Okay, not really. I've been cycling through single Tetrapanax leaves for awhile now. Each one lasts almost a week before it starts to look shabby. I've tried putting a few other things in the vase with the leaf but found it's best on its own.
Besides the other plants and doodads around the fireplace make it feel like a finished piece.
So far I still love the Croton that jumped in my cart at IKEA. This is another one of those plants I've not particularly cared for in the past but I'm warming to its charms.
The green Tetrapanax leaves of summertime do not take to the vase treatment well, something about the yellowing up, impending fall, of the leaves prepares them for this treatment. I felt this one was particularly nice in the way it coordinates with the chartreuse of the fireplace itself.
The brown button in front is from a Eucalyptus, I picked it up at the Huntington Gardens last December, a visit that I still haven't posted photos from! (coming up, soon)
I picked up this huge Tillandsia Seleriana at Digs on Alberta, isn't it amazing?
Haworthia from Portland Nursery (reminder their houseplant sale is coming up again this January!)
The leaf skeleton on the right is from my Acanthus sennii, I found it doing spring clean-up last April. If you're curious it's just as prickly as the green (live) version.
The Tetrapanax leaf-veins have turned even more pink since I took these photos.
So that's my vase (and it's surroundings) on this Monday - visit Rambling in the Garden for links to the others participating in the Monday Vase theme this week. Also today it's Foliage Follow-up over on Pam's blog Digging. I'm linking to that post too, because obviously foliage can rock a vase just as well as a flower can...
All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
It's so cool how that leaf matches the fireplace so well. Skeletonized leaves are the best too.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping I can find some more skeletonized Acanthus leaves in the spring!
DeleteThe tetrapanax leaf makes as much of a statement on your mantle as the tree does outside in your garden. Stunning.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gerhard, they're so much bigger inside!
DeleteIt's fascinating to see the range if plants you have - in my early days gardening it was almost all indoor plants, but once I got hooked on gardening outside any house plants got neglected so I have none now and would neglect them if I had!
ReplyDeleteI can't help myself! Although this time of year, when so many come in from outdoors, it can get a little bit crazy.
DeleteYour Tetrapanax leaf provides another reason for me to try the plant in my garden. It's a beautiful complement to the fireplace surround. I love your whole mantle tableau - it's interesting, attractive and very you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris, and I hope you do!
DeleteThe color at the leaf tips looks like an exact match to your fireplace green. Fantastic as always, Loree. Thanks for linking in to Foliage Follow-Up.
ReplyDeleteThank you for continuing to sing the praises of foliage!
DeleteLeah your fireplace is gorgeous with the wood and tropical green color....and I love the plants surrounding it. That leaf is massive and is perfect to adorn the mantel.
ReplyDeleteI was afraid when I told my husband that's the color I wanted to paint the fireplace (it was all white when we moved in) he'd veto it...thankfully he agreed it was the right color for us!
DeleteI think "rock a vase" perfectly describes what you've done. The hardest part of making a bouquet is editing so it's interesting to hear you tried to add other things. It is stunning on its own. And this is further proof that your garden and house are all of a piece: leaf, fireplace, rug!
ReplyDeleteHehe, glad you caught that! And yes, I am rather focused in my color choices.
DeleteLove everything about this post! It's always a treat to see what you've done with your mantle and around your fireplace and your Tillandsia Seleriana is, as Louis would say, epic!
ReplyDeleteEpic is the perfect word!
DeleteWhat a magnificent leaf, Loree, somehow with your framed artwork, it makes me think of a museum exhibit. The wide view of all the varied plant forms and foliage also makes me think of a museum exhibit, what a great collection. The gourds are a nice fall touch, too.
ReplyDelete"Museum exhibit" - that's a nice description Hannah, thank you!
DeleteEvery picture is like a revelation...I never thought of incorporating unique looking plants in my day to day decor. They really do serve as living art. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome, thanks for sharing that you were inspired.
DeleteWhat a fabulous fireplace vignette! The Tetrapanax leaf is such a striking color...It is as if you painted the fireplace surround to match it! The leaves that are dried with just the veins left are beautiful. Do you keep things in a box to bring out for different seasons. Autumn is really working at Danger Garden!
ReplyDeleteNo boxes, I just cycle through things - moving them around. It kind of drives my husband crazy...
DeleteWow. Is there anything you're *not* good at? Seriously, that one leaf is architecturally stunning. The cast of surrounding players work so well with it. I'm sure I'd be crapping up the composition with all sorts of stuff. Hooray for restraint. Love the big Tillandsia. I need to add one to my little collection.
ReplyDeleteHmm, not good at, let's see...just a couple of little things, like math and geography...remembering movie plots, finishing books...
DeleteThanks Tim!
I know your tongue was firmly planted in your cheek, but as I always tell R when he makes a quickie painting: "it took you all the years of your life to make that painting".
ReplyDeleteAndrew and I were talking about that very thing the other day. It's so true! (although maybe not in my case... I felt a little like an impostor posting a vase to the meme that just had a single leaf stuck in it)
DeleteCrotons were wildly stylish in the 70's. Of course I heard this from an elderly relative.
ReplyDeleteHehehe...I remember my mom had a few, a long with a lovely living room rug of varied pile (sort of sculpted) that had all those same colors in it. Ugh.
DeleteLovely! Why use more when a single leaf is perfect. Plus as you say there is a whole arrangement going on around your fireplace, all perfect together.
ReplyDeleteThank you, and I love what you've done with the mums!
DeleteI´m in love with the second picture!! it is gorgeous! beautiful! I like soooo much the Tetrapanax leaf but also all the tillandsias, and the leaf skeletons are masterpieces...so pretty!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa...you should join up with the vase meme sometime!
DeleteI can't get over how sensational the fireplace and mantel look. The leaf, the plants, the art, those colors... everything is just right. You have a matchless eye for design, and I'm so happy you have shared these photos -- a real inspiration as always.
ReplyDeleteAw-shucks, thanks Luisa, you are very kind!
DeleteI love that leaf! It looks stunning on your green fireplace. You've got some really interesting houseplants too.
ReplyDeleteI love it all, but I especially like the skeletonized leaves. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt's like walking through a garden :) love the colours
ReplyDelete