Our temperature is expected to soar to a summer-like level today, reaching 80F (26C). I know that may sound like heaven to those of you still shivering under winter's icy fingers; however, we don't like to see summer arrive this early. Summer usually overstays its welcome as it is. In addition, it stresses all the early spring blooms, some of which are only now making an appearance, prompted by the rainstorms that belatedly showed up in March. I'm making the most of the spring blooms now while I can still enjoy them.
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| The pink Alstroemerias are sparser than usual this spring but, with a plentiful supply of pink flowers elsewhere in the garden, I picked what I had to tie my other choices together |
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| The Centranthus ruber (aka Jupiter's Beard) that colors up my drab back slope in spring is blooming right on schedule |
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| I stood on a chair to take this top view photo and still couldn't entirely capture it |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: noID Alstroemeria, Antirrhinum majus, Centranthus ruber, Coleonema album, Freesia, Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl', and Ranunculus |
My perennial flossflower (
Ageratum corymbosum) is now in full bloom, stretching into one of the main pathways in the back garden, so it was a natural choice for cutting this week, although I was challenged to avoid duplicating the vase I created two weeks ago.
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| In addition to the Ageratum, I used the same Osteospermum I paired with it 2 weeks ago |
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| but the other elements are new |
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| I also had a problem photographing this vase from above |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: Osteospermum '3D Berry White', Ageratum corymbosum, Coleonema album, Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian White', Limonium perezii, Ocimum hybrid 'African Blue Basil', and Polygala myrtifolia 'Mariposa' |
Here's a side-by-side comparison of today's vase and the one I created two weeks ago:
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| Oops, I duplicated the Coleonema too. Still, I think the 2 arrangements have their own personalities. |
The new vases landed on the dining room table and in the front entry as usual. Last week's vases held up surprisingly well but I tossed most of the contents anyway.
For more Monday vases,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. For those of you still suffering winter's chill, I hope some of Southern California's warmth blows your way.
All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
