The turned wood vase with glass liner seemed just right as a base for this autumnal arrangement. Indoors, with flash, I get lots of shadows. They add to the effect, but we’ll move outside to take a closer look with truer colors.
Hydrangea ‘Preziosa’ turns shades of mahogany as the weather cools. Earlier, the blossoms wilt quickly when cut. Now they will last until I tire of them and toss them out.
Same story with H. ‘Limelight’, which starts out green, spends many weeks snowy white, then fades to dusty rose.
A few branches of Stachyrus praecox enlarge on the color scheme.
Spent seed heads of Phlomus russeliana turn dark, almost black. I love them for structure.
There’s one branch of beauty berry Calicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’ in there for a boost of color. A few stems of Northern Sea Oats seem to find their way into everything these days. Now won’t you check out Rambling in the Garden to see what Cathy has found to put in a vase today?
The dried Hydrangea flowers are really wonderful, your post reminds me that I should use them more often.
Jason~I’ve used them often in wreaths and such, but this is the first time in a bouquet. They are quite versatile.
I adore your autumnal vase…perfect aging flowers and foliage…your hydrangeas are beautiful.
Donna~Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Welcome!
Love the Hydrangeas! And the Stachyrus foliage–wow! These vase posts are so much fun!
Beth~They do have participants looking at gardens in a whole new way. Have you joined in yet?
Every Monday i see your post , I think I must get out and cut a few things and have a go . Today I actually did it ! The sun out helped !
Linda~Oh goody! Can’t wait to see what you put together.
What a fantastic vase! Love it – and I love what you put inside it. Preziosa is lovely, and those Phlomis seed heads are to die for. So cool!
Anna~Little leaf buds are showing up on H. ‘Vietchi’. So exciting, and thanks again. I am constantly dividing the Phlomus, so if you ever want some, just say the word.
Oh a real autumnal vase, Rickii – and I have to say that I probably prefer both the hydrangea and the phlomis like this!! I had to peer closely to see the callicarpa – perhaps next year I too will be able to include some, as mine was one of the shrubs moved from a pot to the new shrub border and it had already suffered from not enough water during the summer 🙁 The changing colour of the Stachyrus make it a great addition to the vase and I like the idea of wooden vases with a separate interior. Thanks for joining us 🙂
Cathy~I am still pretty stingy with the Callicarpa even though it’s been in place long enough to be sporting lichen on some branches. Since you got me started, I’m eyeing new purchases with their vase-worthiness in mind…and a cutting garden is sounding better and better.
I really liked that you showed the flowers growing as well as in the vase. The wooden vase itself is lovely and a clever idea with glass inside. The flowers are a lovely representation of autumn. I like hydrangeas better in a vase than in the garden; I mean here rather than everywhere because here they are so ubiquitous and so unsuitable for hot drought conditions. That said I am considering some in containers in the shade of the wisteria on the terrace. I like the inclusion of Phlomis seed-heads, they do have a lovely form.
Christina~I agree that Hydrangeas can be tiresome when you see them everywhere. They are so easy that they make a swell filler for shade and I have a sentimental attachment to them. The Phlomus is a favorite in all seasons. I always appreciate your thoughtful comments.
Your arrangements are always great and I especially like the settings in which you place them, like this one, a salute to wood.
Peter~Woods R Us
I like it! I like the hydrangea and sea oats together. I just planted three calicarpa this summer/fall: 1 ‘Duet’ and 2 ‘Wine Spritzer’. I’m looking forward to having berry-laden branches in the garden and in my vases. Actually, I usually just stuff cut stems in empty mason jars.
Tammy~Mason jars make great vases, as do frapuccino bottles and all sorts of other things. Yay for berry-laden branches!