I usually conjure up my vases on Sunday morning as many things in South Florida can get wilted in the afternoon. This morning I was scratching my head as it didn’t seem to me much was going on in the garden.
As I was walking around the garden it occurred to me what a wonderful exercise in seeing putting a vase together every week is. (This is also a flashback to design school -looking and really seeing) First, I noticed the berries on the Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Then the fluffy seedheads on the mystery plant:
Whatever this is popped up in my garden a few years ago and I left it for the flowers or seedheads, please let me know it you recognize it. I thought it was some sort of Amaranth, but don’t really know.
After finding the two base plants, I found the Red Shrimp Plants (Justicia brandegeana) and Beach Sunflowers (in yellow, Helianthus debilis) are still flowering and the thus far, oddly small Cactus Zinnias were added. Then I went around to my herb pots and snipped some Copper Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare “Purpurea”) to complete my arrangement. The flowers were placed in an vintage amber glass candlestick holder from Dansk, a favorite of my husband, repurposed for a vase on Monday.
Then it dawned on me, this was so easy it was like a day on the beach. So, I decided to go see how things were on Jensen Beach. If you are in a cold place I hope this warms your heart.
The Shrub Queen 
Lovely Amy, the Hamelia patens is gorgeous and looks so good with your Mystery Plant. The candlestick holder is the perfect vase.
I wish I could join you for a walk on your beautiful beach.
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Thank you, Liz, come on over, the tropical plant material would blow your mind.
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All your flowers went together well. The beach pictures are appreciated as our weather has turned wet and damp.
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Thank you, wet and damp can be nice if it has been dry and dry?
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Beautiful!! The sprays of ‘mystery plant’ offset the firebush and sunflowers perfectly.
Ah, a day at the beach would be so welcome – it is snowing here, though it is quite pretty and festive, so I can’t complain. I’ll save that for January. 😉
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Eliza, I just saw all your fabulous evergreen foliage and was green with envy! There are conifer like things here but it is just not the same. And I am sure the snow is white and pristine and beautiful, though there is sugar sand….
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Thank you! I like the snow for December, but by mid-January, I’m ready for spring, which won’t come ’til April, alas. Sugar sand by the sea sounds much more appealing. 🙂
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Six weeks of snow is ideal and then forget it? Considered Snowbirdom?
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Believe me, I would if I could!
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If I could figure out how to pack them I would suggest a Heliconia/Fir trade.
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Sweet idea! Though I’m afraid the heliconia would freeze before they arrived. 😦
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A delightful box of black mush!
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😀
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Beautiful vase! Wouldn’t mind one bit to spend a day at the beach! Have fun 🙂
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Thank you, beach weather has just started here.
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Your mystery plant looks a bit like Aruncus – perhaps check it out? It’s surprising what we can find for our vases sometimes even when we think the pickings are thin – your candleholder makes an excellent vase for your pretty finds. Enjoy the beach!
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It does look like Aruncus! But it is not. The mystery continues. The candleholder has never held a candle but has served as a vase many times.
Thanks, the winter is prime beachgoing here.
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Very pretty! I love that firebush every time I see it in your photos. I should find a spot to try one here. Your beach looks warmer than ours!
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Thanks, you should get a Firebush, they are very drought tolerant, however, also a magnet for scale. It is 85 degrees here today, pretty warm.
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Great textures in your arrangement. Would love to join you for a walk down that beach. Enjoy!
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Thank you, if you are near Charlotte it takes about 9 hours to get to my beach for a walk!
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Close to Raleigh (in Chapel Hill). I’d better get started.
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That adds some time to the trip.
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What an inspiring arrangement. It is cold and foggy here, so seeing the beach made my day!
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Thank you and stay warm.
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That is a really pretty arrangement Amy – so summery! Thanks for the beach photo… it is so very cold here that a walk across warm sand seems like a dream!
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Thank you, winter seems like a dream to me. The natives here are bracing for a Arctic blast – a high of 72 F later this week.
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I kept a shrimp plant as a house plant many years ago. I just love the form of the bloom. You vase is lovely. I really like the idea of “embers of the garden” right now. This phrase paints a lovely picture in my mind.
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I agree embers of the garden is lovely and thank you. I have Green Shrimp plant (a weed) and Red, the gold ones do well here also.
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What lovely colours. The firebush berries are a contininuing delight and your mystery plant looks great with the fennel. Do the leaves smell? It isn’t some kind of artemisia is it?
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Thank you the fennel smells like anise, the mystery plant does not. Interesting thought the artemisia, I will have to look into that – I think I am probably too far south.
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I don’t know your mystery plant. You are such a creative soul.That’s a very interesting arrangement.
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Thank you, Cynthia – the mystery plant remains a mystery.
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