Monday, October 3, 2016

In a Vase on Monday, it's a process...

Sometimes I set out to put together a IAVOM arrangement and it all just comes together exactly the way I envision it. Other times, well...it's a process.

As much as I hate to admit it (to myself, not you) the migration of my dry-loving succulents — from their summer vacation on the patio — to the basement, has begun. I try to overwinter as many things as possible — who wants to see a plant die? However this planter full of succulents was not one I chose to over winter as is (bought on the cheap they weren't all that "valuable" to me). So instead of just letting them turn to mush at the first frost I thought I'd use them in an arrangement.

Ditto for this bowl full of Sedum nussbaumerianum.

It had seen better days. Chop chop chop...

So lovely this way. And who knows...I'll probably end up trying to root these cuttings and let them live on. That's just who I am.

The intended "star" of this week's arrangement was to be Aloe striatula.

You see I'd had a container of this "the hardy Aloe" for years and the stems had gotten so long that the whole thing flopped over in a most inconvenient and unattractive way.

Sometime in August I'd cut back the worst offenders (and been rooting them for later planting). I'd planned to eventually cut them all back and dump the old plant, thus freeing up a container for a new use next spring. Except this is what greeted me when I sat down to cut the others off.

Damn. Those stems that had their growing tips cut away were sprouting new growth.

Okay...well I still proceeded with the cutting (bound for a vase) but now knew that container wouldn't be empty but rather a fabulous mass of Aloe branches come spring (not such a bad thing really).

And the cuttings filled two vases.

So the Aloe was intended to be the star "filler" of this show, but I'd scored a pair of tiny yellow urns (Goodwill) that I was pretty excited about including as small arrangement holders.

And I set to cutting bits of the Abutilon megapotamicum 'Red' with which to fill them (along with a few pendulous Chasmanthium latifolium seed heads). That's when I discovered this craziness! Seed pods on my Abutilon. I've never seen such a thing.

I don't think they're quite "ready" but I couldn't help but break into one that I'd cut by accident.

The finished mantle, Version 1. I was not thrilled.

This just didn't fit.

So the contents were put into a different vase and went to live in the kitchen. I do enjoy kitchen arrangements.

Version 2...getting better.

But the Aloe centerpiece needed something to pick up the yellow. A few leaves from a Phormium would have to do. I placed a wooden oak leaf (a placemat via Crate & Barrel) behind it to ground the entire vase against the white wall. Better...

The velvet pumpkins are making an appearance.

And the second yellow urn has been filled with a Tillandsia.

I never did talk about that other urn did I? It was a success from the beginning. A NOID Aloe (pulled from the garden) joined by a few blue chalk Senecio cuttings and a little Grevillea 'Ivanhoe' foliage...

And that's how a crazy mind such as mine finally arrived at this week's arrangement(s)...as always this madness (only here, other bloggers take a much more straightforward approach) is inspired by Cathy who hosts at Rambling in the Garden.

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

21 comments:

  1. I especially like that long low bowl filled with the succulents. I have a couple of similar white containers that I use for food but never thought about using as vases. Thanks for the lightbulb moment. I also love kitchen arrangements. So nice to have a window above my sink with a sill big enough for vases. The bathroom and the kitchen are really the spots where I notice my vases the most.

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    1. I too try to always have something on the shelf in the bathroom, sometimes just foliage based but occasionally a flower gets in there too.

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  2. Oh yes, like Ms Wiz, it is the wide dish that especially jumps out at me but I have thoroughly enjoyed your though process as you worked through your various snippings to arrive with your final displays. Great fun - thanks so much for sharing Loree :)

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    1. That "canoe" planter/vase is extremely useful - it was also the base of my ikebana-ish vase for that challenge.

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  3. I still think there's a book in your mantle creations...

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  4. Love seeing the process! Love the result too of course. :)

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  5. Kris is right, a big coffee table book - Danger's Mantle Madness. You always do a superb job with your arrangements and I admire your use of succulents in cut arrangements.

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    1. A true succulent nut would have included other colors and forms, but I'm enjoying the green on green. I had intended to pop a few collected yellow leaves in there but haven't yet gotten to it.

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  6. So much fun following your eye. Yes, that abutilon had to go. And what a score on the Goodwillie urns!

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    1. Glad you agree about the Abutilon and indeed, only $3ea!

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  7. Those urns look like McCoy's Floraline. McMoy made them in the 60s to sell directly to florists. I have a few. Very pretty!

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    1. Thanks for the info Robin, there are no markings on the bottom but I agree the lines are very McCoy-like.

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  8. Texture is almost everything, in the vase or the garden. Beautiful! I do not think i have the class to add just a touch of color. I need to find some great vases at goodwill.

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    1. Do you guys have many thrift shops in Ashland? It seems like there should be at least one good one.

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  9. I always like how your 'vase' is an arrangement of different vases and pots placed so cleverly together. I've never seen seed pod on my Abutilon either, how exciting!

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    1. Glad I'm not the only one for which that phenomenon was new. I'm hoping they dry nicely and can be used in a future arrangement.

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  10. Love it! These wonderful, spiky things are just glorious and you have made a fabulous arrangement.

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  11. So you're an interior designer, too! Agh! So beautiful! Just fabulous.

    edensgate3@gmail.com

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