This week I decided to use my heirloom vase collection and limit myself to one type of flower per vase using different foliage types to accent the flowers. The terracotta cats are also heirlooms, inherited from my mother and they are offering comments on the arrangements. The cats are contented by the brown vase, interested in the blue vase and napping by the vase on the right.
This vase was acquired by my mother on a trip through the Western United States shortly after my parents retired. The origin of the contented cat I am not so sure about. The plants in the vase are: in red, Parrotflowers (Heliconia psittacorum), the bigger leaf is from a Split Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron selloum), the green stem is a budding flower stalk from a Draceana reflexa, some people call these Pleomele. The actual Draceana flowers are an odd brown stringy affair that I was very disappointed in the last year.
This is another vase collected by my mother on her Western adventure. Made by the Ute Indian tribe, it remains a favorite of mine. I think the cat is excited by all the foliage in this one. The purple flowers are from a Hong Kong Orchid (Bauhinia purpurea) tree, the fine textured fern is the Asparagus Fern, viny elements are Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundafolia) shoots, a few sprigs of Miniature Varigated Pineapple foliage, and the berries of Gumbo Limbo (Bursea simarouba)
The vase is a blown glass footed object collected by my in laws at their various arts and crafts show outings. It reminds me of them and I use it for small arrangements. The cat is snoozing here as he is worn out from remembering the botanical names in the previous vase. This is simply a bunch of Beach Sunflowers (Helianthus debilis) backed by Asian Sword Fern.
I also inherited my mother’s cat, she is now old enough to drive.
The Shrub Queen 
The cats are so cute! I love that orchid tree flowers.
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Thank you, I like the Orchid flowers too. They last a few hours in the vase.
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These three were each special. I am so glad to see ANY flowers in January. The little cats and the big fluffy one are nice also. I like the idea of one feature flower in small vases. Good job Queen.
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Thank you, Flower. Flowers in January are wonderful.
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Oh my goodness, these are delightful – the third vase and cat are my favourites of the three but they are all lovely. Thanks for giving us the history on them too
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Thank you, Cathy. That seems to be the favorite, simple pleasures.
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So charming – love all FOUR cats, but I’m a sucker for anything feline. I enjoyed the back story you shared. A very pretty trio today, SQ!
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Thank you, Eliza
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What lovely vases and of course your arrangements are always so exotic and sophisticated, I love them all.
The real cat, at least I think it is a cat, it could be a cushion, looks just like a gonk I had as a child.
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Thank you! What is a gonk?? it is a real cat, you wouldn’t believe the fur, it is everywhere.
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Oh dear, I am showing my age here. Gonks were furry, spherical toy creatures and they were popular in the 1960′ s.
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Well, as I grew up in the 60s, too- we can assume it was an English thing.
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I love the vases and those terracotta cats are wonderful too. In my house, a certain cat would promptly swat the cats from their places to the floor. Your mother’s cat looks much more well-behaved.
Does your Bauhinia last long in a vase? I have another species (Bauhinia x blakeana), which has a vase life of only one or 2 days at best.
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Thank you, the cat is not very well behaved although we have finally achieved detente with her lavatorial issues. The Bauhinias are strictly a dinner party arrangement!
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I do enjoy seeing such exotic plants in your vases each week, and your props are lovely too. Although I am not a cat person, your mother’s cat looks so fluffy and cuddly I should love to gather her up and put her on my lap to keep me warm! 😉
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Thank you, the plants don’t seem so exotic to me. The cat, well, she wouldn’t cooperate. I am really a dog person that seems to end up with other people’s cats.
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