In a Vase on Monday: A Burst of Sunshine

Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream' called to me this week.  This Grevillea is another year-round bloomer but it produces nowhere near the number of flowers as its cousin 'Superb' so I don't often cut the flowers for a vase.  However, we've woken up to a dense marine layer for a few days now and I needed some sunshine to bring inside.

I couldn't bring myself to cut more than 2 stems of 'Peaches & Cream' but I filled in with yellow and white daisies, a few stems of an early blooming Narcissus, and some orange berries to echo the peachy tones in the Grevillea's flowers

Back view

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Argyranthemum frutescens 'Mount Everest', A. f. 'Beauty Yellow', berries of Auranticarpa rhombifolium, Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream', and Narcissus tazetta 'Geranium'

I pulled together a few stems for a second smaller vase for the kitchen island too.

As there's not much to this one, I'm sharing just this photo of the vase in place, the overhead view shown below, and a collage showing closeups of the flowers.

 

Overhead view

From the upper left: noID Alstroemeria, Antirrhinum majus, Boronia crenulata 'Shark Bay', and a noID Dianthus barbatus

The marine layer delivered two-hundreths of an inch of precipitation over the past two days but there's still no prospect of significant rain in the forecast at least until January, and I'm not prepared to bet on that.  It's too bad Santa can't deliver rain!

For more IAVOM creations, stop in with 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: 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

In a Vase on Monday: What's better than one zombie?

The answer is two 'Zombie' Hippeastrums of course!  We had a few days of warmer temperatures and my Hippeastrums, all grown outside, have begun to open one after another, with 'Zombie' leading the parade.

I added 2 flowering stems of Arbutus 'Marina' in front to add more interest but I've no idea how long the small bell-like flowers will hold up.  They look fragile.

 

Back view: Like the last time I cut 'Zombie' for a vase, I used the ever-abundant flowers of Grevillea 'Superb' as a filler

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Arbutus 'Marina', white Freesia with noID Narcissus, Grevillea 'Superb', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Leucadendron salignum 'Blush' (now faded to ivory/yellow), another noID Narcissus (Tazetta type), and Hippeastrum 'Zombie'

While the first arrangement sings of spring, the second looks like a reminder that winter isn't done with us yet.  I had to fight the inclination to pick a cheerier set of blooms for my second arrangement but I'd already pruned stems of Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' so I felt locked into the color scheme those stems set for me.

Cybister Hippeastrum 'Emerald' is much less flashy than 'Zombie'

Back view: The last of the Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' stems I cut, which originally bore green cones with light yellow bracts, now sport brown cones with reddish-green bracts

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Corokia x virgata 'Sunsplash', Hippeastrum 'Emerald', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Leucadendron 'Blush', L. 'Wilson's Wonder', and Pyracantha berries

The rainstorm that had been forecast for Sunday/Monday this week has largely fizzled out, although it's possible we'll get a stray shower or two between Monday night and Tuesday morning.  There's now a greater chance of rain later in the week from Friday night through Saturday, possibly spilling into Sunday morning.  Much as I've appreciated the rain we've received thus far, as well as a short break to dry out a bit, I'm also hoping we haven't already seen the last of our rainy season.

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: Creeping closer to spring

We've had a stretch of warm weather going on since Friday (low-mid 70sF/22-24C).  It's expected to continue into Tuesday before an atmospheric river moves in on Wednesday.  Four Hippeastrum flowers were slowly unfolding yesterday but none were quite vase-ready so I turned to the Aeonium arboreum flowers that pop up everywhere in my garden at this time of year.  I have mixed feelings about them.  I love yellow but these flowers are almost florescent in color and they're shaped like dunce caps.  As they're succulents and hold a lot of water in their stems, they're also very heavy so any arrangement featuring them needs to be well-balanced to ensure that it doesn't topple over.

I used a green Aeonium rosette edged in bronze to accent the Aeonium flower stalks with the yellow-green florets

Back view, fluffed up with stems of Acacia 'Cousin Itt'

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Leucadendron salignum 'Chief', Narcissus 'Geranium', Aeonium arboreum (foliage rosette), and Aeonium arboreum flowers

The blue Anemones are still coming up a few at a time in my cutting garden.  When I realized that the tree-sized Ceanothus 'Cliff Schmidt' on my back slope was also producing its first flowers, I decided to to try another spin on a blue and white scheme for a second vase this week.

I'm happier with this arrangement in person than in photos.  The dark green color of the Ceanothus leaves detract from the flowers and obscure some.

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria (bulbs sold as 'Lord Lieutenant'), Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt', noID paperwhite Narcissus, Osteospermum '4D Silver' (maybe), Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata', and Pyrethropsis hosmariense (aka Moroccan daisy)

An arrangement using a Hippeastrum is almost certainly on the menu for next week unless they drown in the flow of the coming atmospheric river.  In the meantime, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for more IAVOM creations.

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

In a Vase on Monday: A lot to choose from

With the return of warmer temperatures, the garden is in hyperdrive.  I had too much to choose from so I picked a couple of colors to focus on and got to work looking for flowers that met the profile.

My first arrangement started with the selection of the soft peach tones of Leucospermum 'Spider Hybrid'.

I added a touch of purple to pick up the grayish-lavender pollen presenters in the Leucospermum's flowers

Back view: The number of plants containing anything in the way of soft orange color was limited, hence the addition of 3 stems of Aeonium 'Kiwi' flowers

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left:  Abelia 'Kaleidoscope', Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi', Freesia, Leucospermum 'Spider Hybrid', Limonium perezii, and Narcissus 'Geranium'

 

I focused on vivid red for my second arrangement, accented with white flowers.

The vase I used has an irregular shape so I photographed it from 3 sides, all of which look a little different.  The red flowers are Argyranthemum and Freesia.

The white flowers are Anemones, Coleonema album (aka white breath of heaven), and Freesia

Alstroemeria 'Inca Lucky' melds the white and red flowers

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left:  Alstroemeria 'Inca Lucky', Coleonema album, Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey', Anemone coronaria 'Rarity' (although I think the variety may have been incorrectly identified), Argyranthemum 'Grandaisy Red', and white and red Freesia

 

I'd originally planned to add a deep burgundy Anemone 'Mistral Bordeaux' to the second arrangement but I didn't feel it fit so I popped that flower and a few other stems that didn't make the cut into a small vase.  Leftovers from one of last week's arrangement went into yet another vase.

The tiny vase containing the Anemone trying to pass as a rose is on my desk.  The vase of leftovers containing a Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi' flower sits on the kitchen island.

 

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

All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party