Tag Archives: Eucalyptus

In A Vase On Monday – Eucalyptus and Yellow

I planned ahead this week in order to join Cathy with In A Vase On Monday. Though this is an opportunity to share an arrangement using materials collected from the garden, for today I assembled a design on Friday using remnants of packaged bouquets I was given.

There were two bouquets actually and I arranged deep red Gerbera daisies from one along with branches of gardenia foliage from the garden for a full and richly colored vase. Additional yellow and orange gerberas from the second bouquet added light and movement, but you have to take my word for it. Before I could photograph them the next day the daises had wilted and drooped leaving behind a couple of bright yellow spray mums to carry on alone.

In A Vase On Monday – Eucalyptus and Yellow

It was disappointing to lose the gerberas but feeling over-saturated anyway from all the red of holiday decorations and from my own heavy reliance recently on red Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ in Monday vases, the forced shift in color is welcome.

There were more Yuletide blossoms available, but I find today’s yellow palette crisp and refreshing for a winter’s day.

In A Vase On Monday – Eucalyptus and Yellow

Selections of Eucalyptus leaves and bear grass trimmings taken from the florist packages emphasize shape and line. A lemon reinforces the color.

In A Vase On Monday – Eucalyptus and Yellow

Materials

Flowers
Chrysanthemum (Spray Mums, Button-yellow)
Eucalyptus
Xerophyllum tenax (Bear-grass)
Porcelain Ikebana vase. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches)

In A Vase On Monday – Eucalyptus and Yellow

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us a chance to express our flower arranging passion. Visit her to discover what she and others found this week in their winter gardens to place In A Vase On Monday.

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide And A Practice

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In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide

Monday brings the chance to practice flower arranging by joining in Cathy’s weekly challenge In A Vase On Monday, where the goal is simply to fill a vase using materials gathered in one’s own garden.

Sunday morning the garden was coated in frost and the supply of flowers is dwindling quickly. Today’s offering is a simple collection of Sasanqua Camellia ‘Yuletide’ placed in a small blue ceramic vase.

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide

I remember Yuletide camellias floating in a glass dish at many Thanksgiving dinners. This camellia seems early this year. It has been flowering since October 24.

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide

I wanted to share a second practice vase today, although these flowers did not come from my garden.

Roses, Stock and Eucalyptus

On an outing with some friends earlier in the week I came across something called the Perfect Arranger.

The device is stainless steel armature with a weighted base that holds flower stems tightly in place without the need for using floral foam. I bought two sizes of the arrangers (as well as an Ikebana holder and some clippers).

Flower Arranging Tools

I was anxious to experiment with my new toys, so when I found 20 long-stemmed roses on sale this weekend for $10, I indulged myself with a rare cut-flower purchase of creamy white roses with apricot-tinged centers, purple stock and eucalyptus.

Apricot-tinged White Rose

I inserted the larger arranger into a crystal urn and it worked great to hold the flowers snugly in place.

Perfect Arranger

Roses, Stock and Eucalyptus

Roses, Stock and Eucalyptus – From Above

Apricot-tinged White Rose

Stock and Eucalyptus

Stock

As always a big thank you to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for organizing and hosting. It is always fun to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday.

A Grapevine Wreath

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My garden club sponsored a grapevine wreath workshop earlier in the week.

One of the members provided enough grapevine material for twenty people, all culled from pruning this year’s growth from her vines. Another member who joined at the same time as I shared with me generous amounts of fresh greenery from her large property. I just needed clippers and gloves.

After a brief discussion about technique, we got to work and the wreaths went together quickly.

Grapevine Wreath

It was interesting to see how different each finished wreath was. Some were almost completely overlaid with glossy Magnolia leaves, others were brightly adorned with red Nandina berries, and then there was everything in-between, all reflecting the personality and aesthetic of the wreath maker. I chose to use the fresh materials as accent.

Grapevine Wreath

My friend had brought cuttings of boxwood, holly, as well as wonderfully fragrant eucalyptus and rosemary. She also had beautiful cedar with dark blue berries—I think it is Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar).

Eucalyptus leaves and Juniperus virginiana (Eastern redcedar)

Eucalyptus leaves

Juniperus virginiana (Eastern redcedar)

The grapevine’s curly tendrils enhance the wreath’s base. Next time I will choose even more carefully to ensure the vine is filled with these curlycue structures.

Grapevine Tendrils

Perhaps I’ll add a bow later but for now I like the simplicity. This workshop was a fun way to spend a couple of hours with energetic and friendly, garden-loving people.

pbmGarden

Sense of place, purpose, rejuvenation and joy

Tag Archives: Eucalyptus

In A Vase On Monday – Eucalyptus and Yellow

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide And A Practice

A Grapevine Wreath