I was out in the garden with my greyhound. I was cutting flowers and we were both watching vultures. He was fascinated and even at greyhound speed couldn’t keep up with them. This is the time of year when the big birds are around. Eagles and hawks migrate south for the winter. It is such a pleasure to watch them fly lazy circles in the crystal blue sky. I have a feeling the vultures were manifesting what is landing in our nation’s capital tomorrow.
Well, that has nothing to do with sticks, hats or my vase. A random garden observation with a side of political disgust.
The hat, is China Hat (Holmskiodia sanguinea). This is a winter flowering shrub I enjoy. They remind me of Quince. One of the more indestructible plants in the garden, rarely watered and forgotten until it flowers.
The sticks are dried prunings from wild Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia); pale mauve flowers are Zinnias, supposedly Cactus type. I am not so sure about that, another open pollinated oops – my neighbor calls it getting Grandpa seeds.My quest for Dahlia like flowers continues…
The foliage in the background is Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and some fluffy seedheads of Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris). The vase is a thrift store find.
That’s the story from my garden this Monday. Follow this link RamblingintheGarden to visit Cathy and take a garden tour of vases by following the comments links.
I’ll be watching the birds..
The Shrub Queen 
Your vase is very creative. I love those China Hats. We had vultures on the front porch right before COVID. They seem to know. Not only is that stuff is happening in DC, we are getting snow. The universe is trying to tell us something and it ain’t good.
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Thank you. Ay yiyi, snow in Houston. I hope you have bread and milk! Hurricanes and ice is really too much. I think the vultures found whatever was next door – I did not want to see it, but was starting to worry about my neighbor. I hope the universe gives us some direction.
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We can vote again in two years. Hopefully, people will see the light by then.
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I am not so sure….enlightenment is going to happen. I had an Uber driver who was convinced Trump could make gas cost $1.95! This is when the lightbulb went off for me..
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Oh my. There are some words I’d like to say, but they are not nice. People are delusional. Oil prices don’t work that way and neither do tariffs.
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Same here..hard to grasp the reasoning. Or lack there of.
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A welcome distraction from the day’s events, thank you! 🙂
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Thanks, Eliza . I am definitely tuned out!
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Okay, . . . still not feeling the bronze in the bronze fennel. I do not mean to whine, but I still prefer common green fennel. I do like China hat though. I thought it was flowering quince when I first saw it.
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You are right. The fennel is sort of cool grey number 7 now. I bought a green one to eat today. Chicken and bacon with fennel and cannelini beans is on the menu this week!
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Right? That is merely my preference, so is neither right nor wrong. Bronze fennel was quite popular for a while, and likely still is, and for good reason. Some people like it. Did you get fennel for the foliage, or for the bulbous base?
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Just the foliage. It might be in too much shade now. The sun is moving back up.
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Watching vultures roam the sky seems like a better thing to do today than being inside. Especially with your greyhound next to you!
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Definitely, we saw some really big birds today. The eagles are spectacular in winter.
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I like your title and the subtle political undertones today , Amelia. What a great flower China Hat seems to be, and so obliging too from what you say – how long will it flower for? The fennel is such a great addition today, along with the Muhly and grape sticks. Good luck with ongoing your dahlia alternative search… 🤞
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Thank you, Cathy. I am not sure how long the China Hat flowers. It always is a surprise to me. I think I need some not open pollinated Zinnia seeds.
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Sharing your disgust with current affairs. Vultures are having a day. The arrangement is clever and I like the dusky, muted tones. The vase works so well with the materials.
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Thanks, Susie. I like finding the odd colors and working with them.
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The China Hat (Holmskiodia sanguinea) is so unusual and work so well with the pale mauve flowers of the Zinnias
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Thank you, I like them.
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I love the arrangement, especially the Chinese hat flowers, which add drama. I appreciated your reference to the arrival of the vultures too, which is very apt under the circumstances.
https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/
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Thanks Kris. Also the biggest vultures I have ever seen.
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My comment just vanished, so I probably pressed the wrong button again. 🤪 I praised the use of the grasses for altering the feel of the vase. The China hats are really cute, and the zinnias lovely, even if not quite what you were expecting. 😃
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The structure of the Holmskiodia sanguinea plant is really quite beautiful. This is the first time I have seen it. It would certainly made a very attractive addition to any tropical garden, and you’ve used it to great effect in this arrangement.
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The China hats are fabulous Amelia – how long are they in flower for? I watched some of the inauguration proceedings live on television but had to turn the set off before it got to a certain point! Not a good day.
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I love the China Hat plant, and the Zinnias are wonderful companion in the arrangement. All the other elements are lovely, too. The Bronze Fennel and Muhly Grass are great!
Beth @ PlantPostings.com
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