Happily, we are not in Hurricane season in South Florida as of yet. This Tropical Depression is caused by tropical flowers placed in a Depression Glass cream pitcher I found years ago while cleaning up my parent’s house after they had passed on. I cannot recall where it came from – it could have belonged to someone important, a family heirloom, or it could be junk from a garage sale. The identity of the original owner is lost in the sands of time.
The orange flowers are from my Mexican Bush Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera). This honeysuckle has just started flowering again after taking a winter rest. Not related to the Lonicera this is closer to Shrimp Plants and is considered a desert tropical that likes regular water – this makes absolutely no sense to me, but the plant is thriving in my side garden and flowers about six months out of the year. So, I like the desert tropicals.
The Heliconias are flowering as well, about half the ones I have in the garden. The other half, both bigger Lobster Claw types are still considering their moves. I find the Lobster Claws have to think for years before flowering. The solid red flower is Dwarf Jamaican Helicona (Heliconia stricta) which is doing well in a very shady area. The red and yellow Parrotflowers (Heliconia psittacorum) like partial shade and bloom nearly year round taking a break during the driest part of the year. The Parrotflowers are just starting to flower again, telling me summer is on its way.
Green foliage in the vase is from the Mexican Honeysuckle, a nicely textured crinkly foliage that is fortunately evergreen. The red, yellow and green twisty leaves are from a Mammey Croton (Codieum varigatum). One of the more varigated plants I have ever encountered, Mammey is a low growing Croton (3′) that is a great accent shrub.
The Shrub Queen 
Nice combination. I love depression glass, it is a great item to have wherever it came from. Hopefully, it will be a quiet hurricane year.
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Thank you and I absolutely agree!
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Oh, how I like your exotic vases! This one is full of exotic birds too, just delightful the way they sit together chatting happily, celebrating spring perhaps?
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Danke. I agree the birds are all celebrating spring.
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Yes, it is always exciting to see what exotica you are going to have in your vase each week.Some are plants grown as houseplants in the UK – like the croton which I used to have one of when I focussed mostly on houseplants. Your vases just shout ‘tropical’! 🙂 Thanks as always for sharing
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This one is screaming tropical!
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🙂
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I love the drama of the Heliconias but their water needs regrettably put them out of bounds here. The depression era glass pitcher makes a great vase.
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Thanks, I am growing them on sugar sand irrigated every other day – it doesn;t seem they get that much water!
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I think we call it pressed glass. More cheerful?! Anyway lovely glass, green looks great with red flowers
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It is pressed commonly made in US during the Great Depression 1930s. I think you are right, though sounds much more cheerful.
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Ha didn’t know that fact
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Yes, I am a fountain of fun facts to know and tell.
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Lol
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The Mexican Bush Honeysuckle is a winner–very lovely. And I like your depression glass container. Have a friend who collects a lot of that glassware. Nice that yours has a bit of personal connection.
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If only I could remember where it came from….
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Even the names of your flowers sound so exotic! Lovely combination with those Honeysuckle flowers. 🙂
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Thank you
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This exotic vase is such a change from what we have here. It’s so interesting to see the range people can grow. Glad there was no real depression.
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I love the tropical plants although most of the native plants aren’t quite as exotic. I am not missing real depressions!
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Ooh, love that pop of Justicia – like little fireworks!
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Thanks, Eliza, Happy Spring!
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Thank you!
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I wuz wondering, once I saw that title! Lovely arrangement, dear florist!
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Thank you, Cynthia it is just the glass!
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Gorgeous zingy colours and just perfect in the bright green vase.
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Thank you, Liz. I bought some Nerines for my garden.
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Well done, I look forward to seeing them in bloom.
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