Monday, November 13, 2017

In a Vase on Monday, but not

Today — in honor of the "In a Vase on Monday" meme's 4th anniversary — Cathy (Rambling in the Garden) has challenged us to think outside the vase and be inventive with our arrangements: "You are challenged to create your anniversary contribution in something other than a vase — without giving any suggestions, just have a look round your homes and gardens and be as inventive as you can." Oh I do love a challenge! I considered various non-vase containers but the itch to finally make a leaf-wreath with the foliage from my Quercus dentata 'Pinnatifida’ won out.

This foliage is fantastic.

And it's moment's like this I'm extra thankful that our front door is green. It plays so nice with the brown.

However just the wreath alone wasn't doing it for me. I needed to add something else from the garden for this to be a true arrangement. I decided to play off the cactus curtain (Lila's non-barking device)...

...and added Aloes and Agaves, as well as other garden bits...

The Agave colorata pup is backed by a few stems of Amsonia hubrichtii.

Below it are blooms from a NOID Echeveria, foliage from Grevillea australis and "berries" from Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' (aka black mondo grass).

To it's right are Aloe deltoideodonta var fallax and Aloe maculata (both were in the ground — same as the Agave pup — prior to being lifted for this arrangement, it was going to happen eventually anyway, because = winter), along with Ginkgo leaves and seed heads from Clematis tibetana var. vernayi.

It's an odd mash-up but I like it.

I like it a lot.

Since it's on the front door I was careful to use things that will be okay with our temperatures for the next couple of weeks. There is a glass door protecting it from the elements, but it still gets cold out there. Unfortunately there won't be a lot of sun for it to deal with...

Happy Anniversary Cathy, I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with for this week's vase!

Weather Diary, Nov 12: Hi 54, Low 48/ Precip .12"

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

32 comments:

  1. Perfect! We have a burr oak and the leaves don't color much but I do like them. Every year I think I will try an oak wreath but it hasn't happened yet. I suppose part of the reason is that we have a big plate and a stone stele right next to the door and it would probably be too much. But yours looks so beautiful. You are certainly right about the contrast with the green door; more effective than my red door would be.

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    1. Oh I think a red door would be a lovely contrast. You should definitely make that wreath.

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  2. Those oak leafs are beautiful. It is a shame to rake them all into the compost bin. How do they hold together?

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    1. How does the wreath hold together? Fine, although the curling as they dry does change the look. I suppose I should have left it laying flat for a day or so — to let them dry more evenly.

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  3. I LOVE this, Loree - a gorgeous creation, perfectly set off by the green door. The oak leaves remind me a bit of staghorn ferns. The gold amsonia and variegated gingko (I didn't know there was one) are nice accents.
    I may borrow the leaf wreath idea if I may... were the leaves wired or glue gunned?

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    1. Ha! Yes, I see the staghorn fern comparison, and while I love these leaves I've never much cared for those plants.

      And of course, make a leaf wreath! These are wired, simply because of the ring I used for the form (not much to glue to). But a glue gun would be great for a wider base.

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  4. That turned out very nice! The gingko leaves are still so bright green, I thought at first it might be some kind of Echeveria. You put a lot of work into this week's creation.

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    1. Thanks Alison, and it really wasn't that much work.

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  5. Is it wreath season already? Always love seeing what you come up with for the front door -- even more so than the mantel I think.

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  6. I love your green door and the brown foliage makes a perfect wreath to adorn it....adding the succulents makes it even better!

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  7. Really well done, DG. as always. The shape of those oak leaves is very interesting. I've saved some before but never thought of using them this way. Love it!

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    1. It's odd, my tree is definitely sporting two different kinds of leaves. I'm not sure what's going on...

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  8. dear lord, will you never cease to outdo yourself! fabulous.

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  9. Wonderful! I'd been considering a wreath too but there's really no proper fall foliage here to work with so I put that off, as usual, for December. I love the fact that you added agaves and aloes to the mix, making it so very you.

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    1. Thanks Kris, the Agave and Aloe were challenging because they were so heavy.

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  10. Your wreath is beautiful, I wish I had the kind of door which could show one off. It's ugly plastic and glass. Those leaves are perfect for the job.

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    1. We got lucky when we bought this house, that the original door was still here.

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  11. Didn’t realise that oak leaves hold well to being a wreath. And if that’s not clever enough, top it with Agave and Aloe, fab!!

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  12. A unique response to the challenge, and what beautiful leaves, Loree - wonderful on their own but enhanced brilliantly by your extras. You have such a good eye for your creations :) Have you ever tried preserving your leaves using glycerine? It works well with beech leaves so may well also do so with yours

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    1. I have never used glycerine, that looks like a fun rainy-day project.

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  13. What a fabulous idea, I love it. A wonderful use of succulents.

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  14. That turned out great! That oak has particularly beautiful foliage. The Aloe deltoideodonta may be iffy below 40F.

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    1. Thank you! And ya that's about what my research showed, it has withstood 35 in the ground though.

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  15. The wreath is gorgeous, and I love your use of the Agaves. I've been wondering about using some pups in decoration - this could definitely be tempting...

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    1. Thanks Amy, I was happy to see you joined me in the "no vase" theme for this one.

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  16. The wreath is perfection!

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  17. Oh I just adore those oak leaves. When I saw them I knew they must be oak, despite being quite a variation on our native oak leaves that I know and love so well. The interesting additions lift your lovely autumn wreath out of the ordinary.

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