Modern was the first word that popped into my head after I put this vase together. Sometimes I wonder where these things come from. I suppose, in my mind, this is just really not an old fashioned vase of plonked wildflowers. Except in South America where some of these plants probably are wildflowers. Food for thought.
After a little online searching, I found a long trip would be necessary to gather this particular group of plants as wildflowers – from Southeast Asia to the Gulf Coast of Mexico then down to Southern Brazil. A trip around my gardens seems much simpler.
Close up, please!
There are two Bromeliads in the arrangement, both from Southern Brazil. The flowers are Quesnelia testudo, they have been flowering for about two months and are nearing their end. They don’t last long in the house, so I decided to enjoy them while they last in a vase. The foliage on the Quesnelia is needle sharp and bright yellow green; I try to stay away from it and use loppers to cut the flowers. The green foliage with pink tips is from Painted Fingernail Neoregelia Bromeliads. This is one of my favorites and a stalwart in South Florida gardens. The flowers aren’t very showy, but the olive green foliage with fuchsia tips is worthwhile year round in the garden.
Other foliage in the vase: in purple, hailing from Mexico, Purple Queen (Transcandentia pallida ‘Purpurea’) I like this name so much better than what I learned in school – Setcresea, what is that? Once again, my favorite sidekick with flowers is Asian Sword Ferns.
We had a very rainy Sunday morning here and I am looking forward to clear skies next week. I am happy all the plants got a good long drenching and hopefully the wind stays away long enough for the water to soak in.
Thanks to Cathy at http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting. Follow the link to see more vases.
Happy Gardening!!
The Shrub Queen 
I really like the solid colours of this (and the spherical vase) – and those purple tradescantia leaves are brilliant! Interesting thoughts about what constitutes a ‘wildflower’ – I googled pulmonaria yesterday to see if they were native to the UK – and they weren’t, although they have been around since about the 17th century!!
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Thank you, Cathy. I was surprised to read about what I consider an exotic Begonia being a common ditch plant by the road in South America. So much for the glamorous Begonia.
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I am trying to imagine all the bromeliads in your garden that you can cut them.
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Bromeliads actually spread like groundcover and the masses get big! It is hard to imagine if you have only seen them in pots in greenhouses. Imagine weird Liriope.
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They are special here. A man at garden club, who had a greenhouse, would bring his in for show and tell.
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It is hard to make a good analogy to a plant that would grow in Houston. The Bromeliads can and have gotten away from me here. They are climbing over each other and up palm trees.
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Oh, that really is modern, but in an old fashioned 80s sort of manner.
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I think you are right! One of those tropical 80s arrangements.
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Nice! They remind me of torches, lighting the way. 🙂
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Thanks, they look like smaller versions of Torch Ginger to me.
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I can’t imagine having a single vase-worthy bromeliad flower, much less a large bouquet of them like that, Amelia. It’s fantastic. The purple leaves make a beautiful accent too.
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Thank you, Kris. I enjoy the Bromeliads..
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Very pretty pinks and greens, which happen to be my favourite colours at the moment. 😉 If I saw an arrangement like that here I would not believe it was real – such foliage and flowers might only be seen as houseplants in this part of the world.
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The Bromeliads are considered very cold hardy here – to 25 F!
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It was 12°F (-11°C)here last night, and currently around freezing point!
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Not Bromeliad friendly!
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Another Ah lovely moment when I first saw your arrangement of tropical flowers. Thanks for sharing.
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Well that warmed me up! Gorgeous!
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Thank you.
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