The Florida Gardenia (Tabernaemontana divaricata) in my garden began flowering this week. I wanted to use it in a all white arrangement, but did not make it very far. The all white arrangement was kind of boring. I think the architect Robert Venturi said after hearing ‘Less is More’ one too many times – Less is a Bore. So, I added more color.
While putting this together I added a sprig of Sweet Almond to the Florida Gardenia and Sweet Begonia, then the first thing that popped into my head was this smells like White Shoulders perfume. When I was growing up, a friend’s mother used this as her ‘signature fragrance’ and you could smell her coming. I sneeze at the memory. Below is the Florida Gardenia, these are sometimes called Pinwheel Gardenias and are not quite as potent as Gardenia jasminoides.
I have been gardening so much over the past couple of weeks I have anything but white shoulders. A terrible farmer tan right down to the Birkenstock sandal marks on my feet. But the garden is looking good, and I have been enjoying my time outside. Here is a closer view:
The red flower is a Guzmania Bromeliad fading away; white flowers spilling over the edge of the vase are Sweet Begonias (Begonia odorata); varigated foliage is from Java White Copperleaf (Acalphya wilkesiana ‘Java White’); the ferns are Asian Sword Ferns.
Something about this reminds me of a corsage from the 1950s. Maybe it is the scent of White Shoulders.
Happy gardening and thanks to Cathy for hosting In a Vase on Monday. To see more vases, go to http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com.
The Shrub Queen 
Maybe you have a future in making perfume. I think everyone is going to have a great garden this year and a clean house.
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Ha, no, I really have the worst sense of smell. I think you are right and gardening is going to become more popular..
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Beautiful. That fern rising up at left lifts the entire design. I love the white but agree it looks great with it’s interesting companions.
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Thank you, Susie. I like the fern burst, too!
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That pop of red bromeliad was just the ticket – lovely design!
I’m working on my farmer’s tan, too. 😉 Yesterday, it reached 72 here – glorious!
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Thanks, Eliza that one is staying in the foyer a while…it must have been close to 90 here today – not glorious!!
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Whew, that is hot.
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The bromeliad is a geat focal point for this not-all-white vase – and I agree, all white might look a bit odd perhaps, but not boring, although invariably there would be green alongside the white and that’s a different thing altogether. Why would a perfume be called ‘White Shoulders’, I wonder? I remember Estee Lauder’s Youth Dew which every young adult wanted at one time, but my goodness! in hindsight it was SO strong! I do have other Lauder fragrances whicjh are my my signature ones though
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Youth Dew! I remember that and it was strong. My mother’s favorite was Chanel No 5, I like 19 but rarely wear perfume as bugs chase me. I found out recently I can grow Ylang Ylang in my garden, the primary component of Chanel No 5.
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It’s interesting to find it what the consitituent parts of a fragrance are, isn’t it?
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The white flowers overflowing the dark vase look really great, but I am also glad you added a bit of colour. That red flower is a lovely focal point. 😃 Very nicely put together!
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Thank you, Cathy it is a cobalt blue vase and needs some brightening up.
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I love your Florida Gardenia but I think the bromeliad makes the composition in this case. I was immediately drawn to the Acalypha leaf, which technically grows here, although you wouldn’t know that given my experience trying to keep it alive.
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Thanks, Kris. The Acalphya is disturbingly easy to grow here. I fear pruning will be involved, i have 3 kinds now and the first is approaching six feet.
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I grew up in a more tropical place, and seeing your wonderful vases reminds me of those times. I always loved the Ylang Ylang, and now understand why I loved No 5 when I was young even though it was ‘an old ladies scent’. Now I can’t wear any perfume as it gives me migraines….but I can still enjoy the beauty of your arrangements. Thank you for sharing them.
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Thanks, Noelle. Madagascar? is that right? The Ponciana have just started to flower here and I always wonder what their native land is like. Love the Chanel as well. I am an old lady now so I can wear it! Though, I am about the same about perfume, not quite migraines, but very unhappy sinuses.
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Stunning arrangement, just white could never have made such an impact. But the white flowers you have chosen are divine, I wish I could grow them. I love fragrance on flowers, but on people it makes me wheeze and sneeze.
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Thanks, Liz. I agree with you about fragrance, best left in the garden.
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All white would be rad too with flowers that look so good in white.
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I think an all white would be your favorite
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Yes, but it depends. Some of your flowers just happen to excel in white. There are some flowers that look better in another color. White is not right for all flowers.
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