Flaming Gardenias sounds like a polite curse from women of a certain age, myself included. No cursing here, except maybe about the heat or politics, but the garden is not involved.
The red flower in the arrangement is a Flaming Torch Bromeliad. These do their name justice and appear at the apex of the hurricane season – another common name is Hurricane Bromeliad. The latin name, Billbergia pyramidalis. Here it is in the garden.
The Gardenias are the tropical kind, sometimes called Florida Gardenias although they are native to India. Tabernaemontana diviracata is the latin. The shrub is at least 10 feet tall and the fragrance, subtle and mostly noticeable really late or really early in the morning. During the Five AM Greyhound romp, I am enjoying the scent of Gardenias, the dogs..Armadilloes or something. It’s a group effort.
A closer view:
The backdrop, I do love a little foliage with textural contrast. The big leaf is from a Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) and the ferny bits – Asparagus Fern that pops up in the garden. The cobalt glass bowl, a gift from my brother, years ago. I love it with white flowers.
To see more vases from gardeners around the world, follow the link to Cathy at http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com.
Happy Monday and Happy Gardening.
The Shrub Queen 
Haha again – that does sound like a curse! I was puzzled by the title before I saw the vase as I thought surely gardenias are only in white? But because I know little about them I was prepared to hear differently 😉 Simple today, but oh so effective – thanks as always for sharing
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Thank you, Gardenias are always white as far as I know.
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It does look like a flame above the snowy white gardenias. Hot and cold! 😉 I like the use of the Seagrape leaf and wisps of fern, too.
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Fire and Ice! Thanks, Eliza..we are in the fire stage here for a few more months…
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I love the Flaming Torch, so much more dramatic than the Bilbergia nutans that I have. And beautifully set off by its white gardenia collar. Armadilloes? Really? What an exotic world you live in.
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Thank you, B. nutans is pale in comparison. Yes, Armadilloes, they drive the dogs crazy.
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I also had to think about the title of your very creative vase.
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Are you in the garden cursing your Gardenias?
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The Flaming Torch Bromeliad bloom is gorgeous in your vase. A friend just gave me two bromeliads but didn’t know their names. They never bloomed for her she said because they were getting too much sun. Hopefully they will bloom for me in the shady spot I planted them in.
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Always a surprise with Bromeliads. I probably found them while walking or at a garage sale…The Flaming Torch is one of my favorites.
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Are 5AM romps a normal thing for you? I guess I should be happy that the cat only sits on my pillow and licks my face at 4AM to signify that she wants her breakfast…Your bromeliads are magnificent. Blooms on the bromeliads here only an occasional happenstance.
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No matter how many times I see the gardenias, they remind me of the common sort that we try (mostly unsuccessfully) to grow here.
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The gardenias are less than half the size of usual gardenia flowers..
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But they are so exemplary. Gardenia blooms are not very big here because of the minimal humidity. They are grown more for their fragrance, because they are not much to look at.
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I have seen much more beautiiful Gardenias in the Deep South..
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They are happy there. My colleague in the Los Angeles regions grows small potted gardenias as annuals. He keeps them alive as long as possible, but they do not last much more than a year.
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I also thought you were cursing your gardenias when I saw the title! That red flower really is gorgeous and sits well in your vase with the gardenias. I hope the Armadilloes and dogs don‘t clash…. 😮
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Thank you, oddly, the Armadilloes can outrun the greyhounds.
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Great presentation. Love that red bromeliad in the midst of the white gardenias.
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Thank you, dictated by flowers! short stems.
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There you go!
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