Maybe I should call this Big Tropical! It is too big for the house, so I left it on the porch.
At least once a year I attempt to arrange the Blanchetiana Bromeliad flowers. These are the red and yellow things that look like crab claws in the vase. The flowers are 4 or 5 feet tall this year and last forever. I think they started blooming in June. I sometimes make Christmas wreaths with the flowers.
We are enjoying a spell of ‘why people come to South Florida in winter’ weather. It makes for great gardening, but the winter flowers aren’t quite going yet to cut a bouquet. So cutting crab claws in the yard seemed like a good idea. Here are the close ups:
The crab claws, in red and yellow, are Aechmea blanchetiana Bromeliad flowers; in yellow, Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans); in red, Nodding Hibiscus (Malvaviscus arboreum). Foliage is a White Bird of Paradise leaf (Strelitzia nicolai), a Cabbage Palm (Palmetto sabal) frond and a leaf from a Split Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron selloum)
Here is the flower of a Lemonade Blanchetiana Bromeliad. The one in the vase is from the red version, Red Raspberry. The foliage on that one is red.
That’s all from my garden this Monday. Thanks to Cathy at RamblingintheGarden for hosting. Follow the link to see more vases.
The Shrub Queen 
It is wonderful to have blooms this time of year. Do Yellow Bells bloom all winter?
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I agree. I’m not sure how long it flowers..
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To look at such tropical delights from a cold and gloomy country at the moment is like eating an exotic dish with chillies! What a zing: delightful!
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Thanks Noelle.. it’s pretty spicy.
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Tecoma stans! Gads! I am determined to grow it! I could actually purchase it in a nursery now (A garden cultivar became available only recently.), but I WILL grow it from wild seed!
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I was surprised at how many seeds were on the plant..it was covered.
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Yes, they are prolific, like jacaranda. Crazy Green Thumbs sent me a bunch from her garden, but I left them out during a late frost. (Frost is minor here, so I did not expect it to be a problem.)
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Oh I love how playful and big this is, feels like Florida (and the holidays)!
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Thanks I agree.. Florida in a vase.
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I love this; so big and bold and beautiful. Will it last until Christmas? What an amazing statement to greet your visitors with.
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Thanks Liz..parts will last until Christmas but the softer flowers won’t.
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The yellow bells are so pretty Amelia. And the foliage you have used is very striking. Glad you could use your ‘crab claws’!
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It’s a beautiful arrangement, Amelia. I so envy you the bromeliad flowers. The Tecoma flowers are also very cheerful – I pulled the one plant I had years ago as it wanted to take over its spot but I need to find another spot for one.
https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/
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Thanks Kris. I bet this one would flower for you. The Tecoma is a bit rangy but I enjoy it.
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There’s nice flow to the bromeliad blooms, beautiful vase!
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Thanks Eliza..
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Outstanding. The foliage is rather as impressive as the flowers.
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The bromeliad flowers look rather like they are alive and snapping those claws. Love it!
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The flowers of the Lemonade Blanchetiana Bromeliad remind me of New Year’s Eve fireworks going off.
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They do! I’ll save some..
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