It is a holiday week in the US, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. I live in South Florida, but in my mind, there should be a celebration with a vase of red and orange leaves and nuts and cones. These things are scarce in South Florida. I always think of my mother, a great gardener and Southern Lady this time of year. She always had the perfect seasonal centerpiece on the dining room table. So I went in search of a little bit of not so tropical flowers for this vase.
The vase in the picture is a sugar bowl from my formal wedding china, nestled in a della Robbia candle ring I made from nuts and cones collected near the townhouse my husband and I lived in when we first married, almost thirty years ago. My mother had a similar ring made by my father’s mother, though I can’t recall what became of it, the ring is one of the holiday touchstones of my youth, usually sporting a red or green pillar candle during the holidays.
I wonder if others call these della Robbia’s? I think that term applies to garland decorated terracotta pots. I was working towards a fall arrangement with tropical plants that did not look tropical! Hope it worked.
The leaves are from Copperleaf (Acalphya wilkesiana); red flower spikes, Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea); the linen towel from a very dear friend lost to cancer seven years ago this October.
Orange spikes are from Blanchetiana Bromeliad flowers; off white spikes from Juba Bush (Iresine diffusa); and grass flowers from Muhly Grass ( Muhlbergia capillaris). There is a stem of foliage with new red growth from Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uviflora)
Tropically, not tropical ?
Happy Thanksgiving, whenever celebrated and I am thankful for my garden blog friends.
The Shrub Queen 
Your arrangement reminds me of an Autumn garden bonfire. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving.
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I think you nailed it. It will look great for Thanksgiving.
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Absolutely beautiful. The design is exquisite and perfectly balanced, interesting colors and textures. Happy Thanksgiving! (I’ve not known “della Robbia.” Glad you have tied in a family connection).
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I have not come across ‘della Robbia’ either so I don’t think the term has crossed the Atlantic. It’s always good to have a family or other connection in our arrangements and I think you will have been pleased with the end result, which makes me think of a bonfire too. Happy times to everyone!
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I liked reading about your holiday memory traditions. I’ve slacked off a lot with the holiday decorating, but your centerpiece is certainly inspiring. Nicely done!
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Look at those gorgeous rich colours, summing up Autumn really! Enjoy Thanksgiving, and your table should be looking glamorous with such a lovely arrangement! Amanda https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2019/11/in-celebration-of-my-sweet-peas-in-vase.html
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I knew exactly what you were speaking of when you mentioned the Della Robbia ring. Yours is nicely done and has held up well – I was surprised to read that it’s almost 30 years old. I also think you handled your nod to Thanksgiving very nicely with your arrangement. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday!
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Perhaps when inspected closely you’d realize the material is tropical, but the colours and the della robbia ring (never heard of before, either) are definitively autumnal anywhere! Beautiful!
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Yes, it does not look tropical. It might help that I don’t recognize the components. It looks like sweetgum maces and unrecognized pine cones. The colors and textures look like what is out in the forest here.
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