We had another horrific heatwave all last week, or maybe it just felt horrific because we've had one too many of these events within the past 2 months. After temperatures in the upper 90sF (35-37C), Sunday finally brought a little relief with a high of 88F (31C). There were still pink
Eustoma grandiflorum to be picked but even I'm getting tired of them, pretty as they may be, so I tried another succulent arrangement.
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| Thoughtful guy that he is, my husband had picked up wire in the gauge recommended by on-line sources for use in succulent arrangements the last time he visited the hardware store so I didn't have to make do with wire hangers this time |
I clipped a wide assortment of succulents, many of which I can't identify. I keep fairly good records of the plants I put in the garden but succulent sellers are notorious for offering plants without labels or, worse yet, with labels that say "Asst Succulents." The sheer number of hybrids on the market probably contributes to the confusion.
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| "Assorted succulents" from my garden |
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| My arrangement included the succulents shown here, some of which I can't identify. Proceeding clockwise from the upper left: grayish Graptopetalum paraguayense, shown with an unidentified Crassula with light pink flowers and Crassula radicans; Aeonium arboreum, shown with the variegated form of Portulacaria afra; a deep teal-colored succulent I've tried and failed to identify (and which the seller was unable to identify at time of purchase); what may be xGraptosedum 'Vera Higgins'; Graptosedum 'California Sunset'; and Senecio vitalis 'Serpent' (Included but not highlighted are Rhipsalis ewaldiana and a no ID succulent) |
I put the arrangement together using the same technique I showed in my prior succulent vase post (which you can view
here), although I wired only those cuttings with short stems and/or particularly heavy heads. The vase's basin is dry. Like my prior arrangement, this one looks different from each side. I placed it on the dining table where it can be viewed from all angles.
As it turned out, I'd clipped succulents I didn't use in this arrangement so I put together a bouquet of leftovers, using my onyx vase.
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| As the stone vase sweats when filled with water, using succulent cuttings that need no water works well |
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| Key ingredients in this arrangement included Aeonium 'Kiwi' and Sedum nussbaumerianum with Graptosedum 'California Sunset' (Included but not highlighted here were Aptenia cordifolia, Senecio vitalis and Rhipsalis ewaldiana) |
The stone vase is currently sitting in the front entryway.
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| At least this heavy vase won't fly off the table when the front door is opened during our afternoon high winds as another vase recently did |
The succulent arrangement I created 2 weeks ago didn't look too bad but some of the plant cuttings were a little frayed about the edges and, as I needed the white vase, I took it apart.
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| Photo taken immediately prior to dismantling of the vase |
About two-thirds of the cuttings were tucked into the garden. I tossed cuttings of the
Oscularia deltoides and
Aeonium arboreum as I already have enough of both to start a small nursery.
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| I removed desiccated leaves and wires prior to planting the cuttings. Many of these, like the one shown here, were already producing tiny roots. |
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, the host of the "In a Vase on Monday" meme, to see what she and other gardeners have put together this week.
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© 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
