Last week, we fast-forwarded into summer without any kind of transition. On Friday, our temperature peaked at 95F (35C). All the tender new foliage and recent spring blooms struggled, and some collapsed. Saturday and Sunday were a little better as temperatures here dropped back into the mid-to-upper 80s. Fog in the area may have provided natural air conditioning of a sort as it periodically does during our hot summer months. Although it was clear at our elevation, fog hugged the harbor throughout the weekend.
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| This is what I saw when I looked at the harbor from our back door on Saturday morning |
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| The fog below us never entirely cleared. By late afternoon, you could see the shipping cranes again but fog lingered around their footings and the cruise ships (which I can assure you are still sitting out the pandemic there in the bay) remained invisible. |
For my vases this week, I focused on plants I'm afraid may throw in the towel early in response to the heat. The backbone of my first vase, stems of
Leucadendron 'Pisa', is a tough plant but the other two ingredients may be more sensitive to temperature extremes.
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| Alstroemeria 'Claire' took a starring role, backed up by the luminescent Leucadendron with its silver cones |
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| Back view: I filled in with Nigella 'Transformer', which just began blooming late last week |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the top: Alstroemeria 'Claire', Leucadendron 'Pisa', and Nigella orientalis 'Transformer' |
I set myself a challenge with my second vase when I cut several stems of
Salvia lanceolata, a South African native. The colors in the
Salvia's flowers is what presented the challenge.
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| The flowers combine colors I can only describe as a mix of yellowish-green and peachy-mauve |
Like the
Leucadendron, the
Salvia can handle heat but foxgloves and
Centranthus are less tolerant.
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| The peach foxgloves were already singed blown in spots |
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| Back view: The Centranthus looks fine at the moment but I'm concerned about the effects of an extended heatwave |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi Verde', noID Alstroemeria, white and pink Centranthus ruber. Pelargonium 'White Lady', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Digitalis 'Dalmatian Peach' and, in the center, Salvia lanceolata |
The ingredients in the third arrangement cried out for rescue from the heat. I kicked this arrangement off with the larkspur (
Consolida ajacis), which only just began blooming as the heatwave hit. I planted the larkspur from seed in November and was beginning to wonder if it was ever going to bloom.
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| The grayish-purple larkspur was a bit disappointing. It's outshone here by the purple foxgloves. Like the peach foxgloves, the sweet peas were singed. |
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| As it turned out, I liked this side of the arrangement better |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Digitalis purpurea, Consolida ajacis 'Earl Grey', Orlaya grandiflora, a mix of Lathyrus odoratus, Pelargonium 'Lady Plymouth, and Oxalis triangularis |
So that's this week's collection. This morning, the fog's enveloped the entire house so it may be cooler today; however, we're expecting another temperature spike mid-week. My
Anemones and Dutch
Iris have already bit the dust but I hope the sweet peas, foxgloves, and Nigella can tough it out awhile. We shall see. For other IAVOM creations,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
