Monday, September 5, 2016

In a Vase: Semi-Tropical

Today's vase is certainly the simplest in terms of making: flowers picked in a couple of handfuls and plonked directly into their vase a few feet away on the patio.
There are only two types of flower, besides.  Three colors of Catharanthus roseus were used...
...along with stems of Russelia equisetiformis "Big Red"...
I love the white-brushed petal backs on the Catharanthus.
Both plants certainly represent the value of tropicals for the hot desert garden as they have bloomed very reliably through summer and are continuing as September moves in.  Their brilliant colors are invaluable in the borders right now, and fun for a vase too!  This is a handbuilt, dark-glazed stoneware vase I made earlier this year.
I am linking to Cathy's lovely meme at Rambling in the Garden, happy to be back after a week away from the blogosphere!
Weather Diary: Fair; High: 99 F (37 C)/Low: 69 F (21 C); Humidity: 9% - 34%



10 comments:

  1. delicious images........ food for the soul.

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  2. lovely, Amy, and your vase is just perfect for such an arrangement.I think perhaps you are still being inspired by ikebana? I keep meaning to have a go myself!

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    1. Now that you mention it, I probably am still thinking a bit of Ikebana... ;-) I think the glaze on that vase helps the effect as it is closely related to a very traditional Japanese glaze.

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  3. I have you to thank for turning my on to Catharanthus, which I haven't used in many, many years. I put in 5 small plants, all the same coral pink. One day a stem or two may well show up in one of my vases too.

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    1. I never expected to be using Catharanthus in vases, but I think it works surprisingly well. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I've enjoyed mine!

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  4. A lovely arrangement - really like the shape of the vase you have used.

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    1. Thanks so much, Cathy :) I'd not made a vase that shape before and at first I wasn't sure... Now that I've used it several times, I think it works better than others that I was sure would be good for flowers - just goes to show... ;-)

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  5. Sorry not to be as prompt in responing as I usually am, Amy -and thank you for demonstrating how weffcetive a simple vase can be. I had to look up 'Catharanthus roseus' which I find is also known as the Madagscar periwinkle and I am not sure if it is available in the UK. It is similar to what we call periwinkle - Vinca

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    1. You're quite right, Cathy: the flowers are rather like true Vinca and often go by the name of "annual vinca" in the GCs - slightly confusing, I think, all the more so since growth habit is totally unlike! I've been surprised to find that it's not used in the UK, since it is widely grown as a container filler even in cold winter regions of the US. I suspect it might require the extra summer heat, but I don't know... Please let me know if you find out :)

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