The spring floral lollapalozza in my garden continues. I have three vases to share again this week. The only thing that links them thematically is scent. Taken as a group, their fragrance is almost overwhelming.
The first vase was inspired by a plant that goes by the common name of Kool-Aid Bush (
Psoralea pinnata). As suggested by the common name, the flowers smell very much like grape Kool-Aid.
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| The blue Anemones are still producing bloom after bloom so I used two more of them here |
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| Back view: Freesias and Coleonema album (aka White Breath of Heaven) add to the arrangement's fragrance, although the scent of the Psoralea pinnata is powerful on its own |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Psoralea pinnata, Anemone 'Mistral Azzurro', Campanula portenschlagiana, Coleonema album, Centranthus ruber 'Albus', blue and white Freesias, and Trichostemma 'Midnight Magic' |
The first sweet pea blooms in my cutting garden prompted the creation of my second arrangement.
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| I'm guessing that the lavender and wine-colored sweet pea blooms are from the 'Perfume Delight Blend' but, as I sowed seeds of three different mixes I can't be sure. I added stems of Sweet Pea Bush (Polygala fruticosa) as its color played off the true sweet peas. |
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| Back view: One of the white foxgloves is blooming again so I added three stems |
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| Top view: The vase was filled out with stems from two Pelargoniums |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Polygala fruticosa, lilac and violet Lathyrus odoratus, Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian White', Pelargonium 'Orange Fizz' (the name reflects the scent of the leaves), and Pelargonium cucculatum 'Flore Plenum' |
The third arrangement was designed around the pink
Alstroemerias that popped up in several areas of the garden after our extended rainy period in early April. Scent was only a minor factor in this one but
Artemisia californica, scented
Pelargonium leaves, and more
Coleonema album added touches of it. The scent of the native California
Artemisia is mild and relatively pleasant to my nose. I read that it's sometimes burned to remove skunk odor but those familiar with its use for that purpose have commented that its questionable which odor is worse.
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| The noID Alstroemerias came with the garden and bloom in various shades of pink |
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| Back view: I added stems of Centranthus and Heuchera for height |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agrostemma 'Ocean Pearls' (with Coleonema album in the background), Anemone 'Mistral Rarity', Centranthus ruber in pink and white, Artemisia californica, noID Pelargonium with Erigeron karvinskianus, Heuchera maxima (another California native) and, in the middle, noID pink Alstroemeria |
After morning clouds, we're expecting sunny skies and warmer temperatures for the next 10 days, possible exceeding 80F. Our rainy season seems to have come to its expected end. Work in the garden will continue unabated! Wherever you are, I hope your weather also allows you to spend some pleasant time outside.
For more IAVOM creations,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
