Monday, November 28, 2016

In a Vase on Monday — once more with autumn before I jump off the deep-end into Holiday glam...

In the interest of full disclosure I put together this arrangement before Thanksgiving. We spent the holiday with my family in Spokane, Washington, and I didn't want to come home to the remains of what had been on the mantle.

Which was still looking darn good after more than two weeks...

Who knew mums have such a long shelf life? Not bad for a cheap grocery store bouquet.

It was time though,  and any thought I gave to reusing the mums faded when I saw their stems had turned to a sort of semi-solid goo (I've spared you a photo of that). Besides, I'd been eyeing these fabulous post-bloom structures on the Leonotis leonurus...

The plant is still pushing out all sorts of new growth, I'm assuming it will be cut back by our first frost? (this is my first year growing it)

My haul...

The Grevillea juniperina ‘Molonglo’ is getting a bit out of hand, in a good way.

I've been trying to put off trimming it back until those fat little buds open.

But what the heck. They're only just getting started and s.l.o.w....

That green plant between the two Yuccas (the yellow and the purple) is Salvia clevelandii 'Alpine Form' and there were a a couple of fabulous little seed heads there I'd been waiting to harvest.

The time seemed right.

Oh and these! Grevillea victoriae 'Murray Queen', had to find a couple of small branches I could trim.

The velvety buds are as cool as the open flowers.

The finished product...ya. I neglected to talk about the inclusion of the grass seedheads because I can't remember its name. I didn't plant it, it just showed up. My grassy friend Scott identified it for me awhile back but then I forgot what he'd told me. (*update: Scott says Calamagrostis brachythricha*)

Isn't the Leonotis leonurus fabulous? Oh...and I snuck in a few leaves from the Quercus dentata 'Pinnatifida’ (Cutleaf Emperor Oak) too.

I meant to make a wreath with the oak leaves but never got around to it.

The hummingbirds are going nutty for these flowers, I'm so glad there is something out in the garden for them right now.

The dried Tetrapanax leaf was salvaged from the previous bouquet, it was too fabulous to just toss.

This will be the last autumn vase arrangement, now that Thanksgiving is behind us I'm ready to jump into my holiday decor ASAP! (cue the Christmas music and open the eggnog...)

And visit Rambling in the Garden for links to all the bloggers putting together a Monday vase!

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

30 comments:

  1. I think that grass is Calamagrostis brachythricha :-) Hope you had a nice Turkey Day with the fam!

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    1. Thank you! I hope you didn't mind being called "grassy"...

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  2. There's all kinds of fabulous going on in there! The oak leaves are my favorites though I think.

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    1. I love those leaves, each one is different.

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  3. The Leonitus is indeed fabulous (very similar to my Phlomus in seed) and yes, it will bite the dust, er, frost, if and when it ever comes. Why have I no Murray Valley Queen? Now I know that must be corrected.

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    1. According to Paul (Xera) MVQ is a little less hardy than the straight G. victoriae, so there is that to consider.

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  4. The arrangement is just perfect for the season, Loree - restrained but elegant and inventive. When I cut my acid yellow Duranta for my own vase yesterday, I tried to channel your aesthetic - even looking at but passing up my own dried Leonotis stems - but I couldn't pull it off. After seeing that Grevillea victoriae, I think I need to hunt it down.

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    1. I love that Grevillea but with all the less hardy ones you can grow I seriously don't know that I would allow it in your garden...

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  5. A faboo farewell to autumn. As always, I look forward to seeing what amazing things you do for Christmas!

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  6. What a great Nov. arrangement and an interesting mix of substantial and airy items. Cold, gray and rainy here which means, as you say, time to go glam.

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    1. Any sticking snow yet for you? I guess not if it's grey and rainy. There's a little in our forecast for next week, although we haven't even had a light frost yet.

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  7. Yes, the spent leonitus stems are gorgeous Loree - as are those oak leaves, oh yes, AND the grevillea! As always, I have enjoyed reading the process of how your vase came together too. Thanks for sharing ps coming home to a a very dead vase is certainly not a happy thing :(

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    1. Not happy at all! This one was, luckily, still looking good.

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  8. What a wonderful mix of textures - and the vase is so elegant.

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  9. Visually, this might be my most fave arrangement ever! The leonitus stems are perfect... period.

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    1. Wow, and I thought it was only "okay"...

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  10. Love the dried tetrapanax leaf! And the rest of the arrangement, too!

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    1. I might have to keep that leaf, although it is very fragile.

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  11. Great last autumn bouquet. I love how you combine old dead stuff with green stuff. Can't wait to see your holiday glam arrangements.

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    1. I love how you phrased that "old dead stuff with green stuff"...

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  12. I will say this is a personal favorite. I look forward to your Christmas creations !

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  13. Great work and very inspiring. And that vase is super cool.

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  14. Fabulous assortment in your vase and on your mantle. Two things about the Leonotis leonurus 1, it will take a few degrees of frost if in free draining soil and 2) if you the the flowering stems in a tiny amount of water that slowly evaporates the orange colour of the flowers is retained.

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    1. This is very good to know! There was one last bloom swirl trying to open last I looked, perhaps I'll try to dry it.

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  15. Grevillea rivularis cut foliage holds up quite well indoors. Maybe next time!

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    1. Oh but I don't know if I want to start cutting that one yet. It's looking so good as is...

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