In a Vase on Monday: Dahlias make it to the menu

I expected another cluster of lilies this week, but the majority of them are still holding their buds tight, which is also true of most of the dahlias that have produced buds in my garden thus far. I do have two dahlias with flowers, though, one purchased in flower from a local garden center, and one I received as a baby plant from a grower back in early April. I chose to cut flowers of the latter as it's produced blooms at a steady pace for the past two weeks.

As the flowers of Dahlia 'Karma Caroline' are notably smaller than the "dinner plate" varieties I tend to favor, I threw in a stem of a noID Hippeastrum in a similar color similar to that of the dahlia to add weight to the arrangement

The back view of the arrangement provides a better view of the Hippeastrum, as well as a closeup of the pale green Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) I added to the mix

Overhead view: I'd characterize this dahlia as a waterlily type, although I don't think the grower did so

Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: noID Alstroemeria, Crassula pubescens, Dahlia 'Karma Caroline', Eustoma grandiflorum, noID Hippeastrum, and Leucadendon 'Jester'

Arrangement in place on the front entry table (Note: the vase in this case is a smaller version of the vase I used last week)

Three of the six 'Montego Bay' lilies I used last week were still in good shape, although they'd faded in color since they were originally cut. 

The 3 remaining lilies and 2 glossy stems of Coprosma 'Plum Hussey' were relegated to the kitchen island

The marine layer is still present most mornings but it generally lifts earlier in the day now.  Temperatures have been in the low 70sF (22C) here along the coast.  We've yet to experience blasts of heat like the freak heatwave that hit SoCal back in February.  The question is: how long will that luck hold?

Check in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she and other contributors have to share on IAVOM this week.

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

In a Vase on Monday: Bits and pieces

We received a great deal of rain between November 13th and November 21st, at least by our standards.  According to my rooftop rain meter, it was nearly three inches and it could've been more as the meter was clogged for almost a day during the height of the first storm.  Unfortunately, my flowers took something of a beating so I was left to collect a lot of bits and pieces to fill my first vase, which was inspired by the last of dahlias that'd surprised me by blooming earlier this month, long after I'd given up on it flowering at all.

Not only was the dahlia late to flower, it also wasn't anything close to what what the tuber's seller advertised.  My best guess is that it's Dahlia 'Ferncliff Illusion'.  I cut the last fully opened flower and one partially opened bud and then disposed of the tuber.

Back view: I used 2 stems of Polygala (aka sweet pea shrub) to create a base to support the dahlia and squeezed in lots of other small stems, including the 2 stems of the Chrysanthemum 'Fairbank Purple Spoon' shown in this view.

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', Argyranthemum 'Everest', Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy', mystery Dahlia (possibly 'Ferncliff Illusion'), Chrysanthemum 'Fairbank Purple Spoon', Matthiola incana in ivory and magenta, and Polygala myrtifolia

Protea 'Claire' produced two especially nice flowers this week and I couldn't resist cutting them for a simple arrangement.

These 2 Protea flowers opened more fully than those I've previously cut.  I used the dark Leucadendron 'Ebony' to play off the dark center of the Protea's flower.  'Ebony' is a sport of L. 'Safari Sunset', which I purchased for a song years ago before it'd been clearly differentiated from 'Safari' by sellers.

Back view

Overhead view

From left to right: Leucadendron salignum 'Blush', L. 'Ebony', and hybrid Protea 'Claire'

Our Thanksgiving holiday is later this year than usual but the holidays still feel as if they've arrived all too soon.  But then it's hard to feel excited this year with the continual horrors pouring out of our federal government.  My husband and I'll have a quiet Thanksgiving but I'm scheduled to meet up with a group of girlfriends the following Sunday, which I'm looking forward to.  Since we've all retired and some of us have scattered, this group meets all too infrequently.

For more IAVOM creations, check 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: A November surprise (but without pizzazz)

I disposed of all but one of my dahlias about two weeks ago, the majority because they showed signs of the mosaic virus, and a few others simply because they hadn't performed well.  The one I left in place was purchased on a whim from my local garden center in April, labeled as 'Caproz Pizzazz'.  The photo attached to the tuber's package showed a flower with deep magenta petals touched with pinkish-white.  I planted it in a half-barrel in May and it grew well but stubbornly refused to produce any buds.  I was ready to toss it with the rest of my tubers when it surprised me with a single bud a few weeks ago.  That bud finally opened late last week, revealing the fact that it is most definitely not 'Caproz Pizzazz' (which you can see here.)  As pickings to fill vases are very limited now, I cut that bloom for the first of this week's vases.

I asked Google AI to identify white dahlias with lavender petal tips.  It offered 6 possibilities, one of which was 'Ferncliff Illusion', which is the one that most resembled the dahlia shown above.  In addition to its color, both flowers are dinnerplate varieties. The dahlia has unexpectedly developed a few more buds so I've left it in place for now.

Back view: Vitex trifolia has an annoying habit of drooping after being cut but it's still pretty and it usually straightens up eventually

Overhead view: Among other things, I added 2 stems of Medinilla myrinatha (aka the Malaysian or grape orchid) to the mix.  It's not as flashy as Medinilla magnifica but it's survived in my garden for years and gets points for that.

Clockwise from the upper left: Correa 'Ivory Bells', Cosmos bipinnatus, Cuphea 'Starfire Pink', Dahlia 'Ferncliff Illusion' (maybe), Medinilla myriantha, and Vitex trifolia

I considered Camellia sasanqua flowers for a second arrangement as they've just begun to bloom but the flowers of Senna bicapsularis have reached their peak so I decided to make use of them.  Although I featured a couple of stems in a vase two weeks ago, they were still in bud at that point.  They're making a bolder statement now.

I filled in with stems of 2 of the ever-blooming Grevilleas.  The addition of a single Rudbeckia up front was due to accidentally cutting its stem as I was tidying up the plant.

Back view

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream', G. 'Superb', Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder', Rudbeckia 'Juliana', and Senna bicapsularis

The green Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) I cut last week are still looking good so I stuck them in the small vase on my kitchen island to accompany the Leucadendron 'Jester' stems I cut two weeks ago.

The Lisianthus haven't been prolific this year but at least they have a long vase life

Following a moderate heatwave last week with temperatures in the low 90sF/32C), temperatures have dropped over the last couple of days, courtesy of dense morning marine layers.  Current expectations are that our temperatures will remain in the 60s to low-70sF throughout most of November. However, Weather West predicts that Southern California (if not necessarily the northern part of the state) will remain dry for the "foreseeable future."

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

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: As luck would have it

I fully expected to be scrambling to find material to fill a vase this week.  This was indeed the case with my first arrangement.  I identified two flowering plants that might serve as centerpieces, a yellow Rudbeckia growing in a barrel in my front garden and the first buds of Senna bicapsularis growing along the fence separating us from a neighbor.  I cut stems of both but in retrospect wasn't too pleased with either so I went searching for other plants to give them a boost.  As is often the case in such circumstances, I cut more plants than I probably needed and end up with a hodge-podge.

Most of the Rudbeckia flowers had been nibbled by the grasshoppers still plaguing my garden and the Senna buds hadn't quite opened yet

Back view: I threw in the shaggy Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) that made a lone late showing in my front garden and the orange berries of Auranticarpa rhombifolium (aka diamond-leaf pittosporum)

Overhead view: 2 stems of Japanese anemone (Eriocapitella hupehensis) elevated the arrangement somewhat, although they were partially buried on the mix

Top row: Abelia 'Kaleidoscope', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', and Auranticarpa rhombifolium
Middle: Correa 'Ivory Bells', Eriocapitella hupehensis, and Lantana 'Lucky Yellow'
Bottom: Leucanthemum x superbum, Rudbeckia 'Juliana', and Senna bicapsularis

I had some unexpected luck in putting together my second arrangement.  Due to last week's heavier-than-expected rain, I wasn't able to get as much done in my cutting garden as I'd planned.  I managed to get all the dahlias but one out of the raised beds, which I left in place temporarily as it still had buds.  After the sun came out and temperatures surged into the mid-80sF (29C) days later, two new blooms of Dahlia 'Lady Darlene' made an appearance.

The 2 dahlias are smaller and redder than the 'Lady Darlene' flowers I've featured in prior vases

Back view: I've plenty of colorful Leucadendron stems to fill out my vases

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Lady Darlene', Grevillea 'Ned Kelly', G. 'Superb', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Leucadendron salignum 'Blush', and variegated L. 'Jester'

Despite delays, I completed the process of digging up one of the raised beds in my cutting garden and replanted it with spring blooming plugs and bulbs (anemone corms).  Meanwhile, the local raccoons have been "helping" me clear the other two raised beds of grubs.  (I've laid hardware cloth and wire cloches over the first bed to keep them at bay.)  However, my sister-in-law will be visiting midweek so work will be delayed once again - but then my back will appreciate the break.

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

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: Hustling to the exit

My dahlias are clearly on their way out the door now.  It's possible that I may be able to cobble together another arrangement including a few stems next week but I'm not counting on that.  I've pulled the majority of the zinnias already and more of the dahlias will go this week.  There are promising buds here and there but, if temperatures soar later this week as predicted, they may end up in a green bin rather than a vase.

My first arrangement was created using bits and pieces of four different dahlias.

Dahlia 'Fairway Spur', shown front and center here, got a very late start on the season and has only recently picked up its pace

I dressed up the back of the arrangement with stems of Dahlias 'Brown Sugar' and 'Creme de Cognac'.  The latter was badly afflicted by the mosaic virus and had only just produced another flush of flowers.

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Salmon Rose', Dahlia 'Fairway Spur', D. 'Summer's End', D. 'Creme de Cognac', and D. 'Brown Sugar'

Stems of three other dahlias ended up in the second arrangement with a few leftover zinnias.

Dahlias 'Lady Darlene' and 'Miss Brandy' were also late bloomers.  They're similar in color but not in form.

Back view

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder', Zinnia elegans 'Queeny Red Lime', Z. e. 'Benary's Giant Lime', Dahlia 'La Luna', D. 'Lady Darlene', and D. 'Miss Brandy'

Preparing the raised beds in my cutting garden for cool season plants is always time consuming.  The fact that I'll probably toss all of the dahlia tubers this year so as to avoid another round with dahlia mosaic virus next year will actually simplify the process as I won't be spending hours cleaning, dividing, and storing tubers as I usually do.  However, removing all remnants of the tubers before refreshing the soil for replanting will require more effort this year.  I'll approach the process in stages, leaving the plants with the most promising buds to the end.  I'll receive some assistance.  The raccoons and/or possums are paying me almost nightly visits at present so I expect they'll be "helping" me clear the beds of grubs - yesterday, I saw the first evidence they they'd already been digging in the raised planters.

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

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: Flawed but not yet gone

A bad case of mildew and the spread of the dahlia mosaic virus have made a mess of the foliage in my cutting garden.  I've cut a lot of it back, which helps improve airflow, but that doesn't make it look all that much better overall.  As the dahlia season winds down, flower production had declined but it hasn't yet stopped entirely.  I cobbled together two arrangements once again this week but I may throw up my hands and pull everything out of my raised planters within the next couple of weeks just to rid myself of that hideous foliage.  I've already come to the conclusion that most, if not all, of my dahlia tubers will have to be tossed when this season comes to an end so as to avoid more issues with the mosaic virus next year.

'Fairway Spur' is one of my favorite dahlias.  It's a late bloomer and I've just had a handful of flowers from it thus far.  It doesn't help that it the heavy blooms sit atop weak stems that struggle to support them, causing them to snap at inconvenient times.  This week, I was able to cut two of those flowers in reasonably good shape and combined them with flowers cut from the more prolific 'Summer's End' Dahlias, another of my favorites.

I took advantage of some of the more recent Zinnia blooms to fill out the vase

Back view

Overhead view

Top row: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana' and Leucadendron salignum 'Winter Red'
Middle: Dahlias 'Summer's End' and 'Fairway Spur'
Bottom: Zinnias 'Benary's Giant Coral', 'Benary's Giant Salmon Rose', and 'Queeny Red Lime'

Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait' ('Rose' or 'Royal', I'm no longer sure which) is still pumping out new blooms at a steady rate so I used them for my second arrangement.  I cut stems of the Callistemon 'Cane's Hybrid' that produced another flush of flowers last week too.  The color mix was a little off with the Callistemon having a peachy cast missing in the dahlias but that was the best I could do.

I got another single stem of the collarette dahlia with a larger bloom than those it'd previously sported.  The dahlia, sold to me as 'Kelsey Ann Joy' is probably actually 'Bumble Rumble' as identified by a social media commentator.

Back view, showing off the Callestemon and Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum)

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Bumble Rumble', D. 'Cafe au Lait Rose/Royal', Callistemon 'Cane's Hybrid', Eustoma grandiflorum 'Light Apricot', and Leptospermum 'Copper Glow'

We had a speck of rain last week, gaining 0.07/inch over a two-day period.  That puts us just over the seven inch total for the 2025 "water year," which ends on September 30th.  That's less than half our average annual rainfall.  The rain was nevertheless appreciated as my rain barrels caught some of what flowed off the house and garage roofs.  I can only hope that the 2026 water year will be better.  Temperatures have fallen, for which I'm also grateful.

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

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party