I set out to collect the last of the wildflowers generated by our late season rains to create a vase marking the end of the not so rainy season. It seems strange having Beach Sunflowers in December when there were none this summer. Weather patterns make for strange seasonal bedfellows. I inherited the vase from my mother; it was made by Native Americans in the desert Southwestern US. I like the earth tones with the wildflowers.
The palette:
The spike flowers in white and salmon are Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea); yellow daisies are Beach Sunflowers (Helianthus debilis); the fluffy pink grasses in the back are Muhly Grass (Muhlbergia capillaris)
Another view:
The reddish flowers are from a shrub called China Hat around here. Holmskioldia sanguinea is the botanical name. The form of the shrub reminds me of Forsythia, arching and semi deciduous. Hummingbirds and butterflies love the flowers. This is native to the lowlands of the Himalayas and reportedly hardy to Zone 8. I have never seen one until landing in South Florida. This one is doing wonderfully well growing in sugar sand with very little supplemental water.
Thank you to Cathy at http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting this weekly meme. Follow the link to see more vases.
Happy Gardening!!