Despite heatwaves in late April and early May, I still have a supply of what are considered cool-season blooms here even as my summer bloomers have begun to appear. Overwhelmed with choices, I tend to go overboard with floral arrangements. I had Matilija poppies on my mind when I stepped into the garden yesterday but, when I trooped down to the bottom of the slope, I discovered there were no open blooms available at the moment. Easily distracted, I started deadheading spent
Centranthus blooms and ended up cutting several pink and white flower stems even though a pink arrangement wasn't something I'd consciously planned.
![]() |
| Luckily, the unexpected rain we got last week had prompted new blooms from the pink Alstroemerias, which pair well with pink and white Centranthus |
![]() |
| Back view: I used the dark foliage of Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' to ground the arrangement |
![]() |
| Top view: I added three of the shaggy Shasta daisies (Lecanthemum x superbum) that just started their annual bloom cycle |
![]() |
| Clockwise from the upper left: noID pink Alstroemeria, Centranthus ruber, Dorycnium hirsutum (aka hairy Canary clover), Hebe 'Wiri Blush', Lathyrus odoratus, Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' and, in the middle, noID 'Leucanthemum x superbum |
Cutting a few stems of
Cuphea 'Vermillionaire' led to the creation of an arrangement with orange and yellow flowers.
![]() |
| While the Cuphea provided the impetus for this arrangement, Leucospermum 'Brandi', now waning, provided the focal point |
![]() |
| Back view: The unusual red stems with green calyces are Sideritis cypria, which produces tiny yellow flowers inside the green cups |
![]() |
| Top view |
![]() |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer', Cuphea 'Vermillionaire', Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun', Hymenolepsis parviflora, Leucadendron salignum 'Chief'', Sideritis cypria, Lobelia laxiflora and, in the middle, Leucospermum 'Brandi' |
With more heat on the way this week, Digitalis 'Dalmatian Peach' begged to be cut before its blooms were scorched.
![]() |
| This arrangement was a little too restrained in terms of the color mix, even by my standards, so I added the Achillea 'Moonshine' to give it a bit more energy |
![]() |
| Back view: I wouldn't normally include the Nigella stems I threw into this vase but Dahlia 'Gitt's Crazy' has sprouted and is already demanding more room so some of the Nigella stems had to be pulled |
![]() |
| Top view |
![]() |
Top row: Achillea 'Moonshine', Alstroemeria 'Claire' and A. 'Inca Husky'
Middle row: Calendula 'Zeolights', Digitalis 'Dalmatian Peach', and Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream'
Bottom row: Leucadendron 'Jester', Nigella papillosa, and Orlaya grandiflora |
Many of my dahlia tubers have sprouted and I've sown some sunflower and zinnia seeds so there's pressure to clear out the fading cool-season blooms to make room for summer flowers in my cutting garden. The sweet peas will probably be the first to go. They took a hit during our two heatwaves and haven't been able to rebound.
For more IAVOM creations,
visit our bandleader, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
