I've been stuck in a rut when it comes to selecting materials to fill a vase. While I've spotted some new buds developing here and there, it's going to be a while yet before those buds become blooms. However, I thought I'd at least try to vary my color palette this week.
![]()
|
This arrangement was kicked off by an orchid stem I discovered in bloom in my lath (shade) house. I picked up the noID Oncidium back in September. The new flower stem this month was a surprise.
|
![]() |
| Back view: I used other plants with purplish blooms to pick up the spots in the orchid flowers |
![]() |
| Top view |
![]() |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy', Grevillea sericea, Polygala myrtifolia, noID Oncidium, and Pelargonium peltatum 'Lavender Blizzard' |
At this time of year, I often use
Leucadendron stems to serve both as replacements for flowers and as foliage fillers in vases. My second arrangement is heavy on those stems with just a couple of softer notes.
![]() |
| The softer elements are a single stem of Eustoma grandiflorum (aka Lisianthus) and 2 stems of Antirrhinum majus (snapdragpns) |
![]() |
| The back view is all about the Leucadendron stems |
![]() |
| Top view |
![]() |
| Clockwise from the upper left: Antirrhinum majus, Eustoma grandiflorum, Leucadendron salignum 'Jester', L. s. 'Safari Sunset', and L. s. 'Winter Red' |
There's still no rain in our forecast. Saturday's front page headline in the Los Angeles Times was entitled "Southland Rainy Season Hasn't Been." When local weather gets a headline, it's a big issue. Our last rainstorm of any significance was May 5, 2024 when the downtown area got 0.13/inch. (Our own roof-top weather station recorded 0.17/inch.) I'm sorry I keep bemoaning the fact but, even in an area prone to drought, I remain incredulous about how dry it is this year.
For more IAVOM posts, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
