyanea, Campanula portenschlagiana, noID Ceanothus, and Geranium incanum (a weed)
3rd row: Ipheion uniflorum, Nierembergia caerulea, noID Pericallis, and Salvia 'Mystic Spires'
4th row: Sisyrinchium 'Devon Skies', Trichostema 'Midnight Magic', Veronica 'Waterperry Blue', and noID Viola

Under less congested circumstances, I'd probably include flowers in the lilac-violet range with the blue blooms but this month I've pulled them out as a separate group.

1st row: Geranium 'Tiny Monster' and Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy'
2nd row: Two noID varieties of Lathyrus odoratus and Nemesia '7th Heaven Mix'
3rd row: noID Pericallis, Pelargonium cucculatum 'Flore Plenum', and Polygala myrtifolia

Now on to the pink flowers!

Arctotis 'Opera Pink'

Arctotis 'Pink Sugar'

Lampranthus 'Pink Kaboom'

Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl' has had a smattering of flowers since fall but it's exploded with flowers since the rain returned this month

1st row: noID Alstroemeria, Anemone 'Mistral Rarity', Centranthus ruber, and Cistus 'Grayswood Pink'
2nd row: Cistus 'Sunset', Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold', and Cuphea 'Starfire Pink'
3rd row: Pelargonium 'Pink Blizzard', noID Pelargonium, P. 'Orange Fizz', and Osteospermum 'Berry White'

Next up is the white-flowered group.

Coleonema 'Album' (aka white breath of heaven)

Narcissus 'Geranium', by far the most prolific Narcissus I grow

Zantedeschia aethiopica (aka calla lily) is blooming heavily relative to last year

1st row: Alstroemeria 'Claire', Agrostemma githago 'Ocean Pearls', and Argyranthemum frutescens 'Everest'
2nd row: Centranthus 'Alba', Gazania 'White Flame', and Heuchera maxima
3rd row: Ornithagalum umbellatum, self-seeded Osteospermum, and Trifolium repens

Let's move on to those in the yellow group.  (I feel as though I'm coordinating a parade of marching bands.)

Gazanias are common plants but in spring following a good rain, they put on a spectacular show.  These self-seeded.

My large-flowered Grevilleas bloom year-round but 'Peaches & Cream' is outdoing all the others this month

Leucadendron 'Pisa' produces luminescent bracts that look like flowers

Leucospermum 'Goldie' flowers more heaving with each successive year

Phlomis fruticosa is covered in blooms that would please Dr Seuss

1st row: noID Clivia, Colmanara 'Wildcat', and Cotula lineariloba
2nd row: Eriophyllum lanatum, Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow', E. 'Dean's Hybrid' and Euryops 'Sonnenschein'
3rd row: Hymenolepsis parviflora, noID Narcissus, and Rosa 'Golden Celebration'

The oranges are up next.

More self-seeded Gazanias

Leucospermum 'Brandi'

Leucospermum 'Spider'

Climbing Rosa 'Joseph's Coat'

Clockwise from the upper left: Eschscholzia californica, Anagallis arvensis (weed), Bignonia capreolata, Grevillea 'Superb', Erysimum x allionii, and Pelargonium 'Tweedle Dee'

The red group brings up the rear.

Another self-seeded Gazania, my current favorite

A river of Lotus berthelotii 'Amazon Sunset' (punctuated with a single Narcissus 'Sunny Girlfriend)

Clockwise from the upper left: Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer', Euphorbia 'Black Pearl', Grevillea 'Ned Kelly', Lobelia laxiflora, and Linum grandiflorum

I'll close with an unusual bloom that needs its own category.

Ferraria crispa (aka starfish Iris)

For a look at what's blooming elsewhere in the country and other parts of the world, check in with Carol, the host of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, at May Dreams Gardens.


All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party