The holiday mood usually kicks in for me around December 15. True to form, I reached for the big red vase and went in search of some ‘Christmasy’ flowers. This vase presents a challenge. It is very tall and has a very narrow opening.
The hunt was on for holiday mood flowers with skinny stems. In South Florida! A challenge, to say the least. My garden provided several selections. Not one of them was planted by me. Where did they come from?? An unanswerable question.
I suppose the birds have been planning to provide me with holiday vase clippings! Every December I remember how many birds pass through. The numbers are truly astounding as well as the variety and lengths of the commutes.
A closer view:
The red berries are Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia) – a dreadful invasive plant in my garden. I am certain these were planted for their lovely berries and frighteningly quick growth habit. There are now untold zillions of these growing wild while we try to get rid of them. I may have saved the planet from 60 with this vase. Sigh. The purple foliage is ‘Purple Prince’ Alternanthera – planted as an annual color some years ago these appear intermittently growing from crevices in paving stones. Red flowers are Shrimp Plants (Justicia brandegeana) – my neighbor gave me one about ten years ago and it keeps going on. The trimmed palm frond, another seedling Cabbage Palm (Palmetto Sabal). Cream colored flower spikes are Juba Bush (Iresine diffusa), a gift from an unknown benefactor I have been diligently trying to propagate (no results). Long grey foliage at the neck of the bottle is a native air plant (Tillandsia spp). This is a relative of Spanish Moss and just appears. No idea why.
The ending of another year is always a good time for reflection. The unanswerable questions are a bit troublesome. I plan to enjoy whatever gifts the universe has to offer.
Thanks to Cathy for hosting. Follow this link RamblingintheGarden to see more vases.
The Shrub Queen 
So pretty and festive! Those Brazilian pepper trees sound like many of our invasives that the birds innocently propagate. I blame humans for bringing them here in the first place. Pandora’s Box all over again. 😉
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Thank you..definitely our fault. The birds love them. They make a beautiful wreath.
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Alternanthera looks like Polygonum capitatum (which is now Persicaria capitatum), but they are apparently not related.
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It does! I have never grown Persicaria.
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Polygonum capitatum (or Persicaria capitata) used to be a common ground cover. It can get weedy. I still got some from the 1990s. I got my first fancy Persicaria only a few years ago, though, from Tangly Cottage Gardening.
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I was interested to read about all the different components of your vase and how they arrived in your garden, although I don’t know how you managed to squeeze them all into a narrow necked vase!Your trimmed leaves really set them off, don’t they?
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Florida is definitely different. Several stems had two flowers on one stem and that helped.
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I missed the Shrimp plant in my first look. Mine have actually bloomed in the basement. It is an interesting mystery of plants appearing in your garden. I always say they know how to get around.
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I will be interested the hear how your shrimp plant fares in the house. They are indestructible in the garden
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I need some red color in my garden – and a red vase too! This is the time of year I actually miss the berries of the prickly Pyracantha that planted itself in my garden years ago (which I had removed last year). We have California pepper trees (Schinus molle) all over the neighborhood and surrounding area here, although there are none in my own garden. I haven’t seen their berries coloring up yet but perhaps I should carry clippers on my walks for use as needed 😉
https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/
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The berries are just starting here. It is odd to me the trees are not invasive there. Humidity I guess.
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What a joyful vase Amelia! The pepper berries are perfect for a festive arrangement, and I always love the way you trim palm fronds too. Your red vase is an inspiration for me as well… in winter we have so little colour to bring indoors, but a brightly coloured vase would bring some of my dried materials to life. 😁
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Thanks, Cathy. It would probably be easier to use dried materials.
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The large red vase is a beauty, and you have made a lovely arrangement. You must be on a bird migration path and lucky you to have these pass over your plot.
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Thank you. The birds are amazing
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such lovely shades of colour which work so well together
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Thank you
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