After several weeks of dodging the top-heavy hanging branches of the
Leucadenron 'Pisa' growing next to our backyard patio, I decided it was time to get out my pruning shears. I took off more than I'd anticipated when I started and, on a whim, decided to put out the most presentable pruned stems for neighbors with a note that they make a nice addition to flower arrangements. I didn't expect many people to pick them up and was honestly surprised the next morning to find just one stem left in the water-filled bucket I'd left on the curb. The bucket had contained two dozen or more stems. I held back several stems for use in my own vases too of course.
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| I didn't take a "before" photo of the Leucadendron but this is the "after" shot |
The
Leucadendron's cones are silver with a purplish blush surrounded by chartreuse bracts so I looked for companion materials to play off those colors. As usual, I went overboard.
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| This was what I put together after cruising through my garden on Sunday morning |
After staring at the arrangement for awhile, I decided it looked too busy. I removed the chartreuse kangaroo paws (
Anigozanthos) and many of the asters, deciding for once that a simpler combination would be better.
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| This is version #2, featuring the first lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) my garden has produced this season |
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| Back view: I tucked a few of the remaining asters (Symphyotrichum chilennse) here with blue throatwort (Trachelium caeruleum) |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Eustoma grandiflorum, Leucadendron 'Pisa', Trachelium caeruleum, Nigella papillosa, and Symphyotrichum chilense (aka California aster) |
Even with the changes to my first arrangement, I prefer my second one this week.
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| This arrangement is simpler still, consisting of just four elements and two floral colors |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the top: Leucanthemum x superbum, Centaurea 'Silver Feather', Polygala fruticosa, and Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata' |
The leftover elements went into a small arrangement for our kitchen island.
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| More Leucadendron 'Pisa', noID Anigozanthos, and Symphyotricum chilense |
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| The first vase sits on the dining room table and the second one in the front entry |
After a turbulent start and still more infuriating actions on the part of the occupant of our White House last week, the protests in the US have continued spread throughout the country, drawing large numbers of diverse participants. The vast majority have been peaceful. I continue to worry about their impact in spreading the coronavirus but I admire those who've joined the cause, which I also support. That what's happened in the US has struck a chord all over the world, spurring marches based on the same concerns, carries a powerful message that we share something other than a virus. It creates hope that we will come out of the challenges we currently face as better people.
For more IAVOM creations,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
