Strong winds and overcast skies were the rule today, and this week's vase was disarranged by the wind as I took it outside to photograph it. However, fortunately it was the sort that can stand a little mussing since it consisted mostly of just two types of flowers loosely combined. Bright pink bougainvillea bracts...
...and white lantana...
...are both in plentiful supply. There are also a couple of stems of artemisia tucked in at the base.
I used one of my handthrown stoneware pots, which was large enough to hold all the stems I picked.
Being from a woody plant, the bougainvillea sprays were soaked for about five minutes in boiled water, a technique that seems to be working for them. Otherwise, I find the stems are quite prone to wilting, leaving the bright, crepey bracts all drooped and crumpled. This batch is holding up well so far.
The tiny true flowers of the bougainvillea are white, a fact that inspired the combination with the white-blooming lantana.
Thank you to Cathy for the encouragement to cut garden flowers for the house each week. Do check the other vases inspired by the IaVoM theme at
Rambling in the Garden!
Weather Diary: Cloudy; High: 91 F (33 C)/Low: 77F (25 C); Humidity: 20%-55%
Don't think I realised the true flowers of bouganvillea were white - the bracts are a gorgeous shade, aren't they? I love to see all your pots with their different shades and glazes - thanks for sharing them as well as your blooms
ReplyDeleteI'm always intrigued by those tiny, star-shaped true flowers on the bougainvillea... not sure why... ;-) The bracts are wonderful, and they're carrying on well into today without wilting so you may see more of them from time to time. So glad you enjoy the vases too; this one was inspired directly by IaVoM, so you deserve a big thank you! :)
DeleteThe Bougainvillea look great in your vase, Amy! We've got the winds too and our temperature even exceeded yours. I hope cooler weather comes and stays awhile for both our sakes.
ReplyDeleteAs you can see from my flower choices, it's still mostly summer in the garden, Kris; but our temperatures have been dropping nicely and, happily, our winds are cool, unlike what you're getting there! Here's hoping October is full of pleasant weather across the SW - it's about time!
DeleteYour bougainvillea is such a lovely colour Amy. I sometimes see them in summer displays here, but they are always purple. The same with Lantana - the orange ones are sold here as summer container plants, but I have not seen a white one before. So a wonderful combination and a pretty vase too! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting, Cathy; the magenta bougainvilleas seem more common here, I don't know why. I had not seen a white lantana till I bought this one, and initially I worried it might not be as vigorous a plant, but it certainly is... almost too much so ;-) I think it would be wonderful in a container. Thanks so much :)
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