I met a friend for lunch on Saturday and afterwards we walked off our heavy meal strolling shops in a recently refurbished mall. We checked out a place specializing in luxury home furnishings and I ended up walking out with yet another new vase. It was offered at a good (reduced) price and unique, modeled on a bighorn sheep's horn. I couldn't bring myself to pass it up.
My first thought was that it would work well with an air plant (
Tillandsia) or succulent cuttings but I ended up using flowers instead.
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| Front view featuring lavender Freesia |
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| Back view featuring a white Freesia |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the left, the vase contains: lavender Freesia, the papery flowers of Limonium perezii, Coriandrum sativum, and white Freesia |
I'd originally planned on a vase using orange and yellow flowers for the front entry so I went ahead and put that together too. The color scheme was based on the small flowers of
Grevillea rosmarinifolia x alpina, which I've been admiring for several weeks now.
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| Front view |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the left, the vase contains: Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream', Grevillea rosmarinifolia x alpina, Abelia x grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', yellow Freesia, noID Narcissus, Papaver nudicaule, and white (and yellow) Ranunculus |
Lest you think I neglected my dining table, I took care of that spot earlier in the week when I trimmed back the larger of my 2
Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' shrubs.
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| The Leucadendron's "flowers" are past their prime but still attractive. Although this vase was packed with stems and I took more to a friend, many more still went into our green recycle bin. |
The new vase ended up on the coffee table in the living room, while the second vase took its intended place in the front entry.
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see more "In a Vase on Monday" floral/foliage arrangements.
All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
These are all beautiful and creative but I especially love the arrangement in your new vase--very effectively done.
ReplyDeleteI was frankly surprised that it turned out as well as it did on my first go, Susie.
DeleteYou can nevr resist more than one vase, Kris! And what an intriguing shape your new vase is, a shape that could have proved difficult to do justice to but you managed it easily with the freesias and other bits. Mind you, I especially like the look of the 'past-it' Leucadendron - what a gorgeous shade the flowers are now! Thanks for sharing all 3 vases today
ReplyDeleteI couldn't bring myself to just toss all those Leucadendron stems in the compost bin - they have such nice long stems and hold up remarkably well in a vase.
DeleteYou do the most beautiful vases each week. I always enjoy visiting to see what you have created. Love your new vase and it works nicely with flower though I think you first idea will work well also.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite a conundrum to think of something that would work with such a strangely shaped vase, Linda!
DeleteYou are as bad as me, I can never resist a vase either, this one is most unusual. Lovely arrangements of course. I always envy your abundance of beautiful flowers. The leucadendron flowers are lovely, I wish I could grow it.
ReplyDeleteLeucadendrons generally love it here, although I admit to killing a couple.
DeleteIt was a different vase, fun kind!
ReplyDeleteGot a vase in the birthday present that I like a lot it´s called 'Old English vase', now there are branches of oak and blue flowering clematis in the vase.
Have a nice day
Mariana
It sounds lovely, Mariana! You should join us for "In a Vase on Monday!"
DeleteGorgeous flowers and cool new vase - inspired by seashells? I keep looking for Grevillea everytime I see yours. Think the rain is helping?
ReplyDeleteThe rain helped a LOT! But our winter rains seem to be largely over. A storm passed through this past weekend and all we got was spit (no measurable rain). There are still 2 storms in the long-term forecast but neither is expected to deliver much rain here, if they materialize at all. The question now is: what kind of summer can we expect?
DeletePerfect marriage of flowers and your new vase! You always put together terrific arrangements!
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter!
DeleteUnbelievable collection of plant material. kris, you are blessed with your garden.
ReplyDeleteYou quickly learned to handle that unusual vase. Never seen anything like it.
The sheep horn vase was a surprising find, Joanna. The discovery was pure serendipity.
DeleteWhat an amazing vase, it's going to look good with all kinds of things. I can smell your freesias. I've just planted some bulbs here. The orange and yellow vase is beautifully colourful and the Leucadendron so subtle.
ReplyDeleteFreesias are absolutely the easiest bulb to grow here, Alison, and the scent is unparalleled!
DeleteWhat a cool vase, who'd have thought? I expect it will garner lots of compliments. Freesias (oh, to have those growing abundantly in my garden!), orange poppies and greveillea - you have the best flowers to play with, Kris. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm really spoiled for choice now in terms of floral material, Eliza. That's a sure sign that spring has arrived in SoCal.
DeleteWhat a fabulous vase you found Kris - I would have had to bring it home too - it will look great both with & without flowers. I can see that your garden is blooming again - those poppies are so beautiful - I am just about to sow seeds for poppies this summer so I am keeping my fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteThe Iceland poppies can't handle our hot, dry summers, Julie. It's lucky that they accommodate us by blooming in early spring!
DeleteI have never seen a vase like that!So cool!
ReplyDeleteI thought so too, Anca!
DeleteWell it's an oddity for sure, your new vase. I did have some sort of malevolent worm like creature in my head when I first saw it. But with the arrangement in place it looks stunning. So delicate the way it stands on its tail. Brilliant find!
ReplyDeleteMore lucky than brilliant perhaps but I'm happy with it, Jessica!
DeleteYou are developing quite a vase collection! The horn is unusual, but you made it work. Beautiful arrangements, and I recognize the book. :)
ReplyDeleteI thought the overlap on the book was funny, HB. Of course, I wasn't sent mine free of charge!
DeleteYour new vase is perfect for your floral arrangements, not that it won't also be grand with succulents. I look forward to watching it pop up now and then.
ReplyDeleteLeucadendron stems in the green bin. The horror!
When I tossed the remaining Leucadendron stems in the green bin, I actually thought of you (and Denise) shuddering in response!
DeleteI think the freeform vase made for a brilliant arrangement :) Love all three and the way each is completely unique. Your Iceland poppies inspired me to pick up a small potful the other day. I must start growing them through the winter. They're gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteIceland poppies are among the most cheerful blooms I know of, Amy. I've had trouble growing them in my borders, at least since the start of the drought, but they've done well this year in my raised planters (formerly used for vegetables).
DeleteWhen I looked at your new vase empty, I thought it might be quite challenging to use but you've made it look easy AND lovely, nice to see flowers on a low table too, it gives a very different viewpoint. I love all your arrangements this week, that on the dining table shows that even a very simple arrangement of one plant can look perfect.
ReplyDeleteIntriguing as that new vase is, Christina, I was stalled for a time thinking how to fill it. But I was pleased by the final result and it does look good on the coffee table.
DeleteThat new vase looks beautiful filled with those pretty flowers. And the yellow and orange vase is a wonderful reminder to me that spring is on the way. The Leucadendron flowers do still look rather lovely too. I always put my vases in one place, but should really follow your example and place them in different spots around the house!
ReplyDeleteEvery room deserves a vase of flowers, Cathy!
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