My mother used to refer to spirited women she admired as “Firecrackers”. This is probably some sort of weirdness from the Deep South, but an apt description of many women who capture the imagination of the world. I think Diana, Princess of Wales qualifies.
What does this have to do with my vase this Monday? Well, we have Lady Di Heliconias and Firecracker plants together in the vase. The flowers have a kind of spirited pow going on as well.
The seemingly perpetual rain the last week of September inspired some serious late season flowering on most of the Salvia in the garden. I am waiting for a bumper crop of seedlings. The pure white Tropical Red Salvia was too luxuriant to resist and I cut quite a bit to add to the vase.
A closer view:
The “Lady Di” Heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum) in red and yellow; the red bells are Firecracker Plant (Russelia equisetiformis). The Russelia is amazingly drought tolerant and I love the unusual foliage texture. The rain seems to have encouraged the flowering, I have never seen quite a show like this.
Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea) occurs in several colors; surprising to me is that pure white is my favorite. The spike foliage is from the fronds of Sabal Palm (Palmetto sabal). Russelia foliage is in the background. The vase is a thrift store find.
The precipitation onslaught has finally slowed. We are getting some nice rains for growing new plants and I hope to get the rest of them out and established before the inevitable dry season sets in a month or so.
Thanks to Cathy for hosting IAVOM for weeks and weeks and years now! Follow this link to her blog to see creations from other gardeners – http://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com
The Shrub Queen 
Beautiful! Like fireworks or a flowing fountain, it’s a exuberant creation!
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Thank you, Eliza.
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Your arrangement is stunning, and I love the arching stems and foliage just like the trajectory of the sparks emitted by firecrackers. The rain will help with your planting that must be a relief. Have a good week.
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Thank you, Noelle. I like the arching in the arrangement but it is a bit weird in the garden.
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Definitely some firecrackers in that vase, and how artfully you have put them together – as Noelle suggests, the way the stems arch really make a statement
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Thank you.
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[…] Posted inUncategorized In a Vase on Monday – Lady Di was a Firecracker […]
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The arrangement lives up to its name, Amelia! I wish I could grow that Heliconia – and that my Russelia looked half as good as yours.
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Thanks, Kris. they are supposed to be good container plants though I haven’t tried. Need a lot of water, though.
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You always make me laugh with your vase titles. And I’d say both Di the person and flower are indeed firecrackers!
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Thanks, I feel a need to amuse myself with the titles.
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This has to be one of my favorite of the arrangements you have created.
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Thanks, Karen.
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Perfect. I love the airiness of this arrangement. “Lady Di” Heliconia always knew how to dress and accessorize.
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very true.
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Fabulous hot colours with a lovely tropical feel, I love it!
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Beautiful! Full of sparkle and colour, with the lovely white salvia as highlights. The title was indeed intriguing, but very apt. I like the term Firecracker for spirited women too!
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Thank you.
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Great dramatic colours! What a boon the Russelia must be in a dry garden and I guess its pollinators are interesting, long-tongued creatures?
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I can’t say I have seen anything pollinating it. probably butterflies, but an interesting question.
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A good pairing in the title and with the plants.
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Your mother created a most memorable and descriptive word indeed Amelia 😀 That’s a striking arrangement. If only I could grow such plants in my garden! Salvias yes but not the others.
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Sabal palm must prefer humidity. It supposedly lives in Los Angeles, but I have never noticed even one anywhere there.
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Probably, it is native to the coastal southeast, up to Virginia. Called cabbage palm as well.
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Lovely colors and movement! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a heliconia in that shade of yellow before 😀
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It’s a common plant here. Will take over if happy.
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