Monday, February 20, 2017

Fallen Schefflera leaves, almost in a Vase on Monday

I'm feeling a little disconnected from my garden. I thought about making a new vase, for Monday, but then couldn't think of a single thing I was excited to work with. Going out and searching for something to cut just sounded like an exercise in frustration and sadness. As I mentioned last week there are many things that lost their battle with our extreme winter and are just now starting to show the signs.

Resigned that I wouldn't be participating this week, I went out to take care of something unrelated and noticed a broken Schefflrea leaf, and another, and another...so of course I picked them up.

Walking back into the house I was thinking about this Fatshedera leaf that's been in a vase since last summer.

I finally pulled it out one day and was surprised to find roots. Roots growing out of the leaf axil (yikes, I hope I'm using the right term...you know, that "collar" where the leaf attaches to the stem?). I wonder if I might get one of the Schefflera leaves to do the same?

My leaf bounty...

I think most of these fell because of the ice, or a combination of the wind and ice. The plants themselves look fine. This one is Schefflera taiwaniana...

Schefflera brevipedunculata

And another S. brevipedunculata, these are always a combination of larger upper leaves with a secondary row at the bottom, the numbers in each position are highly variable.

Schefflera delavayi

I admired them all laid out on the floor and knew putting them in a vase would cause them to become a jumble of green. Impossible to appreciate their unique, yet similar, shapes. Ah...what if the vase joined them on the floor?

I went looking and couldn't believe I still had this metal "vase"...

It hails from my retail days, a purchase from a shop I worked at years ago. Once loved, it became relegated to a storage shelf in the basement. Andrew thought it hideous, and yet I wasn't ready to give it up. Oh the compromises we make when cohabitation occurs!

I did eventually put these all in another vase, with water. The possibility of roots (and a new baby Schefflera?) was just to intriguing to pass up.


In a Vase on Monday is hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Click on over to enjoy the creations of other bloggers more inspired than I...

Weather Diary, February 19: Hi 51, Low 40/ Precip .28

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

24 comments:

  1. The floor vase is a perfect solution and really looks nice. Hope you get roots on your fallen leaves. The man with a wheelbarrow full of that huge tillandsia in picture two tickled my funny bone. In time, your garden will work it's magic and you'll feel more connected again. Sorry for the mojo drought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That little man with the wheelbarrow was part of an anniversary diorama a few years ago, I don't think Andrew expected him to stick around as long as he has.

      Delete
  2. Very ingenious, I liked the patterns made on the floor and what a fun vase, whatever your partner thinks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh I do like this vase, Loree, and your collection of leaves works so well in it - they are so stylish in their own right. Thanks for sharing and I hope you find have an explosion of spring in your own garden soon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Cathy, it's gotta show up someday...

      Delete
  4. Another clever "arrangement," Loree! I hope it perked up your spirits a bit - and I hope those Schefflera leaves pull a Fatshedera on you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "pull a Fatshedera on you"...oh that's good! I'll be reusing that one for sure.

      Delete
  5. I am reminded of those TV ads made with people on the floor, pretending to be doing stand-up things. Your version is more successful. Go plants! Make roots!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! I hadn't thought of that, but yes...

      Delete
  6. You have an impressive collection of scheffleras, Loree. And I loved your clever floor arrangement!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Eliza, I wish I had more. Visiting friends in England has for ever tainted me, they have so many available!

      Delete
  7. It seems like the perfect vase for that grouping of foliage. I enjoy your descriptions of your thought process as you compile the plants for your arrangements. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks PP, I guess I just have to be wordy!

      Delete
  8. It's a brilliant use of both the leaves and the forgotten vase. I think the ability to turn lemons into lemonade will be a tremendous skill to have in the coming years. See you at the fling :).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! See you there. And yes, dammit. I'm afraid you're right.

      Delete
  9. I bet arranging the leaves in a fan in some florists foam would look great in that vase.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet you're right! To bad my husband would moan about how ugly the vase is.

      Delete
  10. Good luck with the Schefflera leaves, I hope some of them root for you. It's unbearable for me, not knowing if you put that Fatshedera leaf in soil. You know I am compelled to pot up stuff like that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will, eventually. Or maybe I'll stick it directly in the soil...

      Delete
  11. A rooted vase, pretty cool, happened to me as well and such a nice surprise to actually be able to propagate instead of throwing it on the compost heap.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed, new plants (free plants) are always a good thing!

      Delete
  12. What a clever vase. I thought at first it was actually flat and just a motif. Certainly worth a try to see if the foliage will root. I've got three vases on my windowsill with things I've been trying to root over the winter. Just hoping I can keep the bugs away a little bit longer as it seems to be working, though the leaves are looking a bit peaked. Discovered more rabbit damage on shrubs that have never been touched so I know how distressing it is to go outside at the moment.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!