Most Mondays I read Cathy’s blog RamblingintheGarden. As our hostess for IAVOM, she advises: Pop some flowers in a jam jar and join us. A jam jar has been loitering by my kitchen sink this weekend, so I did just that. I have a jam making snowbird neighbor who always returns with raspberry jam.
Follow the link to see more vases – perhaps another jam jar.
South Florida has been suffering a cold spell for the past week or so. It finally broke on Sunday and I went in the garden searching for color. And found some! Enough to jam pack my jar. The zinnias were a surprise. They were about half the usual size. I suppose the cold weather caused this.
What’s in the jam jar? Nothing edible. The purple spotted flowers are petunias, which make a surprisingly good cut flower. White flowers are Sweet Begonia (Begonia odorata ‘alba’). Pink and orange Cactus Zinnias. The seedheads are from the Firebush (Hamelia patens). Purple spike flowers are Mona Lavendar Plectranthus.
The remaining jammers are Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) and in red, Firecracker Plant (Russelia equisetaformis).
That’s all from South Florida this Monday. I hope to get back in the garden this week.
The Shrub Queen 
The zinnias were the first thing I noticed. I guess they are still coming. Everything froze in my garden, so I have a lot to cut back.
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Oh yes and budding now. I guess you’re on mush patrol
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Yes, it is a mess out there.
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How nice of your neighbour to bring you raspberry jam. That is a delightfully tropical look arrangement you have made. And those petunias are quite amazing too.
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Thanks Noelle
I made chocolate raspberry cupcakes.
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My #4 sister sent pictures of frozen rain in Tallahassee, at the other end of Florida. Petunia and other warm season flowers would not have lasted there. I suppose that your region is about as far from Tallahassee as San Diego is from here, so I should not be surprised by the difference of climate.
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We’re too far south for that storm. Tallahassee is at least 8 hours in the car from me..I was surprised none of the flowers objected.
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Hmm…what is a snowbird neighbour, Amelia…? 🤔 She certainly puts her jam in very ornate jam jars, and it makes a delightful vase for your pretty collection of bright and cheery blooms. I would never have thought of trying petunias in vase, but now we can all have a go in due course. The seedheads are a lovely addition too
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Snowbird is a term used to describe people who live in the Northern US and fly south to Florida for the winter.
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Ah, I wondered if it was something like that
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Jam jars are a secondary benefit of receiving jam! I still haven’t come to terms with the fact that you have zinnias blooming in the winter (even in Florida) – the sight always surprises me. I love your Russelia too. The Russelia I had got too weedy to bear – and flowered poorly – so I pulled it 2 years ago; however, I find I miss it and should plant another one someplace sunnier and less weed prone.
https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/
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I think the Russelia takes a long time to establish and look good. These do better near edging where water is retained
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What a sweet Petunia. And I do like the Zinnias. I will have to give them a go again this year after having a break from them last summer. Your jamjar is a very nice fancy one. 😄
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More zinnias are always better. That’s funny about the jam jar
being fancy. These people have printed labels with their names on them for the jam.
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What an unsual petunia and I love the contrast between the purple and orange.
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Thanks I think purple and orange can work together.
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Lovely!
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Thanks
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Ooh, what a pretty combination, Amelia. Love that petunia!
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Thanks Eliza.. the petunia is a little weird in person almost too dark.
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They go perfectly with the plectranthus bloom. I can’t grow petunias as the slugs decimate them totally, ugh. 😣
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These are in pots. I doubt they would grow in the ground
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I would love to have your gorgeous jamjar of flowers on my table.So much vibrant colour would see off the January blues. I really covet your Rusellia. I have never seen it offered here even as a conservatory plant.
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Thanks Liz. I’ll have to post the Russelia it looks like a weeping broom..or maybe Winter Jasmine. I used these as summer annuals further north.
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I know, I’ve seen it growing in Martinique and Madeira and longed to have one.
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A pretty arrangement in a very pretty jam jar.
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Wow, that is the most beautiful arrangement I’ve seen in quite a while. The colors, the forms, the structure–just lovely! All the flowers are fabulous, but the purple-spotted Petunias and the Russelia flowers really set it apart. Gorgeous!
Beth @ PlantPostings.com
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Thanks, Beth..the weekly garden challenge.
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Mmmmm, raspberry jam is my favorite. Well, blackberry or boysenberry or also up there. I love your explosive arrangement vibe. The Russelia is such a great addition!
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