In a Vase on Monday: Sunshine for the Blues

My blue Eustoma grandiflorum were once more demanding attention so they were the starting point for this week's vase.  I'd thought I'd stick to blue tones but 2 of my yellow 'Buttercream' roses were also blooming and, with rain on the way (yay!), I thought I might as well cut them and bring them inside.  I wondered if the contrast would be too stark but, with the addition of some cream-colored foliage, I think the flowers play off one another rather well.

Here's what I included in the vase this week:

• Ageratum houstonianum 'Blue Horizon'
• 'Buttercream' rose
• Duranta repens (no ID)
• Erysimum linifolium
• Eustoma grandiflorum 'Borealis Blue' and 'Echo White' (aka Lisianthus)
• Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata' (aka mint bush)
• Westringia 'Naringa' (aka coast rosemary)

The Ageratum began blooming again once the temperatures cooled but the Westringia blooms all year

These yellow roses also appear to appreciate the cooler weather

It turns out that the tiny flowers of the Duranta don't make good cut flowers - they've been dropping one at a time since they went into the vase

Even without flowers, Erysimum linifolium makes a great foliage accent, in this case mirroring the color of the Prostanthera foliage

The Lisianthus look good with everything

This week's vase, created in connection with Cathy's weekly challenge at Rambling in the Garden, is sitting across from the front door.   Last week's vase, minus the rose and the Copper Canyon daisies, is still in good shape so it landed on the dining table, where it complements my new tablerunner.

Last week's vase, or what's left of it

As today is December 1st, I also have a wide shots post on my "to do" list.  The photos have been taken but the post may be delayed a day.  I'm backed up on blog posts as I spent all my free time in the garden over the long holiday weekend in an effort to get as much planted in advance of the rain storm due on Tuesday as I could.  Yesterday, all we got was an occasional light drizzle and today looks like more of the same.

The view over the Los Angeles harbor late yesterday afternoon - these clouds brought just light drizzle and a rainbow

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

Bloom Day!

Another Bloom Day is here already!  In the past month, Southern California has had fluctuating periods of cold and warm weather.  It's expected to get up to 80 degrees this weekend.  As far as many of the plants are concerned, Spring has already arrived.  Much of what was blooming in mid-January is still blooming now in mid-February but a host of additional plants are joining the chorus.

For this Bloom Day, I thought I'd present my flowering plants by color.  As befits the month in which we celebrate Valentine's Day, there are a large number of red and pink-toned flowers on display in the garden.

Cybister Amaryllis 'La Paz' (now in full bloom)

Arbutus 'Marina' (still blooming but past its prime)

Argyranthemum frutescens 'Pink Comet' (in full bloom)

Argyranthemum frutescens "Bright Carmine' (still blooming)

Boronia crenulata 'Shark Bay' (in full bloom)

Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' (just coming into bloom)

Calliandra haematocephala 'Pink Powder Puff' (1st time in bloom in 2 years)

Camellia japonica 'Taylor's Perfection' (in full bloom)

Grevillea lavandulacea 'Penola' (in full bloom)

Leptospermum scoparium (blooms are waning)

Leucadendron - No ID (bracts, yellow in January, are now red/green & cones have turned from yellow to brown)

Viola - no ID

Ribes viburnifolium 'Catalina Perfume Currant' (nearing full bloom)

Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy' (are these the final blooms of the season?)

Kalanchoe delagoensis x daigremontiana 'Pink Butterflies' (in final bloom stage?)

I love blue in the garden and seek out plants in that color.  My blue bloomers include:

Anemone coronaria 'Dr. Fokker' (still blooming)

Ceanothus, maybe 'Joyce Coulter' (hedges just coming into bloom)

Echium handiense 'Pride of Fuerteventura' (1st flush of bloom is fading)

Lavandula multifida (coming into bloom)

Pericallis x hybrida (2nd flush of bloom)

Ipheon uniflorum (1st of tiny bulbs are blooming)

Viola - no ID

Westringia 'Naringa' (in full bloom)

Some of the blue flowers shown above lean toward lavender but there are also blooms that fall more clearly into the purple/lavender category.

Bauhinia x blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree with fading blooms)

Erysimum linifolium 'Variegatum' (just coming into bloom)

Eupatorium corymbosa (still covered with Eucalyptus dust and not quite in bloom but getting close)

Osteospermum "Serenity Purple' (in full bloom)

Osteospermum ecklonis '3D Silver' (still going strong)

Limonium perezii (coming back into bloom)

Viola - No ID

I'll close with a mash-up of white, yellow and orange blooms.

Anemone coronaria 'Mona Lisa' (early bloom)

Coleonema album (just starting to bloom)

Zantedeschia aethiopica (1st Calla Lilly bud ready to open)

Nemesia 'Sunsatia Lemon' (still blooming)

Primula & Kalanchoe in pot

Chorizema "Bush Flame' (early stages of bloom)

Viola - no ID

Moussonia elegans 'Taylor's Selection' (early blooms)

Rose, probably 'Joseph's Coat' climber (my only rose bloom)

Pyrus calleryana (close-up of flowers on tree in full bloom)

Leucanthemum x superbum, unnamed variety (1st blooms)

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Snow Lady' (early blooms)

Echeveria flower - No ID (still blooming)

You can find links to posts with more plants in bloom at May Dreams Garden.  Thanks, Carol, for hosting this monthly event!