In a Vase on Monday: A mix of spring and summer blooms

There are still a LOT of flowers suitable for cutting here, as anyone who read Friday's Bloom Day post could tell, but yesterday I went looking for something a little different to include in this week's flower arrangements.  The appearance of the first Agapanthus blooms had me thinking of a blue and white arrangement and the deal was sealed when I spotted the first flowers on the Rotheca myricoides (aka butterfly bush) I planted last fall.

Our heatwaves didn't fry the larkspur (Consolida ajacis) as I feared so stems of the 'Summer Skies Mix' I grew from seed provided the perfect filler.  I cut just a single stem of Rotheca, with only two flowers, hoping that the buds will open as the week progresses.

Back view: Stems of blue and white Nigella 'Starry Nights Mix', also grown from seed, were added to provide more interest

Top view

Included, top row: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated' and noID Agapanthus Middle row: Consolida ajacis in white and dark and light blue and Rotheca myricoides Bottom row: Blue and white Nigella papillosa 'Starry Nights Mix'

The inspiration for my second arrangement was a new vase, received as an early birthday present from a surrogate family member.  The vase is unusual and I didn't feel I could put just anything in it so I went looking for floral material that would complement its colors.  I selected Salvia lanceolata, a South African native with mauve flowers as my starting point and took off hunting down suitable companions from there.

I used the same Salvia in another arrangement in April but I like this mix better

Back view: The reddish-pink Centranthus ruber used here is far less common in my garden than the  Centranthus with paler pink blooms

Top view

Included, top row: Centranthus ruber and Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey' Middle row: Abelia grandiflora 'Edward Goucher', Lagurus ovatus, and pink Lathyrus odoratus Bottom row: noID rose and Salvia lanceolata

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



As a side-note, we got a bit of rain overnight!  That's remarkable for May.  Last night's report was a 20-30% chance of 0.02/inch of rain overnight but I've tallied one-tenth of an inch already and it's still raining.  What a wonderful May surprise.  I hope the week brings a pleasant surprise or two your way as well!

All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party