Some days it seems I am the one going to seed. Maybe people are like plants, some look better than others while going to seed.. The tropical Lotusleaf Begonias (Begonia nelumbifolia) are one of my favorites when going to seed. They make lovely triangular, chartreusy seed heads that tower above the foliage. I have never had a Begonia grow from a seed dropped in my garden, but it is entirely possible I have not left them on the plant long enough.
A closer view:
I started out with the idea of using a hand tied bouquet to make the Begonias stand upright – then the slant grew on me and I added foliage to emphasize the non-political right slant.
The crystal vase, a wedding gift from a dear friend who I worked on perennial gardens with in Atlanta. The left leaning plants in the arrangement are: in black with coral spotted leaves, Piecrust Croton (Codieum varigatum). This shrub is used as a foliage accent in the garden. The new growth is yellow and green and eventually darkens. An amazing variety of colors exist in this well loved tropical shrub. Maybe the left lean is appropriate. The ferns, added for a green, graphic backdrop are from Florida’s native Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata). The day after the US Presidential election, my right leaning neighbor came out with his weedeater and cut the ferns in my garden down. The reason for this remains a mystery to me. The trimming rejuvenated the Boston Fern. The two strap like leaves are from a Neoregelia Bromeliad that is also on its way out. I cannot tell in some cases when to cut the mother plant off and get rid of it. Bromeliads are peculiar in the way they reproduce. I buy a plant, it may or may not flower, sooner or later a side shoot appears, called a pup, and then the original (Mother) plant dies. The pup on this one is nearly as big as the mother plant. The Neoregelia Bromeliad:
The Neoregelia Bromeliad in the front of the image is the mother plant, you guessed it, going to seed! I should add; very few Bromeliad have produced seed in my garden, though it happens. I am told growing Bromeliads from seed is a long, excruciating process – it’s better to use the pups for new plants.
Many thanks to Cathy at http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting and maintaining this wonderful meme. I enjoy the weekly posts from around the world. Follow the link to see more (probably upright) vases.
Happy Gardening!
The Shrub Queen 
The begonia seedheads are such a pretty colour, and I like the use of croton at the base (that can be bought as a houseplant in the UK, but it would still be fussy). What an odd action on the part of your neighbour – was nothing ever said? If it was a tentative political act it’s actually quite amusing, especially as it didn’t permanently harm your ferns
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Thanks, I would not want to try the Crotons indoors, the scale would eat them up. I am amused by the guy next door anyway, he is quite a character and grows obscure palms.
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I would have never thought to use the seedheads in an arrangement. It has a great color. That is strange about your neighbor. I love that we all live behind 6 foot wooden fences.
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I think the Begonia seedheads are my favorite. Trying to remember who said good fences make good neighbors, Robert Frost??
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Those are indeed pretty seedy flowers, Amelia 😉 Your neighbor’s behavior is odd to be sure but then the beliefs of many right-leaners perplex me almost daily. I share your confusion about when to cut some bromeliads down post-bloom, often leaving them alone while waiting for pups that never appear.
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The people are the Bromeliads are perplexing.
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My mother had crotons in her garden in Mauritius, and similar plants to the ones you use, so it is a joy to be reminded of what was growing in the garden when I was little. You were so right to use the begonia flowering stems with the seed heads mixed in.
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Thank you, Mauritis must have fascinating plant life. I love a lot of things that are native there.
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That is one wild-looking begonia seed head, it even looks heavy! While I admire folks who grow plants from seeds, and taking years to flower, if there is a division available, I’m taking it!
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Same here. The seed heads are surprisingly light.
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Those seeds are lovely, even while leaning to the right! 😉 I only get plants I don’t really want seeding themselves around, and the nice ones are less accommodating, so it must be universal!
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Indeed! the prolific reseeders drive me crazy..
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Once in a while, something fun appears. We needed to pull up birches, but had use for them in other landscapes. The understock for my Schwedler maples are Norway maple seedlings which I pulled up because I know how invasive they can be in other regions.
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Aren’t maples invasive everywhere?! 😉
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Oh, no. Our native bigleaf maple is sporadic in the forest here. It would be nice if there were more of them. The Norway maples that I grew up with in suburban areas were not invasive because they were sterile cultivars.
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Maples are not invasive here in the eastern US. They are part of the climax deciduous forest.
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Invasive maples would seem weird for Florida.
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I like the Lotusleaf Begonia. Nice to be able to use it as it goes to seed. I can’t think of what to say about the neighbor. Have a good week.
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The seed heads hold up in an arrangement better than the flowers. The neighbor is weird..Happy Friday.
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