Suddenly it is about two weeks until Christmas. How did that happen? Cards have not been sent and I probably have missed the opportunity to buy a live Christmas tree. Sigh. Well, I will check and see if I can get a crunchy, nearly free tree this week. I am still indulging my distaste for fake plants, Christmas trees included. Tree lots are set up in baking South Florida parking lots in December that are not conducive to live plants of any kind. I am seriously considering making a bromeliad cutting Christmas tree.
I have managed to unearth a bit of holiday cheer in the form of a Christmas gift I received long ago from my mother. The holiday chocolate pot. She gave me this the year my husband and I moved to the suburbs of Atlanta. Seemingly (from her perspective) I was going to morph into a 1950s housewife and invite the neighbor ladies in for holiday hot chocolate and cookies (there are matching mugs). This is the first time the chocolate pot has ever been used. I think my mother would have approved its use as a vase.
The plant palette:
Red flowers draping over the side are Nodding Hibiscus (Malvaviscus arboreus); berries are from the native Firebush (Igiveupon properbotanicalname) – these are beginning stage berries, they eventually form juicy black fruit the birds love.
Chartreuse foliage is from Golden Dewdrop (Duranta repens); white spikes are ‘White Flame’ Salvia; red and yellow flowers are ‘Lady Di’ Heliconias (Heliconia psittacorum); foliage is from ‘Mammey’ Croton (Codieum varigatum).
Thanks to Cathy at http://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting this weekly garden meme. Follow the link to see more vases.
Happy Holidays from South Florida.
The Shrub Queen 
You do have a nice selection of Christmas flowers. I would like to see a bromeliad Christmas tree.
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Thank you. Still cogitating on the bromeliad tree.
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This is a real Christmas feast for the eyes Amelia. Those red Hibiscus bells are just perfect, and the silvery white salvia is a lovely highlight. Love the jug too. I had no idea hot chocolate was also served in jugs! I really like the sound of a. Bromeliad Christmas tree! I have an artificial one, even though we are surrounded by fir trees…. I feel they look better in the woods where they belong, and my artificial one should last me a lifetime. 😉
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Thank you, Cathy. I am not sure I could make a pot of hot chocolate, although my mother could!
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Beautiful Xmas cheer! Glad your mother’s gift came up for air. 😉 50’s housewife, ha! right! 😂
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Thanks, Eliza. It is one of those things I hate to throw out – but don’t really want to keep.
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Gift it to the Hospice Shop???
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LOL I would have to find the mugs!
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Ooooh! Absolutely Christmas-y gorgeous!
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Thank you.
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Perfect for Christmas! I would also like to see a Bromeliad Tree, great idea.
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Thank you. I’ll have to work on the bromeliad tree.
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Is that what 50s housewives did in Atlanta, Amelia? It was certainly something my mother was doing in Edinburgh… 🤣 You are so good at combining shades, as the foliage is a perfect foil for the other material, and the croton yet again enhances the whole effect, with its tropical coloured foliage leaves. I feel so sorry for the ‘live’ Christmas trees having to face your heat…
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I think so. Hanging around drinking coffee and chocolate. Thank you, Cathy. I enjoy the foliage combos challenge. I feel bad for the trees as well.
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I love how you made the chocolate pot so Christmasy with those tropical plants. The idea of a bromeliad cutting Christmas tree is intriguing. Would love to see that.
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Thank you, I will have to hold off for a bit, the cuttings last about 10 days outside.
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I noticed the festive pot immediately and I enjoyed its back-story, Amelia. I don’t know that I’d have recognized it as a “chocolate pot” if you hadn’t defined it, though 😉 We got our tree late last week after 2 rounds of Santa Ana winds. The outer needles seemed fresh but, when I decorated it, I noticed lots of dry needles in its interior. Oh well! I usually clear the tree well before New Year’s Day anyway 😉 I hope you find a passable tree of your own.
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Thanks, Kris. the pot has oversized mugs that match – I suppose that is what makes it for hot chocolate?
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Although the hot chocolate sounds mighty fine, you have put the holiday pot to grand use. The arrangement and choice of materials are perfect. Happy tree hunting.
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Thanks, Susie. I found a teensy Noble Fir and am enjoying the fragrance.
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You know, I actually built a Christmas tree years ago from short branches from the redwoods stuck into a conical topiary frame. Real redwoods are too sparse to be good Christmas trees.
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