Dear friends, I’m keeping this post rather brief. I’m already astonished that I’ve been able to cut, arrange, photograph, and begin to write a post… all together in one day. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to do so, what with fatigue, pain, etc., etc. The current diagnosis is simply chronic migraines, though I suspect that might change eventually. At all events, I’ve begun to be able to do more between my rather epic days-long headaches, and have now reached a point where it is even possible to join In a Vase on Monday with Cathy! Hurray!!
So here is my bouquet—a bit of early spring here in the desert.
The flowers are the antique tazetta narcissus “Minor Monarque”, which I featured briefly yesterday, and Encelia farinosa, the brittlebrush of our local hillsides. I’ve encouraged the latter to grow on in the garden, and I’ve just managed to transplant a number of seedlings into new spots, where I want them to spread their brilliance in late winter and early spring. Not to mention their lovely, silvery foliage which, unfortunately, does not seem to fare well when cut, though it survives all sorts of weather while on the plant.
It’s a simple combination, with just the wiry stems of brittlebrush and one sprig of narcissus.
Barely visible are two tufts of lavender foliage from my enthusiastic Lavandula dentata, and invisible is one small sprig of soft gray leaves from Eremophila glabra “Kalgoorlie Gold”. I intended to use more of the Eremophila, but the plant is still small and its foliage is somewhat sparse in any case. Lavender to the rescue!
I combined everything in my handbuilt stoneware vase and photographed it against one of my garden rocks… also native! This is certainly the rockiest place I’ve ever gardened.
The bouquet is now indoors scenting the dining table.
Wishing each of you a lovely week!
It's looking promising so far Amy, but let's see when I click on 'post' in due course! I had tried to say previously how soft the colours of the narcissus was, and how useful it was to have the Encelia growing wild - does it flower for most of the year? You know how much I admire your handthrown pots, so it was a delight to see one of them in this post - have you managed to get your kiln set up again?
Hi Amy! Sorry to hear about your terrible migraines. I see your blog has a different name now and hope your new garden is slowly getting established. Your little vase is a wonderful sight. The Bottlebrush is very pretty. I am hoping for some narcissi to open soon here too - yellow is such a cheery colour at this time of year. 😃