In a Vase on Monday: The Same but Different

I've heard many bloggers comment that they've felt the shift in the weather that fall brings but the change in seasons wasn't evident to me until Sunday when the daytime temperature plummeted, falling below 70F (21C) for the first time in months.  We even got a tiny bit of rain - 0.03 inches (0.8mm).  Although I haven't seen signs of many of our traditional fall bloomers yet, Plectranthus ciliatus 'Zulu Warrior', featured in a minor role in my "In a Vase on Monday" post 2 weeks ago, is coming on strong so it was time to give him his due.

I have 2 clumps of Plectranthus 'Zulu Warrior' in the garden, both grown from cuttings originally brought from my old garden

I considered a few additions to this vase, such as blue Eustoma grandiflorum and ivory Clematis terniflora, but in the end I let it stand with just 2 elements so that nothing stole attention from the 'Warrior' this time.

Plectranthus 'Zulu Warrior' (left) makes me think of Wisteria.  Polygala  fruticosa 'Petite Butterfly' (right) has a subtle presence that supports 'Zulu Warrior' but doesn't compete.

However, as you may have already guessed, I didn't stop at one vase.  There are too many pink Eustoma in the backyard border to ignore so I have yet another pink vase this week.

As the pink Eustoma can hold its own in a vase with just about anything, I had no compunction about throwing in other floral and foliage elements.

Top row: Eustoma grandiflorum 'Mariachi Pink' looking particularly rose-like; bottom, left to right: Angelonia 'Archangel Raspberry', Pelargonium reniforme, and Pseuderanthemum 'Texas Tri-star'

The first vase landed in the front entry.

The pink vase ended up on the dining room table, mainly because it blends well with the table runner that was already there.

The large succulent vase constructed 3 weeks ago was displaced and now sits on the stone wall in the dining area, part of a built-in barbecue that came with the house.  (Apparently, in-home barbecues were an "in" thing in the early 1950s when the house was built but, after almost 5 years in the house, we still haven't figured out what to do with the space.)

The water-less succulent vase is STILL doing relatively well, although I did have a minor battle with mealy bugs that showed up on the teal blue succulent

My sympathies to any of you on the east coast affected by the terrible floods.  I hope the system clears out quickly without further damage.

Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, the host of "In a Vase on Monday," to see what other gardeners have put together this week.


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

September Favorites

During heatwaves I usually feel as though time is passing very slooowly but despite one heatwave after another this September the month has passed so quickly I feel that I never got my bearings.  Since the last of our lawn was removed last weekend, my husband and I've spent early mornings and late afternoons digging up the soil to remove grassroots, sod netting and rocks.  It's a tedious process but my mind is already skipping ahead to our next steps, including the plants I'd like to add once the soil preparation phase has been completed.  Planting is probably well over a month away but planning has me taking a critical look at what's doing well in my garden for future reference.  And that line of thought brought about the realization that today is the day that Loree of danger garden hosts her favorite plants meme - it caught me by surprise this month.

One of the plants that has drawn my attention over the last couple of weeks is Wahlenbergia 'Blue Cloud'.  I planted 3 of these plants almost exactly 2 years ago in one of the most inhospitable areas of my garden, the dry area with poor soil on the south side of the house that's regularly plagued by raccoon rampages.  Although I'm planning to raise the soil level in that area to improve drainage and plant more succulents, I think the dainty but tough Wahlenbergia will still have a place there.

The plant only grows about 1 foot tall but it has a tendency to ramble and weave itself between other plants given half a chance

As I cruised through the garden with my camera I was surprised to discover 2 orchids in bloom.  I don't have IDs for either, although I believe the first is a Cattleya and the second is a Phalaenopsis.  These orchids get virtually no attention and are watered haphazardly, when at all.  The foliage shows evidence of their mistreatment but, when they bloom, they're always impressive.

The Cattleya on the left was a gift from my husband's former boss whose grandmother brought it back from China many, many years ago.  The Phalaenopsis came home with me when we cleared out my mother-in-law's house when preparing it for sale more than 2 years ago.

The other plants that have drawn my attention this month are ones that have received a lot of attention on this blog but they're worth another shout-out.  The first of these is Plectranthus ciliatus 'Zulu Warrior', which I featured 2 years ago today as my favorite plant of the week.  It's just begun its annual bloom cycle.

I planted 3 cuttings from the plant outside my backyard door (itself the product of cuttings from a plant in my former garden) in a semi-shaded area of the front garden last year

My last 2 selections also appeared in my August favorites post but, as they continue to dominate the garden this month, I've elected to give them their due and include them in this month's post as well.  Plants that perform this well despite heat and restricted irrigation deserve recognition.

Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum'  adds drama to my garden and outshines the P. 'Fireworks' in bloom nearby

And even though they're very, very pink, I can't help but acknowledge the prodigious bloom power of Eustoma grandiflorum 'Echo Pink'

To find other gardeners' favorite plants this September, visit Loree at danger garden.   Meanwhile, it's about time for me to get back to digging up the backyard.

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

In a Vase on Monday: The 'Warrior' Steps Aside

Walking through the garden, the only flowers that leaped out at me as prospects for this week's "In a Vase on Monday" post were those on my Plectranthus ciliatus 'Zulu Warrior'.  It isn't the only plant flowering in my garden but it's the only one just beginning it's seasonal bloom cycle.  I thought I'd add a few stems of Eustoma grandiflorum 'Echo Blue' and be done with it but then I noticed one yellow rose and suddenly my vase came together.

Front view

Top view

Here's what I included:

Clockwise from top left: 'Buttercream' rose, Abelia x grandiflora 'Radiance', Eustoma grandiflorum 'Echo Blue', E. 'Borealis Yellow', Plectranthus ciliatus 'Zulu Warrior', and Salvia 'Mesa Azure' (Included but not highlighted: purple Angelonia)

After our temperatures soared again this past weekend, my yellow rose wasn't in perfect condition but it's still pretty and it has a delicious scent.  The blue and yellow Eustoma are also much smaller than they were during their earlier bloom cycle but, again, still pretty.  The Plectranthus took on a smaller role in the vase than I'd planned but it'll undoubtedly get exposure in one or more future vases.  My biggest problem was finding a place to put the completed vase.  Last week's succulent arrangements are still intact.

The larger succulent creation in the white vase (above, left) spent some time in the sun on the back patio on Friday but it's little worse for the wear; however, I've moved it to the coffee table in the dining room.  The smaller succulent arrangement in the stone vase still sits in the front entry.

The dining table got a new vase last Thursday as I prepared for visitors on Friday.  Perhaps you can guess what I used as a centerpiece for that arrangement?

If you guessed pink Eustoma grandiflorum, you'd be correct.  The vase, shown above from both front and back, contains E. 'Echo Pink', Grevillea 'Pink Midget', silver Leucadendron 'Pisa', and variegated Pseuderanthemum 'Texas Tri-star'.

If you think that I've exhausted my supply of Eustoma grandiflorum 'Echo Pink' by now, you'd be wrong. 

There's still an ample supply of these flowers left in the garden despite heat, rain and wind.  Growing the Eustoma from small starter plants set in place in early spring seems to be the ticket.

So the new vase ended up on the mantle in the master bedroom.

For more vases created from materials participating gardeners have on hand, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, the host of this popular "In a Vase on Monday" meme.

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

Bloom Day - October 2014

The monthly floral celebration that is Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens, has sneaked up on me yet again.  With most of my available time absorbed in preparing the former lawn area in the front yard for planting, I've given very little attention to tidying up my garden, which makes picture-taking more difficult.  In addition, almost one month into the fall season, I'd normally have refreshed my garden beds but there's been no time for much of that either.

I took a look at last year's October Bloom Day post and, while some of the same plants are blooming for me on schedule this year, others are no-shows.  In some cases, as with my Coreopsis, Eustoma, and Osteospermum, my plants have already exhausted themselves (although I think the Eustoma is gearing up for a return visit).  Other plants, like my Acanthus mollis 'Summer Beauty' and Argyrantemum, haven't made an appearance since spring, which I attribute to the reduced irrigation associated with our drought.  Still others, like Centranthus ruber and Agapanthus appear disinclined to make the unseasonably early appearances they made last year.

With those disclaimers, here are the plants currently blooming in my garden, listed alphabetically by genus.

Ageratum houstonianium 'Blue Horizon' has perked up since the weather began to cool

Anigozanthos 'Bush Gem Yellow' is still blooming

I recently discovered that this Bougainvillea, on the back side of the hedge I thought represented our property line, is officially on our property

Camellia sasanqua has produced just a few tentative blooms thus far

Cuphea ignea 'Starfire Pink' and Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' have been in bloom most of the year

Duranta erecta, in a pot, has responded to haphazard watering by blooming more this year

Flowers produced by an Echeveria (no record of variety)

Gazania 'New Day Yellow' blooming at the feet of Mexican feather grass

One of my most recent acquisitions, red and orange Gomphrena haageana

Grevillea 'Superb,' seated in front of Nandina domestica, is suddenly producing abundant blooms

Hebe 'Wiri Blush,' sitting in front of Phormium 'Dark Delight,' has produced a new flush of flowers

I'd planned to move this Hemerocallis 'Spanish Harlem' but it won't stop blooming - it's on it's 3rd cycle this year

An unidentified Hoya I've had forever is blooming again despite repeated aphid infestattions

Lavandula multifida (aka fernleaf lavender) is hard to photograph but so are skipper butterflies

Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl' dried up a bit in the last heatwave

The flowers of Nandina domestica have been replaced by orange berries, which will gradually turn red (ignore the ugly air conditioning unit behind the shrub)

Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' is doing its best to hide the bare dirt formerly covered by lawn behind it

Pentas lanceolata 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom' has also produced a new flush of bloom

Plectranthus ciliatus 'Zulu Warrior' celebrates every October by bursting into bloom (although its foliage gets a little ratty)

Prostrate rosemary, almost always in bloom, plays host to bees all day

Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy' handled the recent heatwaves better than the rest of my Rubeckia, although the foliage on most of my plants doesn't look as good as this

Salvia leucantha (aka Mexican bush sage) is another reliable October bloomer

Salvia 'Mesa Azure' looks better in person than it does in this photo

If dead-headed every 2-4 weeks, Salvia 'Mystic Spires' keeps on blooming

This dwarf Tagetes lemmonii (aka Copper Canyon Daisy) has lost its bushy shape and flopped over but I still love the sweet-smelling flowers

That's it for this month's bloom wrap-up from my little corner of coastal Southern California.  Carol  at May Dreams Gardens can connect you with other gardeners from all over the world with blooms to share.


All material © 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: There's Always Something

Since the start of summer, I've wondered every week what I can possibly come up with to include in a vase for the post linked to the "In a Vase on Monday" meme hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  For the last 2 weeks I featured bright red-orange-coral hues and I didn't want to do that again even though Grevillea 'Superb' is overachieving in the bloom department at the moment.  And, while the cooler temperatures have prompted a few Camellia sasanqua to bloom, there weren't enough to make a splash.  However, the Plectranthus ciliatus 'Zulu Warrior' by the back door has flowers aplenty so it was the obvious choice, even though I had no clue what to combine with it.  But, strolling through the garden turned up all the elements this simple bouquet needed.

Front view

Back view (I can't explain why I didn't trim that one sky-high Salvia stem before I started taking pictures except to say I had no more time to fuss)

In addition to the Plectranthus, I included:

• Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold,' aka Breath of Heaven
• Pentas lanceolata 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom'
• Salvia leucantha, aka Mexican bush sage

I grow Plectranthus 'Zulu Warrior' mainly for the foliage but, in fall, the flowers offer an added bonus

I also grow Coleonema 'Sunset Gold' mainly for the foliage but it does produce tiny pink flowers and the scent, when you run your hand along the foliage, is indeed heavenly

Pentas 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom' has suddenly produced a healthy flush of bloom, although the flowers are somewhat smaller than they were earlier in the year

I added Salvia leucantha to accentuate the purplish tones of the Plectanthus

The flowers sit on the dining room table in a vase I think I picked up during my college days.

Please visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see her creation this week.  A lot of other gardeners are joining in to flaunt their flora so, if you have a vase created from materials in your garden, link up!


All material © 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party