In a vase on Monday: pretty posy

Although it's apparently spring here, we are back to a week of mostly clouds and wet weather, with a couple of sunny days sprinkled in. This week's bunch was made on a sunny day for a friend who just had a new baby:

Sweet peas ('Colourcade' and 'Tiller Girls'), roses ('Camp David' and 'Candy Stripe'), strawflowers Helichrysum, Philadelphus sp. (unknown variety), Sedum spectabile 'Autumn Joy' in spring bud and the silver foliage of Plectranthus argentatus

 
Another view. I've now remembered that there are some white pelargoniums in there too.

The garden is looking very green and lush with all the rain with some interesting once-a-year blooms opening, including Disocactus nelsonii and an orange Epiphyllum sp. I started from a cutting given to me by a neighbour:

Disocactus nelsonii, moved to a prominent position by the front door during flowering.

Orange Epiphyllum sp. I've noted at least 30 buds on it this year. I have other colours getting ready to bloom too.

The garden standout this week, however, has to be Leucospermum 'So Exquisite', a L. reflexum hybrid. It's a showstopper!

Leucospermum 'So Exquisite'

I'll leave you with a photo of our neighbour across the road's creepy Halloween decorations. Our kitchen window overlooks the front yard and we have no front fence, so I keep catching a glimpse of this every time I make a cuppa:

Freaky, hey?!

Have a good week and Happy Halloween to those who celebrate.

Thanks, as always, to Cathy of Rambling in the Garden for hosting the weekly In a Vase on Monday meme. Perhaps you would like to share a seasonal bunch from your own garden?



Comments

  1. Kris PetersonOctober 30, 2022 at 8:13 PM

    I don't think I've ever seen strawflowers that big, Horticat! Your spring garden looks fabulous - that's the magic of rain. I'm very impressed by your Discocactus nelsonii too. Do you fertilize it regularly?

    Your neighbor's Halloween display is creepy in a very realistic way - I think it'd startle me every time I saw it too.

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  2. HorticatOctober 30, 2022 at 10:18 PM

    Thanks Kris :) Disocactus nelsonii doesn't get any special attention, apart from a little slow release fertiliser once or twice a year. It's pretty root-bound in that hanging pot. Being an epiphyte, I guess it makes sense that it doesn't mind restricted roots. I think the most important factor in initiating a good flower display is ample light - even a bit of direct morning sun seems to be what is called for in my climate.

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  3. AnnaOctober 31, 2022 at 10:34 AM

    Your friend will be delighted with your floral gift. Is that a sweet pea peeping flower out in the second photo? It's so lovely to be sharing your spring as we head nearer to winter. What an unnerving sight that ghostly apparition must be especially as dark descends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HorticatOctober 31, 2022 at 4:04 PM

      Thanks Anna, yes, well spotted- there are sweet peas in there. It’s interesting seeing the cooler climate northern hemisphere garden bloggers savouring their last warm season blooms as my dahlias are just poking their heads up through the soil.

      Delete
  4. Cathy Lyon-GreenOctober 31, 2022 at 11:06 AM

    AS Kris says, the helichrysum do look especially large, but perhaps it is just an optical illusion! When would you sow yours? I sow mine in Feb/March and they start flowering from the end of June, although they were pretty poor this year. The pinks and whites work so well together in the posy, and your epiphyllums are glorious!

    ReplyDelete
  5. HorticatOctober 31, 2022 at 4:10 PM

    Thanks Cathy, the helichrysum are as large as they appear in the photo, but I can’t take credit for planting them as they self seeded! The original plants were given to me by a friend who grows cut flowers, so I they must be a good strong selection. In previous years, I have planted seedlings in winter for spring and summer flowering, although I reckon you could also plant them in spring here too for a later show.

    ReplyDelete
  6. TimelessladyNovember 1, 2022 at 7:48 AM

    Beautiful Flowers, I love the strawflower. It is really unique.

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    Replies
    1. HorticatNovember 1, 2022 at 5:00 PM

      Thanks, it’s one of my favourites too :)

      Delete
  7. cathypettitt@yahoo.comNovember 1, 2022 at 1:13 PM

    That bouquet is really pretty with that gorgeous red rose in the middle. The strawflowers are wonderful too. Aren't the Leucospermum amazing! And the hanging plants are also lovely. 😃

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    Replies
    1. HorticatNovember 1, 2022 at 5:03 PM

      Thanks Cathy, the leucospermum has been living in the same (relatively small) pot for years, it must be quite root bound, and yet it continues to put on a good show each year- it amazes me!

      Delete
  8. Susie @ pbmGardenNovember 1, 2022 at 2:33 PM

    Such a pretty bouquet to welcome the new baby! Love the Leucospermum too--impressive.

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    Replies
    1. HorticatNovember 1, 2022 at 5:04 PM

      Thanks Susie, the recipient enjoyed it - and I enjoyed making it :)

      Delete
  9. AnonymousNovember 1, 2022 at 2:34 PM

    Those flowers are so beautiful. I love the straw flowers. What a pretty bouquet for someone who’s had a baby. Isn’t it nice to be able to give home-grown flowers. Much nicer than shop bought. Have a great week. Karen at bramblegarden.com can’t seem to comment under my blog name…

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HorticatNovember 1, 2022 at 5:05 PM

      Thanks Karen, yes I agree, there’s something special about a homemade bouquet :)

      Delete
  10. Hoover BooNovember 2, 2022 at 12:22 PM

    'So Exquisite' is just that. Gorgeous. Lovely bouquet for your friend, too--she must have enjoyed it--if she had any time to with a new baby to care for!

    Strange to have Halloween in Spring--it always seemed like an autumnal kind of holiday. Agreed--a rather unsettling decoration your neighbor crafted there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HorticatNovember 2, 2022 at 11:57 PM

      Thanks Hoover Boo, it does feel a little strange celebrating Halloween in Spring - we’re planting pumpkins here, rather than harvesting! I read an article this week about the origins of Halloween - I didn’t realise it originated from an Irish tradition.

      Delete
  11. danger gardenNovember 6, 2022 at 8:17 AM

    Your orange Epiphyllum and the Leucospermum 'So Exquisite' are positively dreamy!

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    Replies
    1. HorticatNovember 7, 2022 at 7:29 PM

      Thanks Loree, I do love orange in the garden :)

      Delete

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