While other participants are still prominently featuring flowers in their vases, my vase this week reflects my garden - lots of foliage, and very few flowers.
One of my Artemisia versicolor 'Seafoam' was getting quite leggy and a little ugly. A desire to see those rounded, curlicue tips up-close was the starting point for this week's arrangement. I wasn't sure how they'd hold up as a cut-stem but they're doing quite nicely. I do hope my pruning of the plant doesn't result in new growth that gets zapped by cold temperatures.
More foliage I wanted to see indoors: the glossy new growth on the Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) and the vines of Passiflora jamesonii 'Coral Seas'...
These tiny flowers belong to...
...the big luxurious foliage of Persicaria 'Brushstrokes'.
And the white flowers I've used previously, they're from Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’. The foliage is still red in some places but the really tall stems that are blooming have turned green.
Peeking through in the back is one of three dark Canna leaves, they're left-overs from last week's creation (not shared here on the blog, but enjoyed just the same).
There are still a handful of flower buds on the Passifora plant, I'll be temped to cut the flowering stems should they near opening before the weather cools. That will add a little flower-power to a future vase...
As always the hostess rounding up links for In a Vase on Monday is Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Oh and for those of you wondering about the entries for the Ornamental Cabbage and Kale Challenge, one of our judges is out of town so the winner will not be announced for a couple of weeks. I will do a post sharing all the fabulous entries next Tuesday, November 10th (yay!) a big THANK YOU to everyone who sent in a photo!
All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
So creative. Love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gerhard!
DeleteOh that artemisia is delightful and it is no wonder you wanted to use it. Good to see your persicaria too - you will no doubt have read about my Red Dragon, a big favourite, but I also have 'Painter's Palette' which looks as if it is the same as your 'Brushstrokes'. Lovely foliage too. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI've been toying with planting 'Painter's Palette' - but the versions I see here are quite wildly variegated and I'm not sure how well they'd fit into to my small garden.
DeleteI really admire how you use these unusual cuttings and make a creative work of art...this is stunning.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Donna, you're very kind/
Deleteo my god that vase. The plants are nice too.
ReplyDeleteHehe, I was thinking of you the other day as I looked into buying museum putty to try and keep my vase collection from crashing to the ground in an earthquake. Do you use it?
DeleteI probably should--I would think I need it more than you do !
DeleteMy kind of arrangement: Not too bright and flowery. Excellent vase. I like the sturdy foot but the open handles make it feel airy at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThat vase is a fav, a thrift store find back in the old days...
DeleteLovely texture and color!
ReplyDeleteThanks Eliza!
DeleteDo any cat owners get to participate in this vase meme? Almost anything I've ever put into a vase gets attacked by the cats -- I'd love to see castor bean foliage indoors (so beautiful in your composition!) but not risking it!
ReplyDeleteYes - those cat owners who have glass fronted bookcases where they can put their arrangements safely out of harms way! Ugh...I don't know how you guys do it. I couldn't deal!!!
DeleteI like the Persicaria leaves. Are those Artemisia globes flowers or foliage, or something else?
ReplyDeleteFoliage...the flowers are fairly unattractive yellow dots that appear on tall spires. I let a few of mine develop to see what they looked like exactly but won't be doing that again.
DeleteThat vase again...it's too too beautiful. The arrangement ain't half bad either.
ReplyDeleteMy bad, I should have changed things up a bit!
DeleteNo, no...some things bear repeating.
DeleteYes, I understand why you picked each element. Very artfully arranged. This arrangement belongs in a museum or a very nice restaurant or hotel lobby. Wow!
ReplyDeleteThanks PP - not sure I agree but I do appreciate the sentiment. I find myself wanting to great big voluptuous vase displays but then remind myself that our house is small and I don't have that kind of space!
DeleteIt's very pretty, Loree. I think you've just convinced me that I "need" Artemisia 'Seafoam' - it's as pretty as any flower.
ReplyDeleteYay...yes you do need it! These "branches" came from a 1-gallon plant I bought earlier in the spring...later small 4" plants turned up at our local Xera, I bought 3 more!
DeleteElegant, chic, and featuring fabulous foliage. It's very "you". I have to admit, though, when I read the title of your post, my mind went here first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93B072j-E3I
ReplyDeleteI know, you don't have to say it. I'm weird.
Ha! That was fun.
DeleteI'm always in awe of your style, taste, aesthetic, and talent! This arrangement showcases them all beautifully. Subtle and effective, this would work in both formal and casual settings. Gorgeous! Liked that artemisia when you originally featured it in someone else's garden but now am in love and will add it to my list of plants to look for at the nurseries this spring!
ReplyDeleteXera had a nice crop of it last year...hopefully they'll have more in 2016! (and thank you)
DeleteThat artemesia is very cool, and you have made a lovely vase around it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cath! In the end I wondered if it would have been better to keep it simple, so as not to overpower the artemesia...oh well...
DeleteBeautiful! I like it with foliage a lot. You've got so much good material in your garden!
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky, I do! I guess that's an advantage to over-planting.
DeleteI really love this! I am a great fan of Persicaria and like the two you have used very much. Red Dragon is already on my list for next spring, but the foliage of your Brushstrokes is also stunning. The curling tendrils of the Passiflora are a lovely flourish as a finishing touch!
ReplyDelete