Monday, September 21, 2015

In a Vase on Monday: "I can't just throw them away" edition...

The foliage of Crocosmia 'Orangeade' had long been brown and crispy, however when I finally got around to cutting it back there were still many branches with those long, curvy, sexy seed pods on them. I couldn't just throw them away!

At first I just tossed them in a vase, but then I realized...I can take this up a notch or two!

Hence the Canna leaf rolled and tucked into the vase.

And since the weather has taken a turn and I'm not out on the patio as often, why not cut an Abutilion stem?

Why not indeed!

They look pretty darn good together, don't you think? I love to have cut stems on the bathroom shelf and these are especially welcome since they remind me of all those long, hot, days of summer spent out on the patio...

Be sure to click on over to Rambling in the Garden, where you'll see what other vase creations are being shared today...

All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

25 comments:

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    1. Ah, so nice to see your name pop up, I miss you! Hmm...there's a LINK! Yay! Can't wait to see what you're creating back there in Louisville...

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  2. Beautiful reminder of those long hot summer days! While I'm glad we're getting rain, I do miss the warmth!

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    1. Yesterday was 80 here, that was welcome!

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  3. A fabulous exotic arrangement using a fascinating seedpod.

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  4. Very pretty, Loree! How I wish I could grow Abutilon with stems that long (not to speak of getting more than 1 or 2 flowers). The rolled-up Canna leaf was inspired.

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    1. So Abutilon don't grow big in Southern California? Interesting.

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  5. A lovely summer memory for today's Autumnal Equinox. That Abutilon is a beauty.

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    1. Hey fellow lover of summer - aren't you rushing things a bit? The equinox isn't until Wednesday...

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  6. Disqualified for using 2 vases! ;) What a great combo though, and the canna leaf roll was brilliant! I'm not good at pruning off the best-looking bits for bringing inside though...

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    1. The Canna leaf was tucked down towards the bottom of the plant and hidden by another plant. The Abutilon branch was growing out around behind my Cut-leaf Oak. That's the beauty of growing your plants too close together - there is always something you can prune without ruining the garden!

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  7. Very nice! Good for you for not just throwing them away. Most of my Abutilons are looking very tired. One is suffering from an aphid attack, so would not look anywhere near as pristine as yours.

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    1. Yuck, I've accidentally brought aphids into the house on Euphorbia flowers. So disgusting!

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  8. What amazingly long crocosmia stems! I haven't come across that variety in the UK - how tall does it grow? The rolled up leaf and abutilon stem complement the crocosmia brilliantly - pretty darn good, as you said yourself!! Thanks for sharing

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    1. Officially 3 ft, but mine don't get that tall. C. 'Lucifer' definitely gets taller.

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  9. A lovely contemporary feel to your Monday vase! Loving the rolled up canna leaf - I couldn't think what it was at first!

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  10. I love abutilon and have a couple of them in the garden. Why did I not know that they did well cut and placed into water? I will have to try this when pruning time comes around! I also love your variety. It's not familiar to me except from your blog. Very unusual.

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    1. In my experience the flowers last and last, the foliage not always. Sometimes it's wilted the next day.

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  11. Wow, this has to be the most creative Monday vase arrangement I've seen today. I love it! Everything about it--the curled up foliage, the seedpods, the Abutilon, the accompanying Tillandsia ... pure perfection!

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  12. A very lovely, clean, contemporary arrangement. And let's not forget the nice little Tillandsia accent. Unfortunately, it reminds me that I still haven't cut off the old stalks on my Crocosmia 'Lucifer'. It will reseed if I don't, and that demon is vigorous enough just spreading vegetatively.

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    1. I'll never forget the first time I saw C. 'Lucifer' going wild on the Oregon Coast, oh my!

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  13. At the Ace Hardware store in St Helens there is a hedge of 'Lucifer'. I just happened by when it was at its peak and it stopped me in my tracks. Your little vignette would stop me in my tracks too. You always manage to put your own stamp on things.

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