Despite our unseasonably warm weather this month, I've hung on to the notion that it's still winter. While I know most gardeners long for spring, winter means rain here and I've been obsessed with rain of late. But the truth is that spring arrived weeks ago here in coastal Southern California and it can no longer be denied as the bouquets prepared for today's "In a Vase on Monday" demonstrate. Rain may still arrive,
or it may not. I'm no longer counting on it.
This weekend, as I was cleaning one of my most neglected garden areas, I discovered 2 flower stalks on one of my
Cymbidiums. One was already blooming and the top-heavy unsupported stalk was trailing on the ground. I decided to cut it for use in this week's vase where it could be enjoyed.
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| Front view |
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| Back view |
I stuffed this vase with more flowers and foliage than I should have. I'm blaming this on the fact that the garden presented me with too many options. Yes, spring has most definitely arrived!
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: Cymbidium Sussex Court 'Not Peace'*; Freesia; Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy'; Laurus nobilis, shown with its bright green new foliage and its unopened flower clusters; and Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl'. *I'm unable to find any explanation for the name of that Cymbidium, although an on-line search substantiated that this is its correct name. |
The
Ceanothus hedge in the front garden is also coming into bloom and I was unable to ignore it either. I don't think I've ever used the
Ceanothus in a vase so I was inspired to see what I could do with it.
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| Front view |
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| Top view |
I'd planned to stick to blue and white with this arrangement but the centers of the white daisies prompted me to add another touch of yellow.
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Top row: the noID Ceanothus
Bottom row: Argyrantemum frutescens, Freesia, and a bi-color Pericallis hybrid |
With the garden in overdrive, I could easily have produced a few more vases but I restrained myself.
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| The orchid arrangement sits on the dining room table, where I hope the sunlight will prompt the last 2 buds to open |
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| The blue/white/yellow arrangement that screams spring sits in the front entryway. The toad that normally sits there has been temporarily replaced with blue bird salt-and-pepper shakers I inherited from my mother-in-law. |
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she and other gardeners have found for their vases this week.
All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
