The "curve" referenced here is the weather. The Los Angeles Times is predicting what could be an epic atmospheric river will hit Southern California this week, beginning as early as Wednesday. Both the online sources I generally consult appear to be in line with one another for once with respect to the pending storm. The most intense rain is currently projected for Thursday. As last week's rain trounced the anemones in my cutting garden, I decided that cutting the most recent blooms was the better part of valor so I started by harvesting several of them.
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| The blue and purplish Anemone coronaria are the most prolific at the moment. The blue-flowered variety were planted in October 2023 as 'Lord Lieutenant' but I suspect they're 'Mr Fokker'. |
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| Back view: I added stems of purple-flowered Hardenbergia 'Meema', which I'd purchased from Annie's Annuals & Perennials in 2024 before the business was shuttered and subsequently sold. I currently have it growing in a pot. |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Mr Fokker', A. c. 'Mistral Grape', Antirrhinum majus, Echium handiense, Hardenbergia violacea 'Meema', and Osteospermum '4D Silver'. I also used Anemone coronaria 'Mistral Azzurro' and Osteospermum 'Violet Ice' (not shown in closeup). |
I cut three more anemone stems to fill a small vase on our kitchen island as well.
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| This vase includes Anemone coronaria 'Mistral Rosa Chiaro', A. c. 'Mistral Bianco Centro Nero', and Prostanthera ovatifolia 'Variegata' |
I cut the Hippeastrum sold to me as 'Double Record' for a second vase as its blooms were almost fully open. At present, it doesn't look at all like the photo of the plant shown online when I purchased the bulb, which is disappointing.
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| I can only hope that the Hippeastrum's petals will continue to develop as the flowers mature. You can find a photo of what the flowers are supposed to look like here. |
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| Back view: With the exception of the Hippeastrum and the slim stems of a Grevillea, all the other elements have been recycled from one of last week's vases |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Alstroemeria 'Inca Sundance', Grevillea 'Poorinda Leana', Hippeastrum 'Double Record', and Leucospermum 'Sunrise' |
I'm looking forward to the rain; however, for the sake of those in areas affected by the recent fires, I hope it won't be as intense as some experts think it could be. As it is, all three of my rain collection tanks are now full and I've already soaked everything I could with the excess I collected manually in plastic trugs using the overflow coming down our rain chain. The irrigation system is currently off. (Unbelievably, some of my neighbors don't bother shutting theirs off when there's been ample rain.)
For more IAVOM posts, check in with our host, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
