27th February, 2023

 

Hello all,

I have a number of bromeliads growing at the bottom of the garden, basically, thriving on neglect. It was when I was watering my dogwoods down there that I noticed two flowers on the Queen's tears bromeliad (Billbergia nutans). In such situations my first instinct is to cut the flowers and worry about what to do with them later.

For the above arrangement, I used the lower part of this, unidentified palm frond where the leves grow at a much sharper angle. I felt it worked well with the modern, stainless steel container. The softness of the flower contrasted well with the sharpness of the palm frond and container.

But, as I mentioned, I had two flowers. For the next piece I used a large, rectangular, glass container. I cut the middle section of the palm frond and inserted it diagonally in the vase. The bromeliad flower has its stem in the vase but hangs at the back of the container, outside of it.

Initially, I had used the flower as it was, without trimming....

 I was not happy with that because, even though the flower was outside the container, it, nevertheless, filled in the space that was created by putting the palm frond to the left. So I trimmed the flower and was better pleased.

There is a particular weed growing in a large mass by the side of the road that look quite beautiful with their russet-red inflorescences. When I last drove past I actually had time to stop and pick some. Once I removed their leaves, which were not attractive, I arranged them in this horizontal arrangement with Portugal laurel berries and hydrangeas that are just starting to change colour. The vase is metal.

My cousin, Nick, gave me a umber of cycad fronts a month ago. I used a couple of them previously but I still had some in the bucket in good condition, which I could not allow to go to waste.

I played with bending them but they snap. However, they still remained attached to the stem. By intertwining the tips, I was able to make them support each other and created an interesting space between them. I've been watching how this particular crucifix orchid was growing for some time and thought it would be perfect for this application. It curves to the back, then curves forward. Most accommodating of it. The narrow, ceramic container is quite deceptive because it can hold a lot of water, making it heavy enough  to hold the stems, which are extended sideways.

Again, at the bottom of the garden, I was surprised and delighted to see a fully open Belladonna lily. The first in my garden.  And, as is my wont, I cut it first and then walked around the garden, with the lily in one hand, looking for appropriate materials to go with it. Usually, ideas come to me rather quickly but I struggled with this one. The flower head, which is made up of a number of individual flowers is so big and rigid in its habit that I spent some time before settling on a beautifully curved stem of the Siberian dogwood (Cornus Siberica alba). The flower tends to fall forward, so I added nandina domestica inflorescences and some leaves to the back. I'm sorry you can't see the proper curve of the stem as it sweeps forward.

I gave the arrangement, below, to someone as a 'thank you' for some work he did for us. He was absolutely delighted with it but thought it was a potted plant that would keep on growing. Sadly, I had to disabuse him of the notion. Those of you who have seen the street sculpture 'Love Flower' will notice the resemblance with the agapanthus. I used umbrella grass (Cyperus alternifolius) stems and a hydrangea to cover the florists' foam.

Mary's curriculum lesson was 'In a suiban without a kenzan'. She used Siberian dogwood and snapdragons in a ceramic suiban, keeping the stems of both trimmed neatly, so that their lines are emphasised and a canopy is created.

Bye for now,

Emily