As August continues, the lantana comes into its own as one plant that continues to thrive and bloom even in this very dry summer. I have used heads from three different plants: an unnamed white which I planted last spring, the deep-hued "Denver Red", and a classic noID orange/yellow that was growing behind the back patio when we moved in.
All three colors went into today's vase...
...along with a couple of sunflowers.
Please pardon the dark, grainy photos; these were taken outdoors as the sun set.
I am happy to be able to pick sunflowers again this week. The larger one was cut from a stalk whose roots were partially heaved out of the soil during our wind/dust storm a week and a half ago. Unable to stake it back up, I piled compost over the roots and have tried to keep it watered. The stalk is still partially horizontal, but the buds are opening and turning up toward the sunlight. Definitely these are sturdy plants! The variety in this case is "Solar Eclipse".
As always, I am linking with Cathy's lovely meme at
Rambling in the Garden.
Weather Diary: Fair: High: 109 F (43 C)/Low: 84 F (29 C); Humidity: 9%-31%
Clearly the lantana grows as a perennial with you then? I shall certainly have to try it out next year but as plug plants and it would only last a season here I expect. Your own vase is the perfect foil for your lantana and the sunflowers - glad that sunflower survived for you! How long did your dust storm last, and what effect does it have on your garden?
ReplyDeleteLantana grows here as a tender perennial. Sometimes it get cut back a bit by freezing temperatures, but as we don't get too cold, it bounces back nicely. It's a great plant for blooming through the heat. I have no idea how it would do in a cooler summer! Overall the dust storm probably went off and on for a couple of hours, but the worst of it was over more quickly. In the garden it makes trouble on two counts: high winds and the drying effect of both wind and dust. I've had another round of plant failures this week that I think are partially due to it. Still can't believe how that sunflower has come through!
DeleteThat's one tough sunflower! I tried Lantana in a vase for the first time this week, influenced by your use of the plant.
ReplyDeleteI keep losing plants as this summer goes on and on... So things like the lantana and that sunflower help keep me encouraged, blooming and growing so well through it all. I'd be interested to know how the lantana works for you as you are so good at keeping cut flowers fresh!
DeleteJust read about your latest dust storm. Hope your garden and you survive without damage.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jane! I think everything would survive the storm, except that it comes in such a prolonged, hot summer. Some plants have given up since, so I do blame the storm a bit! Other than that, it's mostly a matter of dusting the house and retrieving empty plant pots from around the yard. And in some cases finding the plants that were blown out of them, fortunately no losses there though... ;-)
DeleteA dust storm sounds very unpleasant, but that sunflower must be a tough old boot to withstand all that! It looks lovely with the Lantana. I wish mine (grown as an annual) was large enough to cut... perhaps in the autumn I will just cut it all down and use it all in a vase, as the plants are hard to keep indoors over winter, flowering so late the following year. I have never seen a white one before. It's lovely!
ReplyDeleteI've been delighted with the white Lantana, which is a strong-growing, floriferous plant -- not always what one expects with a white-flowered version of a species! I'm sure the bloom time could be a hassle in a colder climate; here they seem to come into bloom anytime the mood seizes them ;-) They do drop florets while I'm arranging them, but there usually are plenty left...
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