Monday, January 30, 2017

In a Vase on Monday: the bathroom smells amazing!

After a few weeks with no new "In a Vase on Monday" submission (as hosted by Cathy, at Rambling in the Garden)  I was feeling the pressure to do something, anything! I love having fresh garden arrangements in the house and really needed something to brighten my spirits.

But then there's the whole "garden is trashed from winter" thing. What to do? Oh ya, my Hamamelis x intermedia 'Early Bright' Hamamelis x intermedia 'Rochester' (just heard from the nursery I bought it from, they'd got it in mislabeled and emailed me with the right name), was looking good, back before the snow and ice snapped it's trunk, or so I thought. Turns out once I was able to really investigate it wasn't that bad. There's a small fracture but it's completely salvageable, I'm sure of it. While working to brace the trunk (in case we get another winter storm) I decided to cut a couple of small branches, to enjoy indoors.

And what better to go with them than a bit of Grevillea australis, my most used shrub — for "in a vase" foliage. That's it there, under the dead Acacia dealbata. It's also damaged and I'm trying to decide what to do with it.

Walking back towards the house I spotted the third "vase" element. Foliage from the Metapanax delavayi has been falling to the ground.

The plant is okay, but some individual leaves are unhappy. I can't blame them.

Here's the final vase-full...

The Hamamelis brings color and fragrance, the Grevillea acts as a suitable "filler" (although I do hate that term) and the Metapanax is the backdrop — it's all on the shelf in our bathroom.

As I said in the title "the bathroom smells amazing!"...

Of course this little guy is my favorite bit of the vignette. A small cachepot and a mini opuntia, both from the Portland Nursery houseplant sale ($2.99 each and then minus 30% off...they practically paid me to bring this home!)...

A "snakey" Tillandsia and "B" bingo ball ("B" for our last name) were already in my possession. I really like how it all came together, with minimal effort.

Now just because I believe in keeping it real...lest you think it's all fresh flowers, clean dishes and vacuumed carpets around these parts. Here's how the mantle is currently looking. Ya, nothing has changed since you last saw this on January 2nd, four weeks ago!

On the far left things are still (amazingly) fresh. That Antherium dates back to our wedding anniversary on December 18th!

Not so with the Protea and Leucadendron. They're dead. Dry. Crispy.

Ha! And this too, the Ginger. This is what happens when you're busy and distracted. Oh well. At least they don't stink!

Weather Diary, January 29: Hi 46, Low 33/ Precip trace

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

22 comments:

  1. That's one good-looking witch hazel! It probably sounds greedy but I do wish we could grow witch hazels here. I'm impressed by your bathroom arrangement and was surprised by the Opuntia. Most people wouldn't have the courage to bathe next to plants with glochids but then, as the architect of danger garden, I suppose it's to be expected.

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    1. After seeing your luscious Leucadendron again yesterday, yes! You're greedy!! But then again so am I.

      Fear not about the Opuntia...it's a very safe distance from anywhere a human body could possibly come in contact with it.

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  2. Great buy on that cute little opuntia! Your bathroom shelf has never looked or smelled better. Thank you for showing your mantle, most of my vases stick around for weeks dropping stuff around. I like dried proteas and have kept some for years. Maybe one of these days I'll use them in a wreath like you did.

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    1. Do it! (the wreath) I kept mine and stored it away. I plan to pull it out and fluff it up with a few of these, hopefully...

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  3. I've never cut any Witch hazels stems but they do look great indoors. Love the little footed container the Opuntia is in. I have a "B" and a "G" bingo ball in a glass box filled with dried seeds and pods. One for my name and one for my husband.

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    1. A friend sent me that ball, which of course makes it very special!

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  4. Hooray! So glad your witch hazel isn't kaput!

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  5. A beautiful arrangement for your bathroom, Loree. I can imagine its fragrance is wonderful. Even with passe fleurs, your mantel still looks great!

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    1. Thanks Eliza...I figure the mantle must not look too horrid. My husband hasn't hinted about my changing it up yet!

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  6. What a great way to use the "trimmings" that you found to create some excellent arrangements. Very nice.

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  7. I can just imagine the lovely scent! Cute opuntia as well!

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  8. The Witch Hazel is particularly floriferous, very good of the nursery to let you know the name; most wouldn't have bothered. I love the shape and colour of the vase too, what is it made from?

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    1. The nursery (Gossler Farms) is top notch. The vase is metal, the bottom half painted black.

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  9. We had a Hamamelis at the nursery that was labeled 'Jalena' but turned out to be something else. After a few months in the inner sanctum, I am less judgmental about mislabeling. If it can happen at Gossler & JC, it can happen anywhere. My 'Early Bright' is a long way from blooming but 'Diane' is getting close. Your mantle is beautiful, even in death.

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    1. Too bad the plants can't speak up and tell us what they are, right?

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  10. See, more book material--for your series on plant design: inside & out...

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    1. Hehe, thanks Patricia. And I love that it's been upgraded to a series now!

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  11. We've had numerous Grevillea tip over from snow and found that pulling them up tends to cause irreparable damage. We lost one G. australis and a G. Murray Valley Queen that way. We haven't sorted out how to deal with this year but most stayed upright, thankfully.

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    1. Well damn! I remember your story about the G. australis but I didn't realize the same applied to G. Murray VQ...I guess I'd better be very careful.

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