It's been a bit windy but the combination of sunny skies and slightly warmer temperatures has sent spring into hyperdrive. I didn't even have to give much thought as to what to cut to fill a couple of vases. I hadn't planned on a third arrangement but then I decided I couldn't leave the anemones to the wind's punishment.
I'll start with the two arrangements featuring Leucospermums.
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| While this is yet another blue and yellow arrangement, the contents are entirely different from those I used last week. In addition to Leucospermum 'High Gold', I used 2 varieties of Dutch Iris. The Irises began popping up in a variety of colors seemingly overnight. |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Iris hollandica 'Mystic Beauty', I. h. 'Sapphire Beauty', Leucadendron 'High Gold', Narcissus 'White Lion', and hybrid Salvia 'Bee's Bliss' |
The second arrangement was inspired by Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi'.
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| Although inspired by the orange Leucospermum, this is another of my "everything but the kitchen sink" compilations |
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| Back view: I threw in a foxglove and 2 calla lilies that probably didn't need to be there |
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| Top view |
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Top: Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', Antirrhinum majus, and Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Peach'
Middle: Leucadendron 'Cloudbank Ginny', Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi', and Narcissus 'Beautiful Eyes'
Bottom: Narcissus 'Sunny Girlfriend', Ranunculus, and Zantedeschia aethiopica |
I hadn't figured on Anemone 'Rosa Tigrato' delivering half a dozen blooms in my cutting garden but, having seen what wind can do to them, there wasn't really any question in my mind about cutting some of them for a third arrangement.
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| In addition to the red and white anemones, I included the stem of Helleborus 'Anna's Red' I'd used in one of last week's arrangements. I was surprised that it was still in good shape and that one of the buds had opened. |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Rosa Tigrato', Grevillea lavandulcea 'Penola', Freesia, Calliandra haematocephala, and Helleborus 'Anna's Red' |
There are a couple of chances of light rain next weekend and early the following week but those could easily disappear. However, my fingers are crossed that we get at least one more good rainstorm before our rainy season comes to an end in mid-April. My smallest rain collection tank literally sprung a leak during the last set of storms so I lost fifty gallons there and I don't have its replacement installed yet. I'd like to start our long dry season with all my tanks full if possible.
For more IAVOM posts, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
