A close friend stopped by on Saturday bearing gifts. These included peonies! She knows I love them and that I've had next to no luck growing them so, if they're available locally as cut flowers near my birthday, she brings me a bundle. This year's bundle may be the best yet.
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| There were 5 peonies in the bundle, all of which were still in bud when my friend purchased them earlier that morning. One was already opening when she arrived at my house but, even tucked into my cool, dark laundry room, all were fully open when I arranged them on Sunday. |
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| I wanted to embellish the peonies without in any way competing with them. I also needed plants with tall stems so I focused on 2 clusters of particularly vigorous Alstroemeria. |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: noID pink Alstroemeria, Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple', Orlaya grandiflora, and pink and white peonies |
The materials in the second arrangement came entirely from my garden. The inspiration was the "purple" snapdragons in my cutting garden, which badly needed cutting back to promote another flush of bloom. The snapdragons certainly don't look purple but they look redder than they are in these photos. I'd call them a dark cherry pink.
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| I'd originally designated this as the back view of the arrangement but I decided I preferred its uncluttered appearance to the other, fussier side |
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| Newly designated back side, dressed up with Hebe 'Wiri Blush' and Nigella papillosa |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: more noID pink Alstroemeria, Antirrhinum majus 'Chantilly Purple', Cuphea hybrid 'Starfire Pink', Hebe 'Wiri Blush', and Nigella papillosa |
While I can't say my sweet peas are blooming with abandon, they're definitely more prolific than they were two weeks ago. I've given three jars of sweet peas mixed with larkspur (
Consolida ajacis), love-in-a mist (
Nigella papillosa), and white lace flower (
Orlaya grandiflora) to neighbors and friends. I've also cut more for myself this week.
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| This small vase on my kitchen island contains only sweet peas and larkspur. The sweet peas visible in this shot are Lathyrus odoratus 'Oban Bay', 'Blue Shift', and 'Erewhon'. |
