After collecting flowers for my vase, I looked at what I had gathered and thought, “What a nice fall vase”.
Then, it dawned on me that fifteen years ago I would have thought no such thing. Moving to a frost free area changes your perspective on what a fall flower is – and then pineapples easily grow outside here. I have developed a pineapple perspective on gardening.
The flowers in the vase bloom prolifically in the fall and late summer to early fall is the prime pineapple season here. The town I live in, Jensen Beach, was at one time the pineapple capital of the world. Rarely, I run across a wild pineapple plant on the barrier island near my house. These are very sharp, the foliage covered in spines and have small pink pineapples.
The flowers:
The flowers are Parrotflowers (Heliconia psittacorum) “Lady Di” in red, and “Choconiana” in orange. These are hard to beat for a touch of tropical in the garden. The colored foliage is “Mammey” Croton (Codiaeum variegatum “Mammey”), a dwarf Croton that works great if a low shrub is needed. Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata) provides some green texture. The vase in an olive oil cruet that belonged to my mother.
The pineapple:
This is an overripe miniature pineapple with a twisting top. It is probably really seedy, these can be juiced or used for decoration. Either is a dicey situation as the whole thing is very sharp. That’s why it got left on the plant so long. I did not want to handle it.
That is all this Monday from the land of pineapples. Thanks to Cathy at http://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting. Follow the link to see more vases.
Happy Gardening!!
The Shrub Queen 
First of all, growing pineapples is so cool. I come from the far north with lots of snow and I really had a hard time with seasons. Figuring out clothes was hardest, as people here dressed for the season, not the temperature. Now I think the low 60s is cold and not sunbathing weather.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Homegrown pineapples are really good. It is worth the three years it takes! I think native Floridians and Texans are a bit weird.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow the pineapple capital. I had no idea. Such a cute pineapple. Your tropical flowers bring lots of warmth on this cooler day in the NE.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I am glad it is finally getting cool!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The pineapple capital of the world – who would have guessed?! I enjoyed your pineapple perspective today and the delightfully tropical vase you created – thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cathy. I think it was in the early 1900s, it is rare to see a pineapple farm around here now.
LikeLike
And why is that do you think? Was it cheaper to import them from elsewhere maybe?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes cheaper from South America and a frost and fungus did the rest of them in. There is one pineapple farm here and they are amazingly expensive.
LikeLike
Interesting info, thanks 👍
LikeLike
‘I have developed a pineapple perspective on gardening’ made me smile. I can see why!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, maybe a strange observation!
LikeLike
A lovely and colorful arrangement, as usual. A “pineapple perspective”! I love that characterization. Here in SoCal, despite my frost-free environment, I can’t lay any claim to pineapples. We could claim a citrus/orange perspective I suppose, although I think Florida usurped that title decades ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kris. The LA perspective is a whole different thing…
LikeLike
Nice play of warm colors countered with the deep burgundy of the pineapple foliage. I don’t blame you not wanting to handle the spiky leaves, I avoid thorns and such like the plague!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Eliza. I’m over thorns after a bad encounter with a Agave. The other thorniest things got pulled out with my Jeep.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it, that must have felt satisfying! I don’t know how Kris does it, lots of spiny stuff in her garden!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I wore a hard hat yesterday to prune the date palm, they have huge thorns. It was satisfying to get rid of the agave!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heliconias! Love them, managed to kill a couple as houseplants so far 😦 The pineapple is cute, so true about them being stabbier than desired. I had one in a pot (not a pretty pink one though) that got moved around to different locations because everyone kept trying to avoid going near it. Finally it ended up on top of a bookcase!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Heliconias, too. These really do their own thing. I think it is difficult to grow them in the house. Pineapples too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A ‘pineapple perspective’ is such a good way of describing how you view your garden Amelia. It must have been such an adjustment (and challenge) moving to such a completely different climate. Your vase does suggest autumn to me too, even without the traditional sunflowers or rudbeckia! The colours, and especially the foliage are what make it. Love the little pineapple. It does look a bit viscious though with those spiky leaves!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Cathy.. now sunflowers are winter flowers for me and rudbeckias elude me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a character that wee pineapple has!
A gorgeously dramatic arrangement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLike
Haha, a pineapple perspective! I like that. I also like the little pineapple, and would have never guessed you could juice it. I did not know you were in Jensen Beach, for some reason I thought you were more inland. For years we had a place on the island, just past Nettles. I barely recognize the area these days.
Enjoy “fall”!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that is interesting. The battle here nowadays is between new urbanism and old Florida. Strange days in JB.
LikeLike
tee hee . . . heliconia. Is it parrot flower or parakeet flower?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Parrot or False Bird of Paradise
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘False bird of Paradise’ is actually the most common name that I hear for it, but I do not like that name. It sounds so . . . fake.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes, silly.
LikeLiked by 1 person