I knew I wanted to use certain Narcissi in one of today's vases but I couldn't decide on a focal point to show them off. My eyes kept coming back to one of my orange-flowered Leucospermums, which had only one bloom. I wouldn't usually cut the first bloom of the season on any plant but I couldn't convince myself to accept any alternatives - and it isn't as though Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi' doesn't have buds gearing up to flower...
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| This Leucospermum has the most flamboyant blooms of the plants in that genus in my garden, if not the greatest profusion of flowers |
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| Back view: Narcissi 'Geranium' and 'Beautiful Eyes' are currently at their peak bloom |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Anagallis 'Wildcat Mandarin', noID orange and yellow Calendula, white Freesia, Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi', Narcissus 'Beautiful Eyes', N. 'Geranium', noID Ranunculus, and Xylosma congestum |
With plenty of blooms on my 'Pink Panther' Dutch Iris, it was the natural choice as the centerpiece for my second arrangement. I wasn't sure what I was going to pair with it but I uncovered more than I expected.
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| The Iris is more lavender than pink |
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| Back view: Despite the yellow flame on the fall of the Iris, I used flowers with pink, purple, and white notes to complement it |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Bacopa 'Double Indigo'; Lavandula stoechas; Scabiosa columbaria 'Deep Blue'; mix of lavender, white and purple Freesia; Iris hollandica 'Pink Panther'; Limonium perezii, and Salvia hybrid 'Pozo Blue' |
As I couldn't allow myself to toss out the stems of Leucospermum 'Goldie' I cut two weeks ago, I popped them into a small vase and tossed in one of the blooms of the 'Mystic Beauty' Dutch Iris that began to open last week.
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| It sits on the kitchen island |
Last week's rain may be our last for the season. Our rainy season usually ends in April and, with a total of 21.10 inches since the season's start on October 1, 2022, I can't complain as that's well above our old "normal," not to speak of recent norms. Still, I'd gotten used to having Mother Nature take care of the watering for us and I'll miss that. Forecasters are now predicting a slow rise in temperatures, possibly edging to 80F/26.7C within the next week.
For more IAVOM posts, visit our host, Cathy of Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party