I know many of you in the Northern Hemisphere have colder temperatures and gloomier skies this time of year than we have in Southern California. As we enjoyed a stretch of warm weather and blue skies all last week, I thought I'd send you a little sunshine. The temperature in downtown Los Angeles reached 86F (30C) on Saturday. It wasn't quite that warm in my location but it was certainly shirtsleeve weather. Our temperature dropped suddenly Sunday afternoon as a storm front moved through the area to the east of us but it remained sunny here and, as I pondered what to put in a vase this week, I noticed that the
Leucadendron 'Safari Goldstrike' in my front garden was glowing. This particular shrub develops luminous yellow bracts in February every year so it was a natural choice for inclusion in a vase this week.
![]() |
| Last year, I used stems of this Leucadendron to simulate tulips. This year, the flower-like bracts had already lost their tulip-like shape by the time I noticed them, presumably in response to our unseasonably warm temperatures. |
![]() |
| The same noID Narcissus I paired with the Leucadendron last year also made an appearance this week |
![]() |
| The feathery foliage and dainty flowers of Euryops virgineus provided the perfect filler |
![]() |
| Top view |
![]() |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Leucadendron 'Safari Goldstrike', Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', noID small-cupped Narcissus, Euryops virgineus 'Tali', and Prunus laurocerasus |
After a week of warmer-than-average weather, the
Leucadendron wasn't the only plant putting on a show. After weeks of flaunting promising buds,
Echium handiense 'Pride of Fuerteventura' finally flowered, seemingly overnight.
![]() |
| This is the first of the 3 species of Echium to bloom in my garden each year. Endangered in its native habitat in the Canary Islands, it's also relatively uncommon here. I got my plant from my local botanic garden, the only place I've ever seen it offered for sale. |
![]() |
| The stem of pink Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) was a last minute addition to the arrangement. I have some misgivings about including it as it competes with other elements in the vase I find more interesting. |
![]() |
| I used stems of Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt' to dress up the back of the arrangement. After nearly 5 years on my back slope, this plant is finally assuming tree-like proportions. |
![]() |
| Top view: I added the pink flowers of Grevillea sericea to play off the pink color of the Echium's buds |
![]() |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Echium handiense 'Pride of Fuerteventura', Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt', Eustoma grandiflorum, Grevillea sericea, and Westringia 'Morning Light' |
While the vase I created using
Camellia 'Taylor's Perfection' last week fell apart within 2 days, the vase featuring
Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' is still going strong.
![]() |
| Over the course of last week, the cones at the center of the Leucadendron's bracts turned brown, echoing the color of the Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' foliage. I think I like it better now than I did last week. |
The two new vases took pride of place in the front entry and on the dining table.
For more IAVOM creations,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she and other gardeners have put together this week.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
