The last couple of months have been surreal. The US reached the grim milestone of 100,000 COVID-19 deaths last week even as restrictions on the population's movements and activities are being loosened. Los Angeles County will allow restaurants, hair salons and barbershops to open this week provided they meet specific criteria, despite the fact that the County recorded its largest one-day total of COVID-19 cases on Saturday. On top of evidence that many people are still not taking the recommendations to manage the threat seriously, as evidenced by people swamping beaches and hiking trails without maintaining distance from others or wearing masks to protect those around them, the country experienced one of the most egregious cases of brutality in the guise of police enforcement we've ever seen last week, deepening the depression of the population. People are understandably fed up with broken promises to correct the racial inequities in our justice system, as well as those in our public health system made more evident during this pandemic, and now they've taken to the streets en masse to protest. Most protesters are peacefully expressing their outrage but opportunists are using the protests as covers for looting and destruction. The large congregations of people may also exacerbate the spread of the virus.
Some mornings it's difficult to get up and face the day. Yesterday was one of those days. Still, my garden offers comfort, as does the support and generosity of friends and family. I pulled myself together and created an arrangement combining warm and cool-season blooms.
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| This vase got started with two stems of an unusual Salvia native to the Canary Islands |
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| Back view: I also used the last of the "gray" larkspur, the rest of which I intend to pull out today |
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| Top view: I used some of the last of the white-flowered Nigella too |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Salvia canariensis var candidissima, Ammi majus 'Dara', Centaurea 'Silver Feather', white Consolida ajacis, Consolida ajacis 'Earl Grey', Nigella papillosa 'African Bride', and Vitex trifolia |
In a departure from my usual practice, that's the only vase I created yesterday. However, a close friend visited on Friday to celebrate my birthday and, in addition to the gift of her companionship (observed with masks and proper social distancing), she brought a bouquet of peonies, which I used to create a vase on Saturday.
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| For a short period each year, a couple of area markets offer peonies. I hadn't gotten out to pick up any as I usually do so I was thrilled when my friend brought me some. |
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| Back view: I added embellishments picked from my own garden and used the vase another friend sent me earlier in the month, also as a birthday gift |
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| Top view: the peony blooms were mostly open when I photographed them yesterday |
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| Left to right: Hebe 'Wiri Blush', noID peonies, and Orlaya grandiflora |
I miss seeing my friends in person and I long to go someplace other than the grocery store but I expect to take things slowly in adding to what has become my usual routine during our lockdown. My first hurdle is to visit my local pharmacist to get a booster shot that's already more than a month overdue. The dentist and my hairdresser may be next, as long as their precautions are reassuring and the second wave of coronavirus cases feared by many doesn't show signs of materializing.
I hope you're adapting to your new normal as it unfolds. For a look at this week's IAVOM creations,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
