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With apologies for the commercial interruption, let's talk flowers. Right now, there are relatively few available for cutting in my garden, which isn't particularly unusual for mid-summer in Southern California. I've featured much of what is available before so, going the extra mile to make a contribution to Cathy's weekly meme at Rambling in the Garden, I got out a stepping stool and cut a couple of stems from our Bauhinia x blakeana, otherwise known as a Hong Kong orchid tree.
The flowers are beautiful but I have no idea how they and their woody stems will do in a vase. Each stem bears 8 or more buds of varying size, which open at staggered intervals.
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| New bloom of Bauhinia x blakeana |
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| A fading flower with unopened buds arrayed above |
In addition to Bauhinia, the bouquet contains:
- 3 stems of Cuphea ignea 'Starfire Pink'
- 2 stems of Leucanthemum x superbum
- 2 stems of Pelargonium peltatum
- 2 small stems of Pentas 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom'
- 2 stems of unidentified roses, one white and one lavender-pink
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| Close-up of the ruffled petals of this Leucanthemum x superbum |
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| Pelargonium peltatum |
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| Pentas "Kaleidoscope Appleblossom' and the fading bloom and unopened buds of the lavender-pink rose, possibly 'Angel Face' |
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| Close-up of the creamy white unidentified rose |
I tried out the bouquet in various locations but it ended up on the foyer table, as so many others have.
Please check in at Rambling in the Garden to see Cathy's bouquet and find links to the creations of other gardeners.
All material © 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party