In a Vase on Monday: Oops, I did it again

Regular readers probably won't believe me when I state that I rarely plan on preparing more than one arrangement for "In a Vase on Monday," the meme hosted by Cathy of Rambling in the Garden.  When I step out into my garden to look for material, I feel lucky if I have just one idea as to what to pick as a floral focus.  On Sunday, when I ventured out following a storm that brought us just 0.04/inch of rain overnight, I headed straight for an orchid stem I'd discovered in a corner of the property the day before when I was cleaning up after the tree trimmers we'd had on-site that morning.  The unusual color combination in the orchid had me combing the rest of the garden looking for burgundy accents.

This is the second flush of flowers on the noID Oncidium orchid I picked up at an orchid show hosted by my local botanic garden in September

The acid yellow foliage of Duranta erecta provided a nice echo of the orchid's yellow color

The yellow and burgundy color echoes show up best in this top view

Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: noID Oncidium; shiny Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey'; yellow/green Duranta erecta NOT 'Gold Mound'; Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun', included to fill in some empty space upfront; Leucadendron salignum 'Chief', which is beginning to take on its beautiful red winter color; and Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset'.  The yellow in the Gaillardia bothered me here but I didn't have a good substitute.

As I was rounding the opposite end of our property, I noticed that the first bud of Camellia 'Taylor's Perfection' had bloomed.  More rain is expected on Thursday and the Camellia blooms don't like rain so I decided to clip that flower to enjoy it in the house.  One thing led to another and soon I had more than enough material for a second vase.  Oops!

Second vase featuring one flower of Camellia williamsii 'Taylor's Perfection' front and center.  This Camellia is a hybrid of C. japonica and C. saluenensis.

Back view: I picked the snapdragons after discovering 2 plants infected with rust.  The rust is particularly frustrating as I've been careful to avoid overhead watering and have given the plants ample space to ensure air flow around the foliage; however, 2 rainy weekends and the return of fog associated with the marine layer probably tipped the scales.

Top view, showing off the variegated leaves of Pelargonium peltatum 'Crocodile', a gift from Denise of "A Growing Obsession" last year.  I'm more excited about the Pelargonium leaves than any other elements of this vase.

Clockwise from the left, the vase contains: Camellia williamsii 'Taylor's Perfection', noID Camellia sasanqua, noID orange/pink Antirrhinum majus, Correa pulchella 'Pink Eyre', and Pelargonium peltatum 'Crocodile'.  Also included, but not highlighted, are stems of variegated Correa 'Wyn's Wonder'.  Correa flowers often "hide" mid-stem, making them harder to show off in arrangements.

Spending time outside collecting plant material was particularly enjoyable as the air was cool and fresh.  We played peek-a-boo with rain clouds all day but received no further precipitation; however, I remain hopeful that we'll get another good soaking later this week.  At present, our seasonal rainfall total (since October 1st) stands at a paltry 1.72 inches.

This week's vases are in place.

With Christmas decorations popping up throughout the house, vase space is becoming harder to come by

For more vases, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.


All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Favorite Plants this March

I'm a little late with this post but there's been a lot to do in the garden this month and blog posts must be squeezed in.  Despite the unseasonable heat we've experienced this month, new plants and flowers keep making an appearance, which has also made choosing a favorite plant more difficult.  This week I've given preferential treatment to the Ixia hybrids growing in my backyard borders, in part because I don't think they'll hold up as long as some of the other contenders.

Ixia photographed in my backyard border

Ixia, also known as corn lilies and wand flowers, are native to South Africa and grow from corms.  They do especially well in hot, dry climates like mine but they can grow in colder climates if they're pulled up and stored during the winter months. Some growers recommend pulling them up in areas that receive summer rain as well; however, with good drainage, mine don't seem to have a problem with the irrigation they receive in summer.

They have upright grass-like foliage and look best grown in groups.

In a warm, dry climates they may remain in place until they become so crowded that flowering diminishes

Flowers may be cream, yellow, red, orange or pink and they often have center splotches that contrast with the petals.   All those I've seen in garden centers have been offered in mixed assortments.  Interestingly, all those I planted in 2013 have bloomed in shades of cream and yellow while all those I planted last year, also labeled as a mixture, have bloomed with magenta petals.

I haven't seen any orange or red blooms yet!

The Ixia hybrids are my favorite plants this week.  I'm joining Loree at danger garden in flaunting this month's favorites.  You can see her March favorites here.  Earlier this month, I featured 2 other favorites, Arctotis hybrid 'Pink Sugar' and Pelargonium peltatum 'Crocodile.'

You can read my March 6th post about Arctotis 'Pink Sugar' here

And my March 13th post about Pelargonium peltatum 'Crocodile' can be found here

All material © 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

My favorite plant this week: Pelargonium peltatum 'Crocodile'

On Sunday, I received a visit from another blogger, Denise of A Growing Obsession.  I've admired Denise's blog since long before I started one of my own - she grows an intriguing variety of plants and her posts always offer an interesting point of view on all things gardening related.  On the day she dropped by I was still reeling from the changes resulting from removal of a mature tree and pruning of 9 others (described here).  Denise gave me an opportunity to vent, endured a lengthy tour of my garden, and she brought plants!

Denise's delivery of seedlings and divisions included Pelargonium peltatum 'Crocodile,' an infant Agave 'Joe Hoak,' a succulent I can't identify, 3 Ballota pseudodictamus, 2 Papaver setigerum, and 3 Orlaya grandiflora

I've coveted Pelargonium peltatum 'Crocodile' since I spotted it during a local garden tour in 2013.

In a garden filled with beautiful and unusual plants, 'Crocodile' garnered a lot of attention

Although I've grown other varieties of Pelargonium peltatum, commonly known as ivy geranium, I'd never come across this cultivar with ivory veining before 2013 and I've failed to find it on any of my many nursery treks.  Denise remembered my interest in the plant and put aside a cutting for me, which I planted in my front garden earlier this week.

Newly planted 'Crocodile'

'Crocodile' sits in one of my new beds in the front garden among other recent introductions, including Agave 'Jaws,' Cotyledon orbiculata, Cuphea ignea 'Strybing Sunset,' Festuca 'Patrick's Point,' Pelargonium 'Mrs. Pollock,' and Abelia 'Kaleiodscope'

It's small now but it should grow to 2 feet tall and perhaps 3 feet wide in time.  It's suited to a range of conditions, from full sun to partial shade.  It's a tender perennial that can't tolerate frost but that isn't a problem in my zone 10b garden.  Like other ivy geraniums, it flowers, but it's grown primarily for its mottled foliage.

While 'Crocodile' is my favorite plant this week, all the plants Denise gave me have found homes in my garden.

I mistook the small Agave 'Joe Hoak,' shown here in a blue pot, for Furcraea foetida mediopicta, like this one in my backyard - they do look a lot alike at this stage, don't they?

The Ballota seedlings went into the side yard, while the Orlaya and Papaver went into the backyard border, where they'll get more water  (The unidentified succulent landed in my street-side succulent border)

Hopefully, despite temperatures that have recently jumped into the stratosphere, all my new plants will survive and thrive.  Thanks again Denise!


All material © 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party