I spent last week at my parents place up in Spokane. Since I knew I wouldn't be back again before Mother's Day, in May, I took my mom's gifts with me. Last week on the plant lust blog I spoke of a Salvia from Annie's Annuals – but truth be told when I bought this burgundy circle vase at Goodwill I was already thinking it would be a great gift for my mom. I filled it with a stem from my Poncirus trifoliata and a few of the paper flowers I've previously posted about...
Naturally I couldn't stop there – I asked my mom for permission to raid her garden and cut a few stems to bring in and arrange on the mantle. But there was a catch. Mom has rather severe allergies to fragrance and most flowers send her, so the stems needed to be foliage only. Oh and Spokane is about a month behind Portland. So what would be fully leafed out here, well, it was barely starting there.
Her ornamental rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) had a couple of gorgeous leaves – but they were too perfect to cut, especially when I had no idea how they would perform in a vase.
It was so bright that from inside the house the Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' looked like paint spills.
I cut a few stems.
There are slugs in Spokane, but not nearly as many as in Portland, so her Bergenia still had full gorgeous leaves...and that color! Some of these came inside...
And I'm not sure which Mahonia this is, but it's a beauty. I cut a few of the more colorful stems.
But had to do away with the blooms.
I also cut a few bits from a climbing Hydrangea that's just starting to leaf out.
And gorgeous dark Barberry...
And finally a few stems from this, a Spirea I believe?
Some of my riches...
And the finished vases...
Do the patterned vases look familiar? Mom has a collection of Royal Copley too.
As always our weekly look at vases filled with cuttings from our gardens is hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Your mom has some gorgeous plants in her garden. The rhubarb foliage almost looks fake it is so bright and glossy. I think your gift vase and paper flowers would have been enough as that is quite a dramatic little combo. As for the props in my Monday creation, they were consumed as soon as the photo was taken.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was going to leave it at just the paper flower vase...but there was so much color outside I had to bring some in.
DeleteI love your wonderful flair for color and arranging your mantle...your mom's mantle is lovely too and that vase is perfect along with all the wonderful foliage you chose.
ReplyDeleteThank you Donna!
DeleteWow, that Rheum palmatum is something else!!
ReplyDeleteYour parents' garden looks great, from the few glimpses I got.
It is pretty wonderful...and you didn't even get to see my dad's veggie garden! (not that there's much to see this early)
DeleteWhat a lovely selection of foliage you found to add to your pretty paper roses - such warm colours. But that rheum - she's stunning!! Thanks so much for sharing today
ReplyDeleteThank you, as always, for the inspiration!
DeleteAt the start of this post I was going to say "finally, Loree will be limited to a simple one-vase creation", but I was wrong. :) Just *love* your circle vase with paper flowers gift -- just perfect! (BTW, I had a loop AM radio like that back in the day). Also, that definitely was a spirea, probably 'Goldflame'.
ReplyDeleteOne simple vase certainly has it's place, but this wasn't it! Thanks for the Spirea confirmation/name.
DeleteThat rhubarb is spectacular but I suppose it would fry here...I love the mantle you created for your mom. I wonder: was you fascination with foliage spurred by the need to keep flowers at a distance in your childhood home? You mother's day gift is generous - I'd have been hard-pressed to let go of that funky red vase.
ReplyDeleteYes I think it probably would fry...Spokane does have a hot summer but my parent's irrigate generously. As for your foliage question, it's a good one! I did however go through a pretty serious flower stage early in my gardening career - if it didn't have flowers (and a lot of them) what was the point!?
DeleteI was thinking, even before you mentioned it, that you came by your collecting gene honestly. It would be a burden to have allergies to flowers, but less so with a daughter like you around to rise to the challenge. Happy Early Mother's Day to your mom.
ReplyDeleteAt least she can enjoy them out in the garden.
DeleteThat Rheum is jaw dropping! And yet another stylish and beautiful mantle arrangement.
ReplyDeleteThe color, the veins! Yes...jaw dropping sums it up.
DeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you ma'm!
DeleteI like the combinations--the vases, the leaf forms, and the colors. Nicely done! Your paper flowers, especially in that vase, are terrific!
ReplyDeleteThanks PP!
DeleteWhat great colors! I wonder how that rheum would perform in a vase... Any reason to think it wouldn't hold up?
ReplyDeleteI was concerned that the very early foliage (of the Rheum) would still be so soft and tender that it would just wilt. I think later, once the leaves are older, it would probably do fine.
DeleteLook how dedicated you are arranging and blogging on the road. I'm impressed! My favorite is the one you presented to your mom with the paper roses is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI uploaded these photos while still at my parents place. Blogging on the road has taught me just how pathetic my home internet connection is.
DeleteYour mother is so lucky. If only my mother had a thoughtful child like you. I love the circular vase with the paper flowers, and your mother's leaf vases. That mahonia looks like part of the hybrid complex between Mahonia aquifolium and Mahonia repens. Those two have no self-control.
ReplyDeleteYa, your poor mom. Imagine if she had a son that beautified her surroundings? Planting things as though he would be living there forever and turning her land into a virtual botanic garden...
Delete"...living there forever..."
DeleteShudder-inducing words, Loree.
So artistic! You are always the leader of the pack:^)
ReplyDeleteHa! Thanks Marian.
DeleteBeautiful and fun to see all the color from a very early spring garden. Makes me look at my garden with a different perspective. Have you discovered aNeMone paper flowers in Spokane? They are wonderful and would be perfect for your Mom.
ReplyDeleteYes! In fact we visited Anemone while I was home. Did you know they've moved to Riverpark Square? My photos didn't turn out great, but I'll still be posting them (probably next week).
Delete