In A Vase On Monday—Pods And Silky-tailed Seeds

Asclepias Peeking Above The Top Of The Vase

Each Monday brings the chance join Cathy with In A Vase On Monday to share an arrangement using materials gathered from the garden.

A month ago I collected three stems of Asclepias tuberosa to dry indoors. Each stem already had formed two or more seed pods 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) in length. Today I have featured the dried stems in a tall glass vase, visually anchoring them to the base with a few pieces of white sea glass.

Asclepias tuberosa

Pods left on the plants outdoors continue to look fresh, but these began splitting open about a week ago, revealing copious silky-tailed seeds.

Ripened Asclepias tuberosa

Silky-tails of Asclepias Seeds

Asclepias seeds packed In tight rows inside the pod

The vase is interesting in person, as it encourages one to move in and out and around the glass to observe the various stages of the cycle, to watch as the pods and seeds perform a dance of separation and escape.

In A Vase On Monday

Silky-tailed Seeds In A Vase On Monday

Time is suspended. Not quite free the seeds linger patiently, gracefully, expecting a breeze at any moment to lift them away.

In A Vase On Monday

Materials
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly weed)

Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly flower addiction. Visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday and feel free to join in.

46 thoughts on “In A Vase On Monday—Pods And Silky-tailed Seeds”

Christina September 21, 2015 at 5:47 am

Subtle and under-stated – it is fascinating; and you got to use the vase you wanted to use last week! I like it used like this to contain the arrangement within itself. Perfect. I had some Asclepias tuberosa but they didn’t survive a cold winter and I didn’t have any luck getting the seed to germinate.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 7:58 am
  
  Thanks. Glad you like it Christina–I was happy with how this turned out. I have been searching for ways to use this special vase so when these pods started opening I decided to pair them. Will you try Asclepias again? I planted bare-root plants a couple of years ago in three places, after my others died out. Mine don’t seem to last many years. Have not tried seeds before but now I can!
  
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Anca Tîrcă September 21, 2015 at 6:28 am

I would call this a work of art! So creative!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 8:05 am
  
  Thank you for such generous praise Anca. I have to say I do look forward to making arrangements each Monday. It definitely is a creative outlet.
  
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annjrippin September 21, 2015 at 6:59 am

Absolutely gorgeous.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 8:09 am
  
  Hi Ann and thank you. I’m impossibly behind on comments but trying to catch up. Your recent paintings are intriguing and are inspiring me to pull some paints out too.
  
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LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD September 21, 2015 at 7:38 am

That is a wonderful arrangement. So subtle and light; a perfect fall display.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 8:18 am
  
  Thanks Linda. We’re still having 85-degree F. days but fall is definitely creeping in.
  
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AnnetteM September 21, 2015 at 7:58 am

Those seeds are amazing. Thanks for sharing.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 8:21 am
  
  Hi Annette, I’ll be studying those seeds for a long time. It’s hard to believe how they are packaged and dispersed.
  
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Donna@Gardens Eye View September 21, 2015 at 8:28 am

A simple stunning display…I agree it is art! Mine haven’t opened yet, but the swamp milkweed is already opened and drifting about.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 8:44 am
  
  Thank you Donna. Nature’s art really. I should plant swamp milkweed too someday.
  
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johnvic8 September 21, 2015 at 8:33 am

How very creative and imaginative. Well done.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 8:45 am
  
  Thanks John. Nature is a constant inspiration.
  
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Cathy September 21, 2015 at 9:27 am

Definitely a work of art, and your writing was poetic in its movement around the vase and its contents. Thank you so much for this today – it reminds us to look at the concept of a vase in different and more unusual ways

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 2:25 pm
  
  Thanks for your feedback Cathy! I’ve been planning this vase for a while, but my imagination never matches reality. I had planned to mingle the pods with some sedum, but the sedum didn’t seem quite ready, forcing me to experiment at bit. I appreciate you hosting In A Vase On Monday– participating is a great experience.
  
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  1. Cathy September 21, 2015 at 5:12 pm
    
    It’s good to hear about the planning stages too, as we can all learn from it
Noelle September 21, 2015 at 10:36 am

Like capturing a fairy.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 2:25 pm
  
  Noelle, I think you’re right!
  
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Eliza Waters September 21, 2015 at 12:28 pm

What a brilliant and innovative way to display these delightful seed pods! I’m awaiting the ripening of my A. tuberosa and A. carnata. I’m hoping to spread them in my fields. They are so tempting to pick for vases, but I want to wait until I have more plants. I will be happy with the dried empty pods in a month or so. 🙂

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 2:27 pm
  
  Thanks Eliza! I still have plenty of pods on the plants so decided it would be worth it to harvest a few. Hope your asclepius multiplies freely.
  
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  1. Eliza Waters September 21, 2015 at 4:35 pm
    
    Thanks!
Kris P September 21, 2015 at 1:41 pm

I love this, Susie. I don’t think I fully appreciated the beauty of these seedpods and the silky seed tassels before seeing your display.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 2:29 pm
  
  Hi Kris, like you I’d never examined these seedpods up close. They’re amazing. Thank you.
  
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homeslip September 21, 2015 at 3:38 pm

This is amazing and certainly fulfils the brief. I agree that you have shown us a work of art. Nature is so beautiful.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 5:54 pm
  
  Thanks for your comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed my vase today. I certainly had fun working on it.
  
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rickii September 21, 2015 at 4:29 pm

Such an ingenious approach: add my voice to the chorus praising it as a work of art.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 5:52 pm
  
  Hi Ricki or are you really Rickii? I’d love to know for sure. At any rate I appreciate your kind praise. This didn’t take long to put together but I enjoyed photographing it and sifting through the images for hours. Just really got swept up in those seeds.
  
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  1. rickii September 22, 2015 at 11:22 am
    
    Oh, the rickii handle is kind of a joke. My friend who owns a nursery is so conditioned by her profession that she naturally adds an extra i when she types my name. It tickled my funny bone so I went with it. When it’s unaccompanied by that story it feels sort of pretentious, now that I think about it.
  2. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 22, 2015 at 5:19 pm
    
    That’s funny. Good to know.
Anna September 21, 2015 at 5:52 pm

Oh a most unique and stunning vase Susie. I imagine that it is changing by the hour. How exciting!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 21, 2015 at 5:56 pm
  
  Thanks Anna, the pods and seeds look caught in a moment of time, but you’re so right. The cycle of nature is continuing to change them.
  
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gardeninacity September 21, 2015 at 10:00 pm

Those ripened milkweed pods with the dark seeds and silky tails makes an nice autumn display.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 22, 2015 at 10:27 am
  
  Aren’t they cool? I had never looked closely at them before.
  
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Beth @ PlantPostings September 21, 2015 at 10:50 pm

That is indeed beautiful. I so enjoy the silky softness of milkweed tails when they come out of the pod. I usually harvest mine and either give them away or replant them. I’ve had Swamp Milkweed and Whorled Milkweed seeds in the past, but this is the first year my Butterfly Weed has produced seedpods. They’re so pretty as they age with the season. Great idea for the vase meme!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 22, 2015 at 10:29 am
  
  Thanks Beth. I imagine the butterflies are delighted you grow several kinds of milkweed. Enjoy your seedpods on the Butterfly Weed–they’re just fascinating.
  
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Brian Skeys September 22, 2015 at 6:08 am

Your post shows there is beauty in plants at all stages of growth, great close up photos.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 22, 2015 at 10:32 am
  
  Thanks Brian. Plants become more and more interesting to me. Always something new to notice and study.
  
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Frogend_dweller September 22, 2015 at 7:48 am

How interesting and beautiful!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 22, 2015 at 7:10 pm
  
  Thank you. It has been fun to watch the pods open and the seeds emerge.
  
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  1. Frogend_dweller September 23, 2015 at 6:53 am
    
    I can imagine. I remember growing a cotton plant one year just to see the pods open.
Cathy September 23, 2015 at 2:02 am

I love the way you have displayed these beautiful silky seeds Susie. A real nature study and work of art in one, and a great opportunity to share this process by placing them in a glass vase. Very inspiring!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 23, 2015 at 6:49 am
  
  Thanks Cathy, these seeds themselves were inspiring. As I started working with them I discovered more details to admire. Nature is really something!
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker September 25, 2015 at 1:26 am

I do love the seeds of butterfly weed. As a kid it was such fun cracking open the pods and watching seeds be carried by the wind. You have a wonderfully artistic touch demonstrated in your images.

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bittster September 28, 2015 at 9:10 pm

What a great idea!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorSeptember 28, 2015 at 9:27 pm
  
  Thanks! Still holding up fine after a week.
  
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