Imagine my surprise when my stealth dog, Zepp, strolled up and started to have a bite of the Nodding Hibiscus. He was advised not to eat the flowers and they were moved to a higher shelf. I was happy for my phobia about bringing poisonous plants in the house. Zepp is oddly silent for a counter height dog and can startle me by materializing out of the darkness when in the fenced area at night.
The other Dawgs this arrangement reminded me of are Georgia Bulldawgs, the mascot of my alma mater, and the team colors are red and black. “Go Dawgs” is the battle cry at football games.
Here’s a better shot of the arrangement:
The black glass vase is a thrift store find from years ago I like to use with tall, thin plant material. Red spikes are Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea), these reseed prolifically and produce different colors, the latest is a nearly black stem I love. A few red Firecracker Plants (Russelia equisetiformis) are hanging over the base of the arrangement. The red flowers draped over the edge are Nodding Hibiscus (Malvaviscus penduiflorus), I am pretty sure these are edible, but didn’t try them out on Zepp as they can have a laxative effect – not good in a 80 lb. dog. The white flowers are branches from the Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora), a large shrub with strange tropical fruit (known for its resinous taste). The branches remind me of plum or cherry flowers and are reminiscent of spring. The grey spike in the middle is the flower of a Flapjack Kalanchoe, a favorite succulent in my garden. I thought a little bronze foliage was in order, so the straplike leaves in the back were added. They are from Blanchetiana Bromeliads.
A closer view:
Thanks to Cathy at http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting IAVOM. Follow the link to her blog to see more vases from around the world.
Happy Gardening..
The Shrub Queen 
My cat tries to eat every plant that comes in the house.
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Yikes! be careful with that one. It still surprises me how many plants are poisonous.
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I had a list of toxic and poisonous when my kids were little. Pretty much, most plants were toxic. The kids are gone, so now I can plant the poisonous ones.
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I love that tall thin vase, and as you say there will be some things you know will be perfect in it. The close up picture shows the subtle detail of the cherry and salvia blooms, and the overall effect is most pleasing, as always. Thanks for sharing
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Thank you, Cathy..did you notice the crystals?
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I did indeed! They were the first things I noticed and then I read the rest of the post and got distracted and forgot to comment!
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Very pretty! the red, green and silver reminds me of Christmas esp.with the bell-like hibiscus ornaments. 🙂
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Thank you..I am not sure why there is so much red and green in the garden..
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Zepp certainly adds a certain style to the whole arrangement, maybe a new red collar is due? He would grace any chic flower boutique and have the clientele returning week after week.
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Thank you, he would look dashing in a new red collar..
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The cherry flowers are lovely and I think the silvery spike of the Kalanchoe in the middle is really effective. Zepp seems to be admiring the arrangement too in your photo! 😃🐾
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Thanks.Zepp wanted a bite.
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Wow, I do not believe that I have ever seen (or noticed) a flapjack kalanchoe bloom. I never really though of it. I think of it as a small sculptural foliar plant. I must have seen them in Southern California.
It does not matter anyway. With Zepp there, I ignore the flowers.
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They flower and then they die, the flowers produce little Flapjacks. I am thinking I will put them in a mass with the pineapple plants. Zepp was going to eat the Hibiscus.
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