We were hit with a wicked heatwave last Wednesday and it's not over yet. On top of that, we received belated notification the same day that our area is subject to a 15-day ban on outdoor watering starting September 6th while the water district that provides water to our local water company repairs a critical pipeline. I've been scrambling ever since to prepare the garden as best I can to handle the double whammy. As we were warned that temperatures could reach historic highs on Sunday, I gathered flowers from my garden early Saturday morning. Whether there will be anything vase-worthy to cut next week or the following week remains to be seen.
The inspiration for my first arrangement was provided by a succulent flower.
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The short-stemmed succulent flower is front and center. The plant is Crassula falcata, aka airplane plant and propeller plant due to the growth habit of its foliage.
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Back view: I cut the succulent's flower, planning to complement it with the always plentiful blooms of Grevillea 'Superb', only to find those flowers were largely spent by the heat. I cut just 3 stems, feeling somewhat guilty about reducing the hummingbirds' favorite source of nectar.
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Top view
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Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Leucadendron 'Summer Red', Crassula falcata, Dahlia 'Summer's End', Grevillea 'Superb', and Zinnia elegans 'Queen Orange Lime'
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Heat and humidity, courtesy of the monsoonal moisture in the desert areas east of us, brought out the flowers of Leucophyllum laevigatum (aka Chihuahuan sage). I've had this shrub in my garden since 2012 but it's easily overlooked - except when it suddenly bursts into bloom. It inspired my second vase.
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Because everything was fading fast during the extended heatwave, I cut almost every passable bloom I could find
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Back view: The stem of the larger of these 2 dahlia blooms collapsed under its own weight during the hot, dry winds that accompanied the heatwave
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Top view: The navy blue flowers of Agapanthus 'Elaine' don't really fit the composition in my view but it seemed better to enjoy them inside than watch them wither outside
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Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', Agapanthus 'Elaine', Amaryllis belladonna 'Alba', Dahlia 'Lavender Ruffles', blue and white Eustoma grandiflorum (aka Lisianthus), and Leucophyllum laevigatum
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Except for its focal flowers, the vase featuring the red and white dahlia last week held up well. There were two more blooms on what for lack of a positive ID I'm calling Dahlia 'Catching Fire' so I cut those and a few 'Benary's Giant Red' Zinnias to fill in. The dahlia blooms should do better in a vase than in 100F+ heat.
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Large as it is, I decided to leave this arrangement on the kitchen island so I could enjoy it while it lasts
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Sunday's heat proved to be as nasty as advertised. It was already 88F (31C) at 7am when I went back to work in the garden on my preparations for the looming outdoor water ban. I retreated inside two hours later as the thermometer continued to climb. Sunday's temperature in my location peaked at just under 106F (41C) mid-day before slowing cooling falling below 100F (37C) when clouds moved in from the east. The expected duration of our current heatwave has been extended into Thursday. Meanwhile the 15-day outdoor watering ban starts tomorrow.
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2022by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
