Did you know that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US government agency charged with following climate issues, has formulated new definitions of "normal" temperatures? It makes sense to me given the frequency with which weather forecasters project temperatures significantly above "normal." Yesterday afternoon, the temperature here peaked just above 87F (30.6C) and today's high temperature is expected to be comparable. Santa Ana wind conditions are in effect, which means our humidity is also very low, sparking wildfire concerns. Many spring blooms are beating a hasty retreat and, concerned that others may follow on their heels, I cut a lot of them to bring inside.
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| In addition to the newest foxglove to appear in my cutting garden, I cut stems of the flowering redbud and the first sweet peas to make an appearance. I was perplexed by the sweet pea flowers as I didn't recall sowing seeds that bloom in that color but, as a subtle change was evident in some of the flowers, I believe this must be 'Blue Shift', which are said to transition from violet-purple to blue as they age. |
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| Back view: The original snapdragons I planted from a pony-pack of plugs last fall are still producing pristine blooms, free of rust, unlike my more recent additions |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: white Antirrhinum majus, Cercis occidentalis (aka western redbud), self-seeded Coriandrum sativum (aka cilantro/coriander), Helleborus 'Phoebe', Lathyrus odoratus 'Blue Shift' (probably), Pelargonium cucullatum 'Flore Pleno', P. 'Lemona', Scabiosa columbaria 'Flutter Rose Pink' and, in the center, Digitalis purpurea |
I'd hoped to use the fluffy lavender blooms of Ageratum corymbosum in my second arrangement but they're already fading so I pivoted and instead cut several Ixia blooms that appeared just days ago. They inspired a pink, white and yellow color scheme. I wasn't entirely happy with it but, as it was already getting very warm, I decided against deliberating any further.
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| In retrospect, I think I should have skipped the pink snapdragons and Alstroemeria, although they do pick up on the color of the fingernails in the clasped hands vase |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Alstroemerias 'Claire', 'Inca Sundance' and noID pink; pink and white Antirrhinum majus; noID Ixia (aka wand flowers or African corn lilies); Osteospermum 'Double Moonglow'; and Pelargonium 'White Lady' |
I'd cut a couple stems of yellow snapdragons to include in the second vase but the nearly fluorescent yellow of those flowers was jarring so I popped them into a tiny vase for my home office.
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| The color of the snapdragon is very like that of Dahlia 'Kelvin Floodlight', if you've ever seen that. I added Centranthus ruber 'Albus' as an accent. |
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
