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.
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.
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.
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.
The hesperaloe seedpods are marvelous. Many still contain a few black seeds, which rattle around inside like a toy.
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 seedpods |
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.
ReplyDeleteThanks, 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 :)
DeleteHi Amy, lovely vase and interesting to read what you have growing in your area of the country. The Hesperaloe parviflora is nice. Susie
ReplyDeleteThanks 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 ;-)
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