Given the recent marches in protest of, at this point, seemingly nearly everything related to science, nature and politics, I was surprised to find there’s yet another Revolution brewing. Involving flower arrangements!
My favorite neighbor saved an article for me from the New York Times Style section regarding the revolution in flower arranging being brought about by the Milennials. Seems people are going back to flowers from their gardens and seasonal foraging to fill their vases. Pesticide ridden roses from South America are being eschewed for, in my opinion, more beautiful flowers. If this is a Revolution I am all for it! Here is a link to the article Floral Revolution Link.
I am certain this is not a revolutionary arrangement from my garden, it is however a new combination. Ascending, and in red, are Turks Cap Hibiscus ( Malvaviscus pendulifloris); in white and slightly bigger are Tropical Gardenias (Tabernaemontana divaricata), the smaller white flowers with seed heads are Sweet Begonias (Begonia odorata). The bigger orange flower is Mexican Bush Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera), the other orange flowers are from our native Firebush (Hamelia patens var patens). I thought the star of the revolution would be the Gardenias but I think the Turks Cap Hibiscus gets my vote. I fertilized a nearby palm with some divine organic palm fertilizer and that Turks Cap has never been happier. The vase is a thrift store find. Celadon green and I am certain hand thrown – clunky in the most marvelous way things crafted by hand can be.
The new animal friends (I hope) in my garden this week are:
The lizard is a Northern Curly Tail Lizard, about 8 inches long and bearing a striking resemble to an Iguana. Having never seen one in my garden before, I read up on them and there’s a good reason – it is a relative of the Iguana, fortunately smaller. The Northern refers to the northern Bahamas!
The Zebra Longwing butterflies have come back out with the flowering of the Firebush. These are a favorite of mine and the state butterfly of Florida.
Vasers, Happy Monday and please carry on with the Revolution.
The Shrub Queen 
I am glad to hear of the revolution involving shipped flowers. The flower industry has not been kind to Ecuadorians.
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Those Turk’s Caps do look like they are on steroids. We don’t have any lizards here that are that big. Or at least not yet.
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Yes, the best Turks Caps ever! The iguana type lizards are not very cold hardy so I think you are safe.
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That’s good because we have gotten some non-natives recently.
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i think the anoles are about 50/50 cuban here and the frogs as well.
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It’s a quick trip from Cuba.
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Very, these lizards have been making their way up here for decades. One freeze and they’re gone for a while.
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This is a striking arrangement. Love the Zebra Longwing also.
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Thank you
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Hail the Revolution! While this concept isn’t new (Martha Stewart and others started similar style in the 80s), most of the FTD crowd still is solidly in standard fare. I’ve always loved the wild/garden style.
Love your flora and fauna…esp. the turk’s cap and butterfly.
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Thanks, Eliza. The Revolution is in full swing here, I thought it was interesting the millenials getting credit for it!
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Each new generation thinks they’ve invented a new concept (probably because they weren’t around for the first wave). After all, it is new to them!
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I think Instagram catapulted this new generation into the media. I have to send you a picture of my slowly forming Heliconia rostrata.
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Yes, please do!
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Done
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I loved it… Thanks!
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I’ve been following Erin Benzakein of Floret Farms for a couple of years now. You may want to check out slow flowers dot com too – Debra Prinzing is sometimes spoken of as the mother of the movement. As usual, your arrangement is colorful and exotic. My favorite element this week is the firebush, which I’ve only recently seen offered for sale here – I have to look into whether it can handle our dry conditions.
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Interesting – going back to what our grandmothers did and more seasonal plant materials (as it should be?) Try a Firebush they grow in an unirrigated sugar sand strip behind my house, I like the Florida native which is Hamelia patens var patens. The plain patens is from the Caribbean and gets scale badddd here.
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Yes, bring on this revolution! Your vase combination is, as always, an intriguing mix of things I don’t know – thanks for sharing!
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The mix of the great unknown, Florida defined in 5 words!
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So many wonderful textures and shapes here. Those little begonias are so sweet! Excellent sentiments about the floral revolution, and a lovely article – thanks for sharing it. Instagram is full of #grownnotflown and I for one am glad.
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Thank you. Grown not flown is a great slogan, I like it! Just started Instagram yesterday!
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Ooh, I shall look you up!
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Vasers! What a great word; I will have to remember it. I read that article as well. What i noticed in some of their bouquets though is that they are still making creations with flowers that don’t bloom at the same time. So they are getting them from somewhere that’s not a cutting garden. Maybe they have their own greenhouse? Love you bouquet and your garden visitors.
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Thanks, I am not sure who coined the term Vasers but I like it too. My impression is the new floral arrangers (not florists) have growers and specify what they want. How it gets grown is up to the grower.
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Love it! Your vase is full of great colours and a beautiful shape. And all such exotic blooms for me. I think Cathy’s meme should have deserved a mention in that article too! 😉
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Thank you and I agree IAVOM should have been included.
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I love the idea that flower arranging and Revolution can be in the same sentence! Grown not flown is what we should all be insisting upon. I love your exotic mix, so different to anything I can pick. Shall look you up on Instagram
Yes IAVOM should have been mentioned.
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Dorris, there is one whole picture on Instagram and thanks
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