I was remembering a song lyric from the 80s “If you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain” – the new next line would be to come visit my garden in South Florida. I have pineapples for juicing and so much rain it is seemingly impossible not to get caught in it. I think it has been raining for about 10 days. Fiona the greyhound has somehow figured out when to go out for the least amount of precipitation. Dogs know these things. She is now walking me.
The vase was chosen because it looks like it could be used to serve cocktails. The plant material was limited to tropical to enhance the pineapple. The mini pineapple plant is called ‘Lava Flow’; white flowers are Bridal Bouquet Frangipani (Plumeria pudica); orange and sage tipped flowers are from Soap Aloe (Aloe saponaria).
Another view:
Orange flowers are ‘Choconiana’ Heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum). Greenery is a frond from a Lady Palm (Rhaphis excelsa); fiddle shaped foliage is from Bridal Bouquet Plumeria and a few sprigs of Asian Sword Fern.
That’s all from the swamp this Monday. To see more vases from gardens around the world, visit Cathy at http://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com
The Shrub Queen 
Nice lines, it’s a beautiful arrangement. I’ve noticed the storms swirling on the radar above FL, getting the fall season off to a wet start. Clever Fiona!
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Thanks, Eliza. A rainy end to the season. I am usually hoping for rain.
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Is it the two orange blooms that are the heliconia? They are gorgeous – and you have created your cocktail with such an eye for detail, so it works brilliantly! Sorry to hear about all your rain..what sort of quantities are you getting?
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Yes, Heliconias are a favorite of mine. They need a lot of water and will grow in very specific places in my sand garden. Under the roof overhang is about the only place. We have had 3 inches of rain over the last week.
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If they like a lot of water, why do they do well under the roof overhange…? We had about 3″ of rain in September, which was pretty average, so that puts your week into perspective
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No gutters! Not uncommon in Florida.. just read the updates on rain 10 inches last week!!
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Crikey – that’s a huge amount of rain in a week, and even more so for your part of the world!
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It is and the moon was full and we have king tides here this time of year, lots of water in low areas.
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Is your property in a position where it could be affected by the tides or the heavy rain?
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no, I worked with civil engineers for years and bought a house 30 feet above sea level to avoid flooding.
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I love that song! It must be fabulous to be able to grow frangipani, I just can’t get enough of its glorious scent. Hope the garden is enjoying the rain at least?
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Now that song is in my head and I heard it recently on something. I love those little pineapples, they are so cute. Feel free to send some rain to me.
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It is an earworm, for sure. That is the last pineapple, varmints ate the others. I think the rain was missing you and heading east.
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I too love ‘your cocktail’ arrangement, and since I love pineapples, and that tune, you had my total attention when reading your post this week. Good to have rain without damage from winds. Have a good week, and hope we get a peep of your pet soon.
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Thank you. Princess Fiona of Greyhound makes the occasional appearance.
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I love the variety of exotic plant material and flowers. I bet it smelled lovely. And that pineapple is so cute.
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Thank you, Frangipani doesn’t last long but is worthwhile.
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Drama in a vase with pineapple! This is another great arrangement, Amelia. I wish you could send us some of your excess rain. Cats are also good at training humans – mine has now trained me to brush her twice a day, once before breakfast (mine, not hers) and a second time after dinner.
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Thanks, Kris. I wish I could send you some rain as well. The cat is doing a good job. Fiona is a stubborn dog, she refused to race and is also a meanderer not a walker.
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That’s a most attractive cocktail of flowers and foliage Amelia and you’ve reminded me that it has been a long time since I’ve downed a pina colada. I must remedy that soon 😂 Sorry to hear about all that rain. It has been wet here too.
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Thanks, Anna. I probably haven’t had a pina colada since the 80s,
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Your flowers are charming and I’d love to sip a Pina Colada with you, Amy. Always enjoy seeing your soap aloe, interesting texture and color. Hope you’re doing well. Happy October.
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Thanks Susie..I like the aloe too
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That is odd foliage for a Plumeria. I thought that I was familiar with that species, but as a cultivar. I mean that the specimen that I met down south was merely a cultivar, not a species, or at least that I am aware of.
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It’s an odd cultivar completely upright and semi evergreen
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The specimen that I met down south that I thought was that also fits that description, except that the foliage looks like more typical Plumeria foliage. It is weirdly upright.
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There are so many kinds of Plumeria.
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Yes, especially nowadays. I want to limit mine to the old and formerly common sort that were popular in Southern California in the early 1970s. Incidentally, they are more resilient to the climate here than most modern cultivars.
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Oh wow, just imagine being served up a cocktail looking like that! 😆 Absolutely gorgeous! I loved that song, but I still have no idea what a pina colada is! 😂
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Oh wow, just imagine being served up a cocktail looking like that! 😆 Absolutely gorgeous! I loved that song, but I still have no idea what a pina colada is! 😂
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Thanks Cathy it’s coconut milk pineapple juice and rum, way too sweet for me.
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Oh, doesn’t sound terribly tempting!
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Icky sweet
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I have that song in my head too and it reminds me of the Guardians of the Galaxy movie 😂 : very nice bouquet!
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Thanks Fred
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You gave me a laugh with your parting line…”from the swamp”, that is what it looks like on the Treasure Coast as well. I’m surprised you had a dry moment to gather anything but you did a nice job.
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I keep thinking it is going to stop! Martin County got 10 inches of rain the last week of September.. welcome home!
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That little pineapple is so cute! This vase is just so playful and tropical that you can’t help but smile looking at it. Thank you for making a chilly (and also swampy) morning up here a little bit warmer 🙂
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