Last Monday I was offline and unable to post, but this week the garden has done its best to help make amends! A burst of colour in autumn hues was available, starting with the chrysanthemum flowers...
...and hamelia leaves...
...continuing with bountiful sprays of grass flowers from Muhlenbergia capillaris "Regal Mist", coupled with several stems of Lavandula "Goodwin Creek Gray"...
...and at last including an assortment of foliage (Artemisia "Powis Castle" and Eremophila "Valentine"), along with a bright spot from an unidentified lantana.
Besides all this, everything went into a new pot, freshly out of the kiln about a week ago.
This is another unglazed earthenware piece so water will saturate it eventually as it would with a plain flowerpot, but that is easily remedied by setting it on something appropriate. This particular pot was handbuilt, coiled up from a plaster base according to traditional New World techniques. I've discussed this a little more on my
Handmaker's World blog... Back to the flowers!
The chrysanthemum is a recent purchase, merely labelled "Bronze Chrysanthemum". It will undoubtedly be an annual here, but its burst of colour equals that of many bedding plants so why complain?
The Hamelia leaves are in their glory. I didn't pick more than a single stalk as my bush is still quite small, and I left the remaining flowers for the hummingbirds to enjoy. (For those following my hummingbird posts, the pair is now definitely Anna's Hummingbirds.) One little berry is on the bush as well; its dark purply tones will do well in future seasons. But the leaves themselves are treat enough!
As you can tell, it was special to work with so much material in such wonderful colours!
Today is, besides, a special day in the annals of the Monday Vase, being the second anniversary of the meme. Congratulations, Cathy, on inventing and hosting one of the most enjoyable of them all for full two years now! I'm sure today will be busy over at
Rambling in the Garden!
Happy Monday!
Weather Diary: Sunny; High: 78 F (26 C)/Low: 48 F (9 C)
It's absolutely beautiful, Amy, and the new vase is the perfect shape and size. The Muhlenbergia grass adds zing. That's one grass I haven't tried but now would like to.
ReplyDeleteI'm more impressed all the time with the muhlenbergia, Kris. It seems to be more or less evergreen in mild winter climates, though I cut mine back early last spring (I think that was the correct thing to do, but not sure). So glad you enjoyed the pot; switching techniques has been very interesting for me, to say the least!
DeleteThis is gorgeous! Love the pale orange theme and the polka dot grass!
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful to have those soft orange colours to work with, Eliza. I'm just now getting them into the garden. And the grass - yes, polka dots is the right description :)
DeleteThis really is gorgeous Amy! The colours are exactly what an autumn vase should be. I do love that Muhlenbergia grass. Very pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Cathy - so sorry my reply is so late! I really enjoyed being able to put together a more autumnal vase this time :)
DeleteBeautiful Amy, pot and arrangement!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jessica - so glad you enjoyed them :)
DeleteWow! so nice to find such beauty this morning :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's a big compliment, Hollis - thank you :)
DeleteWonderful vase and flower colour combination, very Halloween.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly represents a change from my usual colour schemes - both in the vase and the garden - and was accordingly very enjoyable to work on. Thanks, Brian!
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