Monday, September 14, 2015

Not Quite in a Vase

Monday, September 14, 2015   Mark and Gaz   18 comments

Vases, such nice decorative objects. And I certainly have a thing for them especially for unique pieces.

 Once upon a time I used to make an effort to regularly buy fresh flowers or at least take cuttings from the garden and put them on vases. Nowadays such a ritual have been cut off as a compromise to such a busy life. Fortunately I do like looking at vases without anything in it either, as pretty objects on their own.

 But if I did put cuttings in vases again I certainly did consider putting these in...


Pretty isn't it? Seeds heads of Pachystegia insignis.

 The leaves would make great supporting cast for the vase too.

Alas practicality won and joined other cutting in the recycling bin.

 Mark :-)

Posted in: exotic blog , exotic garden , exotic garden blog , summer

18 comments :

  1. Alison14 September 2015 at 22:46

    Aw, those seedheads are great, they would have looked wonderful in a vase. But of course I can see the other side of it too.

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    Replies
    1. Mark and Gaz15 September 2015 at 07:35

      I almost felt sad throwing them away Alison but it practicalities reigned supreme, there would have been a risk that they'll stay in the base for a long time if I didn't...

      Delete
  2. Kris Peterson14 September 2015 at 23:03

    Given that I now make up a vase (or 2 or 3) every week, you'd be surprised how often I also throw out usable plant material. Sometimes, after tackling a job in the garden, taking that extra step is just one step too many. Your trimmings would have made a nice vase though...

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    Replies
    1. Mark and Gaz15 September 2015 at 07:36

      You got that spot on Kris! It's amazing how much trimmings a garden produces even with just light maintenance.

      Delete
  3. Roslyn15 September 2015 at 03:44

    I can relate. I have a vase collection as well. Some of them have never had plant matter in them. You would have some wonderful leaves for vase arrangements in you garden though - hopefully things will settle and you'll have more time soonish.

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    Replies
    1. Mark and Gaz15 September 2015 at 07:37

      There's also something quite nice about having the house with very little plant material in contrast with the garden :)

      Delete
  4. danger garden15 September 2015 at 06:34

    Well it's the thought...

    So I'm curious about the hardiness of Pachystegia insignis, I've got one in a container that I'm thinking of planting out next spring. How cold of temperatures has it withstood in your garden?

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    Replies
    1. Mark and Gaz15 September 2015 at 07:39

      It has sailed through the coldest winter we had Loree, winter 2010 at -10C (yikes!).

      Delete
  5. Lisa C. D.15 September 2015 at 08:24

    They do look great so they would really be nice in a container :)

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  6. Janet/Plantaliscious15 September 2015 at 08:30

    Tee hee! Yes, those seedheads would have graced any vase, but like you I tend to find myself admiring empty vases and only picking from the garden occasionally. Love the underside of those leaves.

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  7. DC Tropics16 September 2015 at 15:40

    Love that foliage!

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  8. organicgardendreams16 September 2015 at 16:38

    Ooooah..., that's a bid sad that you threw the cuttings away. They have been really pretty and certainly would have looked good in a vase. But I am guilty of doing the same, when I cut back my salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue'. I just didn't have the time and energy to arrange them in a vase. So I definitively understand.
    Warm regards,
    Christina

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  9. outlawgardener16 September 2015 at 19:14

    We've all thrown perfectly beautiful and vase-worthy flowers into the compost heap. Pruning is one kind of job/mindset and putting things in a vase is another. When I'm pruning/cutting back, etc. I seldom keep the flowers as stopping to put them in water would interrupt the flow of the first job. Beautiful seed heads though.

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  10. Hoehoegrow16 September 2015 at 19:59

    It all comes down to time in the end! I have so much more free time these days, but still remember vividly when fitting in essentials was a real effort.

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  11. Hoover Boo17 September 2015 at 19:35

    Being gainfully employed has its drawbacks.

    Sometimes I fill a vase with stuff and leave it outdoors and look at it through the window--that's a little easier, and if it's out there dead for a while, at least it isn't in the house, and is on the way to the compost bin. Those seed-heads are so cool!

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  12. Unknown19 September 2015 at 18:21

    So...you actually do draw the line somewhere. I was under the impression that no task was too much for you.

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  13. debsgarden21 September 2015 at 01:19

    I love seed heads also, as well as beautiful leaves. And like you, I rarely make up vases. Not sure why - maybe I am just lazy!

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  14. KL26 September 2015 at 00:51

    The seed-heads are such pure white. The color palette of nature is indeed pure. Really like the seedheads.

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