I called this ‘South of the Border’ as most of the plants are from Mexico and it has a festive vibe, just need some Enchiladas (have some in the freezer, chicken) and maybe a cold beer with a lime squeezed in. Voila! South of the Border Party. A Mariachi Band would be a great addition.
Here is a close up:
The bigger orange flowers in the arrangement are Mexican Bush Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera), reportedly a great hummingbird and butterfly plant. I have had this in the garden for a few years and noticed none of the above. The smaller orange flowers are from the Mexican Flame Vine (Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides). No, I could not spell that one on a dare. The vine is an escapee of the confines of my neighbor’s garden and the butterflies do love this one. It climbs through the hedge of Surinam Cherries and I don’t mind a bit. Every now and again I give it a whack with the loppers. The grey foliage in the arrangement is from the Licorice Plant (Helicryseum petiolaris); when reading about this plant you will find mentions of ‘slight scent of Licorice’. For the record, this plant is native to South Africa and I have never detected any licorice odor, despite having them in my garden off and on for decades.
Given the images of indoor Amaryllis on IAVOM this winter, I thought you all might like to see the one that lives in my garden. The bulb originally belonged to my father in law, Glenn, who is long gone. I have had it for decades and planted it in my garden about six years ago. Currently, it is about 3 feet tall, not staked, and has 4 flowers and 8 buds on three stalks. I was taking pictures in a high wind, so add some imagination. The ferns have overrun things a bit.
Interestingly enough, Glenn’s birthday is March 20, the Amaryllis is usually flowering in celebration.
Happy Birthday, Glenn from my garden and Happy Monday.
The Shrub Queen 
Lovely, Queen.
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Thank you, Becca.
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Every time I open a vase post from you, I say “oh wow!”; today was no exception, in fact this is one of my favourites, rather good that some of it is really your neighbour’s plant.
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That is a seriously impressive amaryllis and there absolutely NO chance of growing anything as glamorous as that in a UK garden! And what a wonderful way to remember your father in law! I love your little orange flower too – I could do with one of those working its way into my garden – again, no chance! Not on the east coast of Scotland! Snow on the hills today! Here is my offering this week! Amanda https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2019/03/sweetly-pretty-vases-on-monday.html
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Thanks, Amanda, I am of Scottish descent and have never actually been there. There is a bit of Grant plaid around. I bet there are very few Mexican flowers in your garden.
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Oh the warm orange color of your vase is a visual delight! Hope you enjoy your fiesta. What a treat to see an Amaryllis growing outside and especially because it came from your father in law’s garden. Happy Birthday, Glenn.
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Thank you, Peter. I am sure Glenn is smiling from the Great Beyond at your comment.
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Gosh, that really did hit me in the face when I clicked onto your post, Amelia! What wonderful assets to have, even if some are from your neighbour’s garden. And the amaryllis – that is just like the ‘Red Lion’ variety that is available in the UK although of course it would have to be grown inside and would never grow that tall – AND most of us dispose of gthem after flowering because it is so hard (and a faff) to get them to reflower 😉 Thanks for sharing everything today
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Thanks, it is pretty bright orange and I could never grow the Amaryllis in the house, it probably is a Red Lion, it started out as a Christmas forced bulb. I am from Atlanta, which is far enough south to grow Amaryllis outside, though it was rare to see them.
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Lovely warm oranges. I had a Mexican Flame Vine in a pot for a few years but it was just too much trouble to keep it going in winter and it never looked as good as yours. A fabulous arrangement and how wonderful to keep Red Lion going for years.
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Thank you, Liz. I usually dislike vines rambling through things, but this one is the exception. It is spectacular this time of year. I will take some more pictures. I wonder how old the Red Lion is. At least 20 years.
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I love the orange and grey combination…subtle and exotic at the same time.
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Thank you, I think the Bush Honeysuckle is exotic, a lot of these things I don’t.
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I love any plant that has Mexican in its name. You just reminded me, I wanted to plant a Flame Vine this year. How do you get the Amaryllis to grow? Mine were great for years and they all stopped blooming. I even dug them up, put them in storage for the winter and still got nothing.
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I do, too. They are usually tough and do well in our gardens. The Amaryllis is in a sweet spot in the garden, part shade moist and well drained or maybe my father in law is keeping it going..this is the best year ever, I am not sure I have ever seen one with 12 flowers.
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The orange and gray colors makes a splendid combination, which I’ll keep in mind for future use. I wish I had that Justicia growing in my own garden. I had Hippeastrum growing in the ground in my former garden but have yet to pull off the trick in my current one, not for lack of trying.
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Thanks, Kris. It needed something soft and grey to break up the screaming orange. There is a sweet spot in the garden, part shade, moist and well drained and the Amaryllis loves it.
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Wow, that Amaryllis is amazing! And your vase is fabulous too. Love that plant name…. the question is, can you pronounce it?! Orange flowers make me think of warm nights and summer breezes. Aaah, lovely! 🙂
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Thanks, Cathy. That botanical name is something and no, I could not hope to say it. The weather is warm today and the Amaryllis has opened more buds, will have to take more pictures. I never could grow them in the house. Orange is a summery color.
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Again, not much to recognize. I though I recognized the Mexican honeysuckle as lion’t tail. Oh well. I have heard of it, but have not seen it bloom like that.
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