The cool-season flowers in my cutting garden got a late start and most are nowhere near bloom-stage yet. While I still have plenty of the flowers I've featured in recent weeks, anything I did with them would likely be a repeat of what I've done before so instead I focused on succulents. I've used succulents before but, as best I can recall, I haven't used them as centerpieces in an arrangement this year. With succulent cuttings as my springboard, I filled in with plants suitable to the season.
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| I used the heavy green and red onyx vase, which doesn't hold water well. The succulent cuttings don't need water and, after seeing Leucadendron used to create wreaths at an Orange County garden center earlier this month, I decided to test its staying power in a dry vase. |
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| Back view: I did use water-filled floral tubes to hold the Coprosma and berries I included |
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| Top view: The red flower-like stems of Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' and 'Blush' ended up taking center stage away from the succulents |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi', A. haworthii 'Kiwi Verde', Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey', berries of a noID self-planted Cotoneaster, Leucadendron salignum 'Blush', L. salignum 'Chief' and, in the center, Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' |
I didn't create a second vase this week. I'm holding aside more of the blooming
Hippeastrum I featured two weeks ago to create an arrangement for a holiday gathering this coming Saturday. This week's new arrangement replaced the last vase I created with the same Amaryllis, while last week's purple mix moved to the kitchen island when Christmas decorations filled the front entry.
For more IAVOM creations,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
The colours of the foliage, bracts (?),flowers and berries work so well together and the onyx is just the right sort of shade to complement them. I hope it works well as a 'dry vase' for you
ReplyDeleteThe Leucadendron "flowers" are indeed actually foliage bracts. I hope the foliage holds up well without water too.
DeleteIt looks beautiful and seasonal, seasonal for here anyway! The colouring on the Aeonium is very pretty. I gave up with them as they always got mealy bugs but I do love them and admire them in other places. I've decided to stop battling bugs inside. If a plant gets greenfly or other it has to go! Still love the bluey purples.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, Aeoniums aren't prone to mealy bugs here, Alison, although plenty of other succulents are. Aphids can also be a problem - ants will actually "herd" aphids on agaves and other succulents.
DeleteLoving your Leucadendrons Kris! I used to use them as often as I could when I arranged flowers in my place of work, before I retired. They bridge that gap between foliage and flower, bringing such rich colour to an arrangement! Lovely. Amanda
ReplyDeleteMy garden wouldn't be the same without Leucadendrons, Amanda. Off-hand, I can't even tell you how many varieties of that genus, much less plants, I have.
DeleteLeucadendrons are great, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteYes! How did I ever manage without them?!
DeleteThe succulents seem to have a presence which few other plants have, and you have worked some of their magic into your arrangement. Lovely.....
ReplyDeleteThanks Noelle. Succulents offer a sculptural quality that few other plants have.
DeleteWith all of that red in that big case I would say...its beginning to look a lot like Christmas. đ You know I am lovin that.
ReplyDeleteMy old garden had almost no red color, Lisa. My current garden had quite a lot of it.
DeleteYour succulent arrangement is lovely and perfect for this holiday season! But what I'm trying to eye is your kitchen in the background. Looks like it's nearly done. Pictures please!
ReplyDeleteThe kitchen is done, Cindy. All that's left are some final touches to the fireplace, which my husband is going to handle, and some clean-up in the exterior areas, which we'll both be working on in the coming months. I included photos of the kitchen in a post dated November 22nd but I'll include more when I post photos of the holiday decorations later this week, time permitting.
DeleteVery festive! Love the stone vase, which is a perfect complement.
ReplyDeleteHow is dear Pipig doing? <3
The good news is that my vet and the veterinary oncologist she consulted decided that a second surgery isn't necessary, Eliza. However, the biopsy confirmed that she does have cancer and although they think they got it all, they're recommending chemotherapy to prevent it coming back. Meanwhile, she's on the mend and has seemingly adapted to her confinement for now. Her stitches will come out next week.
DeleteThere you go with the Leucadendrons again...love them! If I for some reason moved to California (or a climate that would allow them), I would definitely have Leucadendrons in my garden. My husband brought home a small bouquet a few weeks back, and some of the elements dried out nicely, including a few springs of Leucadendron. Yay. Your arrangements are gorgeous, as always!
ReplyDeleteLeucadendron does have a long vase life. It'll be interesting to to see how long it lasts without any water.
DeleteI find it really interesting the way the patterns of the vase flow up into the colors of the stems in the vase, well done!
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful vase. I'd use it a lot more if it held water well but it sweats...
DeleteKris, I love this arrangement. The wine colors are gorgeous in that Leucadendron. Wonder if you could insert a slender (Gasp!) plastic water bottle or something like that down into the container to hold the water. I can't tell how large the opening is so it may not work. Anyway, love the succulents too!
ReplyDeleteIn addition to 2 florist's water tubes, I used a tiny plastic bottle I'd extracted from a perfume bottle but it held only a little more water than the tubes. I haven't found anything bigger that'll fit through the vase's neck.
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