Monday, March 21, 2016

In a Vase on Monday: a little garden medicine

Sometimes you just have to get out of bed and into the garden. Yes. Even when you're sick. I know, I'm sorry...I'm still carrying on about being ill, but it's been a major set-back and I'm not over it...ugh.

So after 20 days and 20 nights of rain (seriously) we had sun. Finally. I couldn't tackle anything on my long garden to-do list but how taxing would it be to wander around the garden and take some cuttings and put them in a vase? Heck that couldn't be bad at all, in fact a little sun and fresh air combined with touring the garden – well that's bound to make me feel better – right? I chose this rectangular vintage Haeger piece...

And cut some branches from the Grevillea australis.

Which is really prettier than it looks in that photo above.

A few fresh new leaves from the Macleya cordata.

And a couple from Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon'.

And a handful of Ceanothus 'Dark Star' twigs. I do love the flower buds maybe even more than the flowers.

The finished mash-up...

Having this on the dining table helps me to feel a little better connected to what's going on out in the garden.

I wonder if the Ceanothus flowers will open?

As always visit Rambling in the Garden for more Monday vases...

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

31 comments:

  1. Man, even when you're sick, your casual "In a Vase on Monday" arrangement is lovely. It's so unfair that so much talent occupies one body. Even the germs didn't displace any of it.

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    1. You crack me up Alison, "even the germs didn't displace any of it." When are you going to give this vase thing a try?

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  2. O! that is one of the most beautiful vases I've ever seen. The buds of the ceanothus, the leaves of the persicaria and the red ribs and tems of the Macleya are simply stunning together. O! O! O!!s

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  3. My favorite part is that the 'Red Dragon' leaves look like birds...

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  4. It is a very nice combination of colors and foliage!! I'm happy to hear you are getting better! 20 days and nights raining....wow!

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  5. What a gorgeous arrangement....it has been cold and wet and now just cold here. I agree.... I get out in the garden when I am sick even if for a few minutes...wonderful medicine!

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    1. The trick is to stop before you start to notice all the things that need to be done, right? (or maybe that's just me).

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  6. I may not be sick with the crud, but I am genuinely sick with plant envy! There is sooo much going on in your garden already! Mild temps and rain probably helps, huh? Feel better!

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    1. Indeed, spring in the PNW is a wonderful thing. Although I am going to be up in Spokane next week and I just checked the temps, burr! That will be a bit of a shock!

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  7. Red Dragon is my favourite foliage plants so it is nice to see yours in March as it will be a month or two before mine has fresh new growth to admire - it works brilliantly in your low and wide vase and as always your impeccable eye has chosen exactly the right bed-fellows for it. I am glad you are able to enjoy it yourself even when you are not able to enjoy your own garden

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    1. Sadly red dragon wilted after a day. I guess the new foliage just isn't as tough as the older foliage will eventually be. Oh well, it was great while it lasted!

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  8. This is one of my favorite of your Monday arrangements. It's elegant, a little complex, and very attractive. If you crushed the ends of the Ceanothus twigs so they could take up more water, I bet the blooms will begin to open in the warmth of your house.

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    1. Thanks Jane, and yes...there was crushing. I always do that with woody branches to help them drink more efficiently.

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  9. This arrangement has a cool casual feel about it and exemplifies the exuberance of spring. Hope You're feeling lots better very soon!

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    1. "cool casual"...I'll take it, thanks Outlaw!

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  10. You're very good at this - even when under the weather, which seems a particularly good expression for illness in this case when you've had continuous downpours of the sort I can only imagine. I've looked at that Ceanothus several times at my local garden center but I've yet to figure out where I could put it - those flower buds might put it back closer to the top of my wish list, though. Feel better!

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    1. Lila wanted to walk through the park yesterday. No. Too soggy! I wonder how the little ones will do with the egg hunt there this weekend. I see lots of mud in their future.

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  11. I've been wondering if Ceonothus would respond to forcing, and of course Jane has the answer. In your arrangement the buds are perfect, so who cares. Do you do some kind of conditioning to get the Macleaya leaves to last in a vase? I love them so, but they seem to wilt almost immediately. Enough with the technicalities...now I will scroll back through to re-enjoy the perfection of your vase.

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    1. And even after crushing (which I always do) the buds remain tight - although as you note they're perfect as is! I think I just got lucky with the Macleaya leaves, as I did no conditioning.

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    2. sometimes I think it has to do with (accidentally) picking things at just the right time of day.

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  12. Hope you feel better soon. Nice arrangment, love the container.

    20 days of rain?!?

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    1. I know right...and it's not like that came after a dry spell either!

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  13. That's a lot of rain. I hope the sunshine made you feel a bit better, you poor thing! :(

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  14. I always marvel at your artistic ways! I hope the outing helps put you in a good mood and assist in kicking your bug :)

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    1. Thanks Jenni, it did. I am feeling better.

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  15. Sorry to hear you're sick, but glad you got a chance to go outside and play a little. It is a lovely arrangement, but then again, I wouldn't expect any less from you! The Macleya leaves are wonderful, and I love the green and purple tones that mingle throughout. I miss my Dark Star so much - especially when I see those buds. It came with the house, and was planted too close to it. During an ice storm, it fell flat on its face, and I never managed to straighten it up again. And, now I don't have room to replace it, so I have to enjoy it vicariously through others. Hope you feel better soon!

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    1. Flat on its face huh? That's too bad! And thank you, I am!

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