This is truly a cross cultural experience. The plants, while grown in South Florida, hail from both sides of our planet, Southeast Asia and Brazil. The terracotta man in the vase is an incense burner from Pier One that belonged to my brother in the late 1970’s. I am not sure exactly where he came from but the concept was Pre Columbian. I think.
The red and yellow swirling crab claws are the flower of a Blanchetiana Bromeliad, a native of the eastern side of Brazil. The plant itself is about four feet tall by six feet wide. It has been flowering for about six weeks, of course the flower is on the side I can’t really see unless I am turning the compost heap. So, I decided to cut it and enjoy it in the house as long as it lasted.
These Bromeliads are relatively common in South Florida and I nearly wrecked my car the first time I saw one. Talk about wild and crazy plants, the foliage can be orange, red, green or yellow and it is big. Even though I had experience with Bromeliads I didn’t realize how big they grew. Another houseplant myth busted by Tropic Florida.
The foliage is a frond of a Lady Palm (Rhaphis excelsa). This palm is native to the Rainforest in Southeast Asia, an understory plant that enjoys shade and water. Relatively hardy, it will grown north to Orlando, and is a favorite of mine for interior use as a potted plant. I bought one a couple of years ago and it sat in the pot a little too long, so it is a bit lopsided and has finally recovered its healthy deep green color and need a little trim.
Here is a shot of my Rainforest Garden, where the Lady Palm lives.
The Shrub Queen 
Beautiful vase. I would have never thought of putting the little man in a vase. I find even here, letting houseplants loose is not always a good idea.
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Thank you, the little man has been hanging around for decades and finally gets some use. Incense is not my thing. True, Boston Fern can take over!
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I always love your exotic choices for your vases; one of the fun things about this intercontinental meme.
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Thank you, Christina and I agree it is so much fun to see what is growing elsewhere. My Cactus Zinnias have just started to flower and are puny!
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Was it too hot for them before?
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Probably, I haven’t tried them in summer. My neighbor told me they were very buggy and it is amazing what annuals you can’t grow here in the Summer. I think I left them in too much shade and am moving them further into the sun.
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This makes a fantastic arrangement.
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Thank you.
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Love the little man. This is another example of why I follow your blog. You never know what will show up. You are the QUEEN!
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Thank you, I fell out of the box many years ago. And love weird and unusual things.
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So creative and that crab claw is fantastic.
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Thank you, Eliza and belated Happy Birthday.
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Thank you! 🙂
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I love the simplicity of this – which just shows that we don’t need to stuff our vases full of blooms for them to bring pleasure. Thank you for reminding us of this
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Thank you, I propose that it would be difficult to find another plant to stand up to that!
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Ah, at last a glimpse of your garden, how lovely. I would love to see more. A stunning arrangement, so dramatic.
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Thank you, beyond the edge of the photo is a pile of debris from the hurricane – the county is very slowly clearing things out. More later, without piles!
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The terracotta man was a delightful addition to your vase. I love that bromeliad flower but almost fell to the floor when you mentioned it cam from a 4’x6′ Blanchetiana. I have a small specimen of the same plant but never realized it could get that large, although in a pot and water-deprived I’ll probably never see that happen here.
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Kris, these are so enormous they are hard to place in the landscape – and sharp as well, but the flowers are spectacular and last for a couple of months. I have some bright yellow foliaged ones that have yet to bloom. The man was to keep the vase from tipping over, structural decoration.
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Dramatic!
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Yes, it is a bit startling when you walk in the front door.
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What a striking juxtaposition.
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After cutting the flower I contemplated the contrasting element for a long while.
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I could do the same. But it wouldn’t result in something lovely….
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When you find a flower like that in Canada…it won’t need a friend.
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