I don't have many red flowers in the garden but I have quite a lot of pink so, thinking ahead to Valentine's Day, I fixated on the pink flowers, starting out with the flowers of
Grevillea sericea (aka pink spider flower), blooming for the first time since I planted it in November 2016. I soon realized that there was a blue undertone in those
Grevillea flowers, which complicated the selection of suitable companions. As last week's chartreuse vase was still in perfect condition, I'd intended to create just one big Valentine's Day vase but, as some of what I cut clashed with the rest, I ended up with 2 vases (as usual).
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| The flowers of the Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia x blakeana) weren't the starting point for this vase but the smaller, softer flowers called out for a strong floral contrast and the ivy geranium flowers (Pelargonium peltatum) I'd cut for that purpose didn't fit the bill |
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| Back view, dominated by New Zealand tea tree flowers (Leptospermum scoparium) and the dried berries on the Auranticarpa rhombifolia foliage I'd cut while pruning on Saturday |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: foliage and berries of Auranticarpa rhombifolia, Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold'. Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy', Grevillea sericea, Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl', Hebe 'Wiri Blush', and, in the center, Bauhinia x blakeana |
The leftovers went into the vintage vase I found back in January while shopping with a friend in Ventura.
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| The vase is a woman's manicured hands with flowered ruffles at her wrists |
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| Side view |
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| Clockwise from the left, the vase contains: Pelargonium peltatum 'Pink Blizzard', Cuphea x ignea 'Starfire Pink', and Iresine herbstii 'Brilliantissima' |
Last week's vase with the chartreuse
Aeoniums still occupies the dining table so the big Valentine's Day vase landed on the front entry and the smaller vase sits on the bedroom mantle.
Putting the big vase on the entryway table with a chair next to it is somewhat risky on my part. The bobbly bits of
Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy' could be awfully tempting to a certain cat.
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| She just looks innocent! |
For more Monday vases,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Have a happy Valentine's Day!
All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
