Tuesday, January 6, 2015

In a Vase: Native Charm

Hesperaloe parviflora seedpods, Monday Vase meme
Although there are a few flowers scattered here and there in the garden, I decided to use mostly dried material for this vase.  (And yes, it's Tuesday!  Yesterday's schedule allowed me to collect the material and partially arrange it, but I have had to finish and take the pictures today...)
Monday Vase meme

This is a collection of native plants: two wildlflowers whose names I still don't know, and Hesperaloe parviflora, another native plant now frequently used in landscaping in the arid southwest.  First, here are a few pictures from earlier times in the year when these plants were in full bloom.

One is a small sub-shrub whose beautiful bell-flowers are hardly visible unless you look very closely.  The flowers are gone now, but in bloom they looked like this.
Sonora desert wildflower
Another is a large shrubby plant with strawlike bracts tasseled with fine silk.  The silk is gone now, but the bracts are still showy against the green stems.
Sonora desert wildflower
And lastly, Hesperaloe parviflora, whose much larger shrimp-pink bells hang from stalks ranging from about 4 feet (1.2 m) to about 7 feet (2.2 m) tall.
Hesperaloe parviflora blooms, Hesperaloe parviflora flowers
However, this is January, even here in the desert; and all these formerly-flowering stems are either dried or drying.  So today's vase is a monochromatic combination of stems, bracts, and seedpods.
Monday Vase meme
The hesperaloe seedpods are marvelous.  Many still contain a few black seeds, which rattle around inside like a toy.
Monday Vase meme
Stems and all (a little top-heavy, perhaps!) went into a stoneware pitcher that I made last year while experimenting with forms.
Monday Vase meme
The weather has warmed a little, and I had no trouble shooting these pictures outside against the patio wall.  I hope you enjoy this excursion into the wildflower patch!  As late as I am, I will go ahead and link this post to Cathy's Monday Vase meme, always inspiring!
Hesperaloe parviflora seedpods, Monday Vase meme
Hesperaloe seedpods

4 comments:

  1. Speaking of mod, your arrangement certainly is that. I like to see seedpods in arrangements. It's interesting for me to see the Hesperaloe before and after - I put one in in late summer but haven't seen it bloom yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kris! I've really enjoyed the Hesperaloe. Our largest one recently sent up another flowering stem and is in bloom now; also the seedpods are very long-lasting. Hope you enjoy yours :)

      Delete
  2. Hi Amy, lovely vase and interesting to read what you have growing in your area of the country. The Hesperaloe parviflora is nice. Susie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Susie! Yes, it's been fascinating to begin learning the flora out here. Some of the southwestern natives, like the Hesperaloe, are proving useful landscape/garden plants - especially some of the less prickly ones ;-)

      Delete