I've done a little mantle modification since my last "In a Vase" post.
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I was yearning for a full, "traditional-style" arrangement and this is what I came up with.
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The base element (holding everything together) is a couple branches from Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Harmony'.
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Providing texture and chartreuse floral punch are a few stems of Euphorbia rigida.
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And bringing color that works with the fireplace tile, and other things nearby, a couple stems of Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow'.
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The ingredients, combined. Oh and I tucked in a few sprigs of Black Mondo Grass, just because.
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If you've ever cut fresh stems of Euphorbia rigida you know that white latex sap comes pouring out. I was careful to not get any on my skin, and when I cut the stem to the length needed for the arrangement I seared it with a flame, like I learned to do with cut Poinsettia stems in this tutorial. I figure it's supposed to help the Euphorbia live longer and it would certainly allow the water to stay fresher.
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To fill a vase at the opposite end of the mantle I clipped a few branches from Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Sentinel’, which is already in bloom. I thought about adding a few of the Euphorbia stems, or something completely different, but decided that I liked the tension between the full arrangement on one end and this simple one on the other.
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Now for the centerpiece! Yes, more paper flowers. These are "growing" on branches from Poncirus trifoliata...(my what BIG thorns you have!)...
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In the garden...
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I had a lot of fun making these flowers, they're all different – some based on the ones I made for the wreath (tutorial here) or a second style discovered here.
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Others I just started cutting, folding and gluing to see what I would end up with.
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I also planned to cut more Monstera deliciosa (split-leaf Philodendron) leaves and make a plant, but decided three was enough.
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However since I'd began trying my hand at making paper flowers with black and white pages I couldn't just let those flowers go to waste, so I made a few more and stuck them on another Poncirus trifoliata branch.
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I wanted this vase to have a little foliage so I cut some Callistemon 'Woodlander's Hardy Red' branches, luckily there were seed pods too for additional interest.
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The black and white pages also came from an old, falling apart, garden book.
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With these creations I think I've worked the paper flower thing out, although no doubt come gift-giving season I'll be using them in my wrapping efforts.
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So are you all familiar with the concept behind "In a Vase on Monday"? It's the creation of Cathy who blogs at Rambling in the Garden. She encourages us all to get out and see what we've got in our garden that can be cut and brought into the house to be enjoyed in a vase. It's a lot of fun, you should try it!
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All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I was yearning for a full, "traditional-style" arrangement and this is what I came up with.
The base element (holding everything together) is a couple branches from Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Harmony'.
Providing texture and chartreuse floral punch are a few stems of Euphorbia rigida.
And bringing color that works with the fireplace tile, and other things nearby, a couple stems of Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow'.
The ingredients, combined. Oh and I tucked in a few sprigs of Black Mondo Grass, just because.
If you've ever cut fresh stems of Euphorbia rigida you know that white latex sap comes pouring out. I was careful to not get any on my skin, and when I cut the stem to the length needed for the arrangement I seared it with a flame, like I learned to do with cut Poinsettia stems in this tutorial. I figure it's supposed to help the Euphorbia live longer and it would certainly allow the water to stay fresher.
To fill a vase at the opposite end of the mantle I clipped a few branches from Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Sentinel’, which is already in bloom. I thought about adding a few of the Euphorbia stems, or something completely different, but decided that I liked the tension between the full arrangement on one end and this simple one on the other.
Now for the centerpiece! Yes, more paper flowers. These are "growing" on branches from Poncirus trifoliata...(my what BIG thorns you have!)...
In the garden...
I had a lot of fun making these flowers, they're all different – some based on the ones I made for the wreath (tutorial here) or a second style discovered here.
Others I just started cutting, folding and gluing to see what I would end up with.
I also planned to cut more Monstera deliciosa (split-leaf Philodendron) leaves and make a plant, but decided three was enough.
However since I'd began trying my hand at making paper flowers with black and white pages I couldn't just let those flowers go to waste, so I made a few more and stuck them on another Poncirus trifoliata branch.
I wanted this vase to have a little foliage so I cut some Callistemon 'Woodlander's Hardy Red' branches, luckily there were seed pods too for additional interest.
The black and white pages also came from an old, falling apart, garden book.
With these creations I think I've worked the paper flower thing out, although no doubt come gift-giving season I'll be using them in my wrapping efforts.
So are you all familiar with the concept behind "In a Vase on Monday"? It's the creation of Cathy who blogs at Rambling in the Garden. She encourages us all to get out and see what we've got in our garden that can be cut and brought into the house to be enjoyed in a vase. It's a lot of fun, you should try it!
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.