We're expecting unseasonably warm temperatures early this week and I allowed that to be an excuse for cutting my first Hippeastrum bloom on Sunday for today's vase. I went overboard and purchased nine new Hippeastrum bulbs this year, all of which I potted up. One, 'Apricot Parfait', was already sprouting when it arrived, whereas none of the others have done so yet even after being planted.
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| A second bloom stalk has developed, making me feel less guilty about cutting the first one |
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| Back view: I found a few other flowers with colors that picked up on the salmon-pink color of the Hippeastrum (commonly known as Amaryllis) |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Correa pulchella 'Pink Eyre', Leucadendron 'Jester', Hippeastrum 'Apricot Parfait', and Metrosideros collina 'Springfire' |
The second, smaller arrangement was inspired by a lone Lisianthus flower lying face down in one of my backyard borders.
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| I was disappointed by the Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) this year so I was surprised to see one pop up when I least expected to see any. The bush violets (Barleria obtusa) are fading fast so it was a match I couldn't resist. |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Correa 'Ivory Bells', Osteospermum 'Violet Ice', Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata', Barleria obtusa', and Eustoma grandiflorum |
It's still very dry here. While the Pacific Northwest is expecting an atmospheric river to bring heavy rain this week, none of that's likely to reach us in Southern California. In fact, there's no rain showing in the ten-day forecast and the last long-term forecast I read suggested that rain is more likely in late December or January. I don't mind a delay but I wish I could be more certain that the rain will get here eventually.
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy in Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
