Even though the US celebrated Independence Day nearly two weeks ago, we're still hearing fireworks almost nightly. And those fireworks are just as illegal in our area as they were two weeks ago. What does it take for people to gain some sense? Especially when we live in a high fire-risk area and insurers are increasingly refusing to do business in California due to fire risk. It's maddening!
My fireworks are of a floral nature and pose no risk of igniting an actual fire. The first arrangement was inspired by the unusual floral display of Sonchus palmensis.
 |
| This is a photo of the plant in situ. I can only access it from the dirt path that runs behind my backyard borders in front of the hedge that sits atop our back slope. The plant is a giant relative of the humble dandelion. It was given to me a couple of years ago by blogger friend, Denise of A Growing Obsession. |
 |
| Lilium 'Orange Planet' stole the show from the giant dandelion. I expect the second lily, part of the same stem, will open this morning. |
 |
| Back view: Once again, I threw a lot of plant material into this vase when it might have benefited from a little restraint |
 |
| Top view: The flower in the center was cut from Mangave 'Freckles & Speckles' |
 |
| Top row: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', noID Bacopa, and Grevillea alpina x rosmarinifolia Middle: Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Leucanthemum x superbum, and Lilium 'Orange Planet' Bottom: Mangave 'Freckles & Speckles', Sideritis cypria, and Sonchus palmensis |
The second arrangement was inspired by one of my own photographs. A good friend made me a calendar comprised of photos from my blog. The photo for July was from an IAVOM post that makes me think of fireworks. When I saw the first blooms of my Leonotis leonurus last week, I decided I should try recreating it while I still have some Agapanthus that aren't overly shaggy.
 |
| I added more of everything to this vase while trying to recreate the original when using fewer stems probably would've had more impact. Maybe I'll take it apart and reassemble it later today. |
 |
| Back view |
 |
| Top view |
 |
| Clockwise from the upper left: noID Agapanthus, Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Cuphea 'Vermillionaire', Leonotis leonurus (aka lion's tail), Salvia clevelandii 'Winnifred Gilman', and Hemerocallis 'Sammy Russell' |
I also threw together a small vase for the kitchen island just because I can no longer accept a flower-less surface.
 |
| This simple arrangement consists of Grevillea sericea, Monarda 'Peter's Purple', and Pelargonium 'Orange Fizz' |
Thankfully, last week's heatwave is tapering off. We never got hotter than the 92F/33C in my area but the inland valleys and many other parts of California (not to mention Arizona, Nevada and Texas) didn't fare as well. We were in the mid-80sF/29C yesterday and I expect more along those same lines for the rest of this week. We even have a light marine layer this morning - or maybe it's smoke-related haze attributable to the Rabbit Fire in Riverside county to the east. Summer has arrived!
For more IAVOM creations, check in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party