The conservation mantra is "reduce, reuse, recycle." I didn't plan to invoke that mantra, or a version of it, when I began preparing this week's floral bouquet. I'd been admiring a lovely foxglove, Digitalis x mertonensis, in my garden for the last 2 weeks and decided to make it the centerpiece of my next floral construction. What didn't factor into my plan was that my pretty Digitalis blooms would come covered in aphids. I spent more than 20 minutes rinsing the 2 foxglove stems I'd cut. Those nasty bugs were in every nook and cranny but I just couldn't bring myself to toss the stems out as the flowers themselves appeared unaffected by the unwelcome encampment.
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I'd already cut a lily and feverfew to accompany the Digitalis in the vase. But, having spent so much time carefully rinsing each tubular flower of the foxglove, I ran out of time for additional fussing. As the stems of Leucadendron salignum 'Chief' I used in last week's composition were still in perfect condition, I decided to recycle those by using them as this week's foliage accent too. I think they actually look better this week than they did when I photographed last week's bouquet - the stems opened up some during the course of last week. Do you ever recycle materials cut for one arrangement for use in another?
I also reused last week's glass vase as its yellow color fit the mix better than the other vases in my collection. The vase contains:
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This bouquet is my contribution to the collection assembled by our host, Cathy, at Rambling in the Garden. Click here to see her creation and to find links to bouquets constructed by other gardeners this week.
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I'd already cut a lily and feverfew to accompany the Digitalis in the vase. But, having spent so much time carefully rinsing each tubular flower of the foxglove, I ran out of time for additional fussing. As the stems of Leucadendron salignum 'Chief' I used in last week's composition were still in perfect condition, I decided to recycle those by using them as this week's foliage accent too. I think they actually look better this week than they did when I photographed last week's bouquet - the stems opened up some during the course of last week. Do you ever recycle materials cut for one arrangement for use in another?
I also reused last week's glass vase as its yellow color fit the mix better than the other vases in my collection. The vase contains:
- Digitalis x mertonensis 'Polka Dot Pippa'
- Lily, an unscented, unknown variety received as a gift with purchase
- Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum'
- Leucadendron salignum 'Chief'
This bouquet is my contribution to the collection assembled by our host, Cathy, at Rambling in the Garden. Click here to see her creation and to find links to bouquets constructed by other gardeners this week.
