The sun finally reappeared over the weekend. I spent Saturday and Sunday morning in the garden, drinking in solar energy and clearing out wanton vegetation and debris. There has been a lot of wind and rain this winter that has left behind soggy branches, leaves and overgrown weedy degenerates. I managed to find some jewels amongst the wanton and weedy in the garden and put together a vase.
The Flame is ‘White Flame’ Salvia, the Pie is Pie Crust Croton and Lady Di is the cultivar of the Heliconia in the vase. The vase is an olive oil jar inherited from my mother. She was a drizzler.
More on the plants:
Red and yellow flowers are “Lady Di” Heliconias (Heliconia psittacorum); white spikes are “White Flame” Salvia; variegated leaves (note the rolled edges) are Pie Crust Croton (Codieum variegatum); Asparagus fern adds the greenery. I have been using a lot of Pie Crust Croton lately as it is overgrown and needs pruning!
At the base of the arrangement is a pair of aptly named Coral Plants (Jatropha multifida). A weird and interesting novelty plant that grows in a narrow place in my front garden.
Here’s hoping everyone sees sunshine this week! To see what other gardeners are up to and view more vases visit Cathy’s blog.
The Shrub Queen 
You have a nice selection of flowers still in bloom. That is a really decorative olive oil jar. The rain has come here. Most of the plants I covered did not make it. I will be looking forward to new beginnings.
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Thank you. Spring shopping is in your future. Did the cold take out your garage plants?
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They were fine in the garage. The problem is that we can grow so many semi-tropical and tropical that can’t take much cold. The good ones will come back.
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You think the Angel Trumpets will?
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They have come back in the past. It did not bloom this year, but grew very tall.
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Hmm. More mystery
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How lovely to see even damaged vegetation can be added to make a lovely vase. Glad you got some sun. We are warming a bit this week with some sun and definitely gray and more rain.
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Thank you. I hope the sun peeks through for you.
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Your designs just get better and better, Amy. The white salvia is awesome among the colorful companions. I am still smiling from your slightly irreverent, “She was a drizzler” comment. The bottle is lovely and I bet your mom is smiling on you.
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Thanks, Susie. I am loving the White Flame Salvia. You may remember when olive oil became available in the South – she embraced it, happily roasting red peppers and drizzling, drizzling. She would laugh.
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Beautiful vase for IAVOM. I love the tropical stems, Lady Di, perfect name.
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Thank you.
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She was a drizzler! hahha, Well saving that bottle was a good idea, it’s pretty. Flowers are too, of course. Glad you got some sunshine.
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Thank you. When olive oil became available, she became a drizzler! It was funny.
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Oh, that is beautiful! I love the combination of elements–everything combined is wonderful, including the yellow vase. Perfect. 🙂
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Thank you, Beth.
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What a great title, one which really got me thinking and just slotted into place when you described your vase – top marks, Amelia! You have done a great job of utilising what was available and pruning at the same time too. Thanks for an inspired post!
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Thank you, Cathy. Just wandering around with clippers in hand!
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I love the way the warm yellow tones of the Heliconia echo the color the olive oil jar, Amelia. The jolt of pink color from the Jatropha is an excellent touch too.
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Thanks, Kris. The Jatrophas are a funky thing.
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Very nice! I like how the gold in the croton leaves and heliconia are picked up in the vase. Those are great heliconia! 🩷
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Thanks, Eliza. A serendipitous event.
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‘Lady Di’ looks like bananas and rhubarb, both of which make awesome pie. I so want my unidentified Heliconia psittacorum to bloom this year!
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Banana pie? I will be interested to see what Heliconia you have. There are really only two here that are common.
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Mine is supposedly common in Southern California. I do not care what cultivar it is, but will likely be able to identify it eventually.
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Love all those warm colours with the white Salvia bringing light to it all – it’s a lovely arrangement. And the olive oil jar is rather nice as a vase and looks as though it is full of sunshine. 😉
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Thanks, Cathy. Warm is good in January!
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I’m glad to read that your sunshine has reappeared Amelia. Love those heliconias and that elegant olive oil jar. A great post title! 😀
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Thanks, Anna.
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What interesting flowers you have in your vase, and all so beautiful! I especially like the coral-like plant, very different indeed. 🙂
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Thank you. I never know what I might find.
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Lovely mix, I‘m especially intrigued by the salvia which looks almost too perfect to be true and certainly goes very well with the red flowers.
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Thank you, Annette. I have had very good luck with that salvia.
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