While I wait impatiently for my traditional summer blooms (dahlias, sunflowers, zinnias) to make an appearance, I shifted my focus to the flowers that make up the backbone of my garden. Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream' is having a really good year and it provided the inspiration for my first vase this week.
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Last week, I speculated that I might end up using succulents in this week's vase. As it turned out, that wasn't necessary but I did add succulent flowers in the form of Cotyledon orbiculata, commonly known as pig's ear (based on the foliage, not the flowers).
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Back view: I'm in the process of cutting back Leucadendron 'Safari Goldstrike' so I used stems of that as my foliage element
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Top view
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Clockwise from the upper left: Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream', Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', Cotyledon orbiculata, Leucanthemum x superbum, Lantana 'Lucky Yellow', and Leucadendron 'Safari Goldstrike'
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Speaking of plants having a good year, the Amaryllis belladonna I introduced last week is having its best year ever. Last year I think I had three bloom stalks but this year the flowers are dominating my back border. This time I paired them with some of the last stems of Agapanthus.
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Pink and blue isn't a common combination for me but the Cuphea 'Starfire Pink' I used as filler material led me in that direction
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Back view, featuring Cuphea 'Starfire Pink' and Pandorea jasminoides
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Top view
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Clockwise from the upper left: Amaryllis belladonna, Alstroemeria 'Inca Vienna', noID Agapanthus, Cuphea 'Starfire Pink', and Pandorea jasminoides
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Can you believe that July is almost over? How is it that time still seems to pass so quickly even when each day feels much like the day before? The future is still murky but I'm trying to focus on what I can control in my small corner of the world, like renovating a couple of garden beds to prepare for replanting this fall. I'm hopeful that, in addition to changes to the garden, the new year will bring new leadership to guide the US out of the mess it's in and, if we're all lucky, a viable vaccine.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
