I couldn't decide if was going to do an "in a vase..." post this week or not, there are so many other things competing for my attention...
For instance I keep meaning to do a "state of the garden" post, but every moment that I should be photographing I am instead working, and you've got to have the right mindset to actually stop and take pictures of death and destruction. It's not as easy as reporting on moments of beauty. Difficult decisions are being made left and right. "It looks like hell, but it might be alive" (trash it in a moment of weakness, or let it struggle a little bit longer?).
Towards the end of last week I made two difficult decisions. One of which resulted in material to kick start this week's vase, the other will be put off as long as possible, in hopes of enjoying future Magnolia (gasp) blooms, in a vase.
This is the only photo that shows the Lupinus albifrons before it was (heartlessly) cut back. And since I wasn't focusing on it, but rather that sad Magnolia laevifolia, you probably can't even see it.
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Here's a booster...it's circled.
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And cropped (bad photo alert!). Whatever. I hated it's long bare stem, and it had to be held upright with rebar and twine, or else it flopped over the Astelia next to it. I cut off all that luscious silver foliage. At least it's being used in a vase, and I am hopeful the stem will sprout. If not, well then I'll have learned my lesson.
![]()
So about that Magnolia. It was severely abused with the snow and ice that hit the garden this winter. In trying decide how to get it upright again (the bamboo only worked for about a week) I spent a lot of time looking at it.
![]()
And the more time I spent looking at it I realized it was not well placed. It was detracting from the garden as a whole, rather than adding to it.
![]()
I limbed it up, thinking that would make me feel better about it.
![]()
Instead it just made me want to get rid of it all together.
![]()
Damn. I know it's the right decision but it still sucks. I love this little tree!!! I will try to dig it out to rehome it but I don't think I can get enough roots. Second best option is to wait until it's blooming and at least use the flowers in an arrangement. A sort of sweet goodbye. Luckily I do have another Magnolia laevifolia in the garden so I will still be able to enjoy the flowers, just not the flowers on this plant.
![]()
But, time for happier things. The Lupinus albifrons ended up in a vase. Along with bits of Euphorbia rigida, χ Fatshedera lizei ‘Annemieke’ and seedy pods from Fatsia japonica 'Variegata'...
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It's a little lop-sided but I love the colors.
![]()
On the far end of the mantle Brachyglottis greyi (aka Senecio greyi) cuttings from weeks ago are still going strong. I added a Fatsia japonica 'Variegata' leaf just to keep the color palette going from one end to the other.
![]()
The Euphorbia are such a powerful blast of color...
![]()
Can't have too many of these.
![]()
The main attraction again.
![]()
The silver Lupine.
![]()
![]()
Ya, like I said. Can't get enough.
![]()
There's also a newly completed piece of Andrew's artwork on display. The text for the figure on the far left reads "day-long endeavor" and yes, that's a bottle.
![]()
Moving to the right, "cactus fruit harvest" and the figure has a tray of Opuntia fruit on her head.
![]()
At the far right a figure reclines in a pool "cooling with eels" and the bulb figure is "dark edison at rest"...
![]()
There's one more arrangement at the end, which repeats the ingredients seen before.
![]()
Lupinus albifrons, Euphorbia rigida, χ Fatshedera lizei ‘Annemieke’ and seedy pods from Fatsia japonica 'Variegata'.
![]()
As always visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for links to other bloggers sharing their vase creations this Monday.
Weather Diary, March 26: Hi 50, Low 44/ Precip .65"
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
For instance I keep meaning to do a "state of the garden" post, but every moment that I should be photographing I am instead working, and you've got to have the right mindset to actually stop and take pictures of death and destruction. It's not as easy as reporting on moments of beauty. Difficult decisions are being made left and right. "It looks like hell, but it might be alive" (trash it in a moment of weakness, or let it struggle a little bit longer?).
Towards the end of last week I made two difficult decisions. One of which resulted in material to kick start this week's vase, the other will be put off as long as possible, in hopes of enjoying future Magnolia (gasp) blooms, in a vase.
This is the only photo that shows the Lupinus albifrons before it was (heartlessly) cut back. And since I wasn't focusing on it, but rather that sad Magnolia laevifolia, you probably can't even see it.
Here's a booster...it's circled.
And cropped (bad photo alert!). Whatever. I hated it's long bare stem, and it had to be held upright with rebar and twine, or else it flopped over the Astelia next to it. I cut off all that luscious silver foliage. At least it's being used in a vase, and I am hopeful the stem will sprout. If not, well then I'll have learned my lesson.
So about that Magnolia. It was severely abused with the snow and ice that hit the garden this winter. In trying decide how to get it upright again (the bamboo only worked for about a week) I spent a lot of time looking at it.
And the more time I spent looking at it I realized it was not well placed. It was detracting from the garden as a whole, rather than adding to it.
I limbed it up, thinking that would make me feel better about it.
Instead it just made me want to get rid of it all together.
Damn. I know it's the right decision but it still sucks. I love this little tree!!! I will try to dig it out to rehome it but I don't think I can get enough roots. Second best option is to wait until it's blooming and at least use the flowers in an arrangement. A sort of sweet goodbye. Luckily I do have another Magnolia laevifolia in the garden so I will still be able to enjoy the flowers, just not the flowers on this plant.
But, time for happier things. The Lupinus albifrons ended up in a vase. Along with bits of Euphorbia rigida, χ Fatshedera lizei ‘Annemieke’ and seedy pods from Fatsia japonica 'Variegata'...
It's a little lop-sided but I love the colors.
On the far end of the mantle Brachyglottis greyi (aka Senecio greyi) cuttings from weeks ago are still going strong. I added a Fatsia japonica 'Variegata' leaf just to keep the color palette going from one end to the other.
The Euphorbia are such a powerful blast of color...
Can't have too many of these.
The main attraction again.
The silver Lupine.
Ya, like I said. Can't get enough.
There's also a newly completed piece of Andrew's artwork on display. The text for the figure on the far left reads "day-long endeavor" and yes, that's a bottle.
Moving to the right, "cactus fruit harvest" and the figure has a tray of Opuntia fruit on her head.
At the far right a figure reclines in a pool "cooling with eels" and the bulb figure is "dark edison at rest"...
There's one more arrangement at the end, which repeats the ingredients seen before.
Lupinus albifrons, Euphorbia rigida, χ Fatshedera lizei ‘Annemieke’ and seedy pods from Fatsia japonica 'Variegata'.
As always visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for links to other bloggers sharing their vase creations this Monday.
Weather Diary, March 26: Hi 50, Low 44/ Precip .65"
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.