I am not actually having a dinner party, although a Garlic Rosemary Pork Roast is going in the oven shortly. This blue bud vase contains a few flowers I have not cut before and I have a feeling it will not last through dinner. I call these dinner party arrangements, great for a party but not much longer. This is a better shot of the blue vase:
I picked up the vase at a church thrift store near my house this week. There were several and after arriving home, I wished I had bought three for you know, dinner parties! Imagine three flower filled blue vases with candles in between down the center of the table. I may need a return trip to the thrift store. Here is a closer view of the flowers:
The pink flowers are a new native addition to the perennial border, Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa). Yes, a groundcover Mimosa and Floridians consider this a replacement for lawn. I consider it a front of the border perennial that looks a lot like a weed. Possibly it’s first appearance IAVOM. I am waiting until after dinner to see if the petals fall off. The yellow and orange flowers are the faithful Gallardias that last in a vase and the garden. The blue flowers are from (I think) the native Porterweed, there is another potentially evil Porterweed lurking about, but I can’t tell the difference and it came with a plant I bought. The pretty blue flowers make a striking vertical accent. I have used this before and I think the pretty blue part falls off and you are left with the vertical accent.
Dessert with vertical accent only.
The Bromeliad in the middle is great vase material that sometimes dries in the vase only to be spray painted gold for the holidays, Aechmea miniata, the Miniata Bromeliad.
Speaking of Bromeliads, here is the mad tropical plant of the week:
This is a Blanchetiana Bromeliad in bud, I am 5’7″ and the buds are a bit taller than me.
I would like to share some thoughts with you all.
First, thanks to Cathy for hosting IAVOM.
I just want to say I am amazed and humbled by the knowledge and creativity I see every week.
And I love sharing these mad tropical plants with like minded people.
Happy Monday.
The Shrub Queen 
You are right, that second photo sets the vase off especially well. I like the way you decsribe it as a dinner party vase – and hoe you can still add the two other vases to make a trio!! As always I do so enjoy seeing and haering about your tropical plants and I am so pleased to know how much you enjoy IAVOM and everything it entails. I know how much pleasure it gives us all and this is why i try to be so diligent in my postings and comments, so thanks for your kind comments
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And I love seeing your (to me) exotic and weird and wonderful flowers too! That Bromeliad is amazing. I am very struck with that vertical sprig with the blue flower, and even if the blue flowers drop (onto a crisp white tablecloth?) they would be pretty! And when I see Mimosa flowers I just want to reach out and stroke them… Thanks for sharing your gorgeous plants each week! 🙂
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Thanks, Cathy, the blue flowers held up and the pink ones promptly wilted. Now I know. The blue flowers are sort odd but interesting.
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I was utterly perplexed by that blue-flowered plant – since the genus isn’t even listed in my western garden guide, I’m guessing it doesn’t grow here, which is just too bad, weed or not. I like your mimosa too – it’s much superior to my version (Albizia julibrissin), which is currently continuing to drop brown fuzz all over my back garden. And I’m over-the-top envious of the flowers on that bromeliad! I have a much smaller version of the same plant in a pot, purchased last year bare root purely for the foliage, but now I’m considering releasing it into the garden to see if I can get flowers like that.
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http://www.south-florida-plant-guide.com/porterweed.html Here is a link to good info.The plant is not very pretty but I like the flowers. That Bromeliad is a good one, blooms every July and makes pups. It is in nearly full shade growing in sugar sand with pretty limited water. Not so sure about the Mimosa.
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Cocktail dress arrangement…..with super exotic blooms. Canape and cocktails I think!
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OK, I will do that, or wine and cheese! Tropical attire.
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Haha – mad tropical plants – I love it!
I love thrift store vases – I always look when I pass on by. Definitely go back and get the others! 🙂
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They are pretty mad, some are more like The Far Side.
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Great vase. Always enjoy your creative take on using tropicals. 🌴
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thank you
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