After last weeks Freezepacolypse I was certain there would be no flowers for a Vase. Alas, after encountering several disgruntled bees in the garden I found enough material for a Valentine vase. I think this is an unusual combination and it contains some surprises – what is bouncing back so quickly after our freezing weather.
Some closer views:
A very big surprise to me, in white, Miss Alice Bougainvillea, not missing a beat after the freeze. I surmise this is due to the proximity to the house. I have seen numerous fried Bougs at the curb this week. The succulents in the background are ‘Firesticks’ Pencil Cactus, living up to their name.
The red flowers, Firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis), are the only thing flowering in the garden. The white begonias are tropicals (Begonia odorata ‘Alba’) they spent a few days in the house – otherwise, I am certain the would be toast by now.
As of Sunday, all the orchids and tropicals that spent the week in the bathtub have been repotted in new moss and rehydrated. Orchids are a lot tougher than I would have thought. A few simply couldn’t be moved indoors and were covered with sheets and look fantastic! A wonderful surprise.
Happy Valentine’s Week to all and thank you to Cathy for hosting. To see more vases visit RamblingintheGarden via this link.
The Shrub Queen 
What a lovely idea to make a Valentine arrangement this week. If you are having a cold snap, I am sure it will reach us in a week or so! We have had so much rain, but looking at your arrangement certainly brings us a feeling of warmth and sunshine.
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‘Miss Alice’ bougainvillea is impressive, but as you say, the proximity to the house is likely why. Is ‘Firesticks’ the same as ‘Sticks on Fire’?
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Oh, it is the same. I know that one.
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Gorgeous arrangement with flowers I can only dream of!
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It’s intriguing to learn what survived your ‘freeze’ – for you too, I guess! That pencil cactus is fascinating – is it not spiny at all? It makes a great and striking addition to your vase. Intriguing also to hear that there is very little flowering in your garden at the moment – I feel so blessed in that case, although I have made a point of adding winter flowering plants to the garden because we can expect a certain degree of chill here every winter, whereas your chilly spell seems to have been less predictable
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The intrigue continues.. Pencil Cactus are actually Euphorbias, an odd version and not at all sharp. The flowers seem to be starting back up. Hopefully.
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I hope your Freezepacolypse is the last one for a very long time! It’s amazing how some plants can come back so quickly – I wouldn’t have expected your Russelia to have flowers. Your white Bougainvillea never ceases to amaze me.
https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/
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So do I, Kris. I think the last one was 1989! The Russelia was a surprise time as well.
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Your Bougainvillea did really well in the freeze. Mine usually froze back. We are warming up to the 40s later this week, it will hopefully melt some snow, and the landscapers will be able to finish cleaning up some dead trees.
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yay 40s!! The front of my house faces South. the west side where the Boug is did well..the east side not so much. go figure.
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