February has proved to be highly superior to January in terms of my environs. This month is forecast to be warmer and drier than normal. Currently (Sunday afternoon) it is 80 F, warm and sunny outside. I like it and have been enjoying chasing the winter doldrums away in the garden. This called for the most tropical vase possible.
I started the search for tropical foliage and flowers and was rewarded with an odd and large bromeliad flower. I recently discovered the name of this plant, after having it in the garden for years. Drum roll, please. x Androlaechmea ‘O’Rourke’ Discoveries like this leave me wondering who O’Rourke is? No clue.
A closer view:
Foliage accompanying O’ Rourke include: in yellow variegation, Chicken Gizzard plant (Iresine herbstii). Pink varigated foliage is Hawaiian Snow Bush (Breynia disticha). Large, leaves are from Sea Grapes (Coccoloba uvifera). Palm foliage is Dwarf Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebellini)
A closer view of the tropical foliage.
That’s all from sunny Florida. I hope this helps chase the winter away in colder places. To see more vases, follow this link to visit Cathy at RamblingintheGarden.
The Shrub Queen 
Those temperatures feel ideal, and balmy certainly lifting the spirits. I love the large leaves of the Coccoloba uvifera. I looked it up and also admired its fruit.
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Thank you, Noelle. The Sea Grape unfortunately drops about a million grapes – it’s huge.
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That’s an interesting flower, and the variegated foliage sets it off nicely. You’re a lot warmer than we are at present on the left coast. I suspect that accounts for your success with winter zinnias!
https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/
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Thanks, Kris. The zinnias are bigger since it warmed up.
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Your vase is really showing off your tropicals. Lucky O’Rourke got to name a plant.
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O’Rourke was probably a plant breeder.
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I was picturing plant hunter.
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There are some unusual men in South and Central America that breed bromeliads
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How do you even know what winter is? Sea grape is intriguing. I still want to try it, but will not do so anytime soon. (Redevelopment of the garden is slow.) I believe that I encountered it as an oddity in a collectively odd landscape near San Jose, but I really do not know, since I never identified it for certain.
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I lived much further north for decades and never liked winter! I would guess you are too far north for Sea Grape.
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Yes, but I believe that it ‘can’ be grown here in sheltered situations. I grow a few species that probably should not be this far north.
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There are several million seeds around..let me know if you need some!
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Thank you, but I do not intend to grow it anytime soon. I suppose I could grow it from seed soon so that it will be ready for the garden after a year or so. May I send you my mailing address by message? I do not know how that works. I could post it here, since it is publicly available anyway.
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I think I have it..po box?
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yes
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80 degrees F…? It has been quite chilly here for a week or two, with some damp or breezy days that add to the chilliness, and although I don’t hanker after 80 degrees, a hint of warmth and some sunshine would be nice! 😂Winter means so many different things and of course it is all relative – and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere other than the temperate climes of the UK.
You have not given us tropical for a few weeks, and it is intriguing to have a tropical vase made up mostly of foliage – what a range you have. You must have been pleased to track down the name of your Androlaechmea – I too like to have plant names
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80 degrees F…? It has been quite chilly here for a week or two, with some damp or breezy days that add to the chilliness, and although I don’t hanker after 80 degrees, a hint of warmth and some sunshine would be nice! 😂Winter means so many different things and of course it is all relative – and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere other than the temperate climes of the UK.
You have not given us tropical for a few weeks, and it is intriguing to have a tropical vase made up mostly of foliage – what a range you have. You must have been pleased to track down the name of your Androlaechmea – I too like to have plant names
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We love the 80s. I wouldn’t make it through winter in the UK. The range of foliage here is extensive, just about any color you can dream of.
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To me, temperatures in the 80s would be too hot – 70s would be about right, but I don’t mind winters too much these days now that they don’t last as long and we don’t get the same amount of snow. And because I am not having to go out to work, I suppose
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Most people who have lived in Florida for a while lose their cold tolerance. My husband and I definitely have.
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😁
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80° !!! Oh, I can’t wait for a warm up. Your arrangement is beautiful, I always love the tropical feel.
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Thanks, Tracy. I needed some tropical madness.
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Hmm my post could not be posted! Try again. Oh those names, Chicken Gizzard, Sea Grapes and Hawaiian Snow Bush! There’s an oxymoron! I love the names and their luxurious leaves – so foreign to my growing palette!
https://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2025/02/10/in-a-vase-monday-february-10-2025/
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Hmm my post could not be posted! Try again. Oh those names, Chicken Gizzard, Sea Grapes and Hawaiian Snow Bush! There’s an oxymoron! I love the names and their luxurious leaves – so foreign to my growing palette!
https://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2025/02/10/in-a-vase-monday-february-10-2025/
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Definitely some weird names for tropical plants. I’m now very curious to see what you have in a vase.
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I tried to comment directly on your blog and got this comment. “Sorry, this comment could not be posted.” so I’ve comment through Reader. The colour of the leaves really makes the arrangement pop
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Thanks PIP..no clue why comments are not working.
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IT’s not just your blog. I’ve expereinced a lot of problems this evening. People are saying they also had trouble posting on mine. WP has a glitch, methinks
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I think so too.
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All that lush foliage certainly does chase away the winter blues! However, 80°F would be a bit too much for me. 50 or 60°F would be like a heatwave for February here and would be most welcome, but is sadly not in our forecast! The unusual Bromeliad flower at the centre is striking, but the thing I like best is the palm leaves at the back. Lovely and tropical!
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Thanks, Cathy. I have never cut that palm before. When the fronds get big they get huge thorns. These are smaller, thornless and I will probably use more.
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For what it’s worth I couldn’t post directly on your blog either so am trying through the reader. I like how the Hawaiian Snow Bush accentuates the bromeliad.
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Thanks, I think WordPress editing has been really hinky lately..I have probably inadvertently done something..
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It’s not you. There’s must be a WP glitch they will fix at some point. WP finally forced me to use the new block editing features yesterday. I’d tried it over the past couple years many times but it’s tedious compared to the classic editor. (I used to program so I know customers don’t always take to the updates!)
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Well, I just got a note from WP that they updated comments view. I think the blocks thing is silly but I have been using it for a while.
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Lush and lovely, a beautiful concoction to chase away my winter doldrums. Thanks for the eye candy!
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Thanks Eliza. I hope you have some mangoes in the freezer!
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Mango season is right around the corner! Just in time to replace pomegranates. 🙂
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yes! I have teensy mangoes.
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Wow, now that is a truly creative and beautiful arrangement! I’m ready to chase away winter, too, but unfortunately it has other plans here in the Midwest. Next week will be in the teens for highs and single digits to subzero for lows. This is part of the reason we plan to travel in February when we’re fully retired. February is often snowier, and sometimes colder than January. Enough. LOL. Anyway, enjoy your warmer temps! I’m jealous.
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Thanks, Beth. I think most of your retired neighbors are here now.
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