This and That From the Winter Garden

As we began to leap out of the polar vortex plunge, I decided to venture outdoors to gather a few elements for a winter arrangement. I also gathered some dried items and pulled them all together. (Check out the wonderful In a Vase on Monday meme for more great arranging ideas.) My choices included:



A few dried sprigs of Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium).

Pine cones (I've saved many over the years).

Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra), blades and seedheads.



Sprigs of evergreen Yew (Taxus canadensis).



Dried Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) blooms. I have quite a few saved over the years.



And freshly clipped Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum trilobum) stems with heavy, frozen berries that eventually thawed and held their shape. They were so plentiful this year!

I filled the clear glass vase with more evergreen branches, for interest and anchoring.

This past week was brutal, but even on the coldest days there are garden elements to celebrate and display. Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for hosting the In a Vase on Monday meme.

Wordless Memories of September Blooms

[All photos in this post were taken at the 2023 Garden Fling in Philadelphia, September 21-24. To learn more about past and future Flings, visit gardenfling.org.]

New Year, New Growth

Sometimes little surprises bring tiny hopes and pleasures.



Back in early December, I posted about an arrangement that included Chrysanthemum foliage and a flower that was still blooming.



I was lazy about removing the vase of foliage and berries, although I changed the water a couple of times. Imagine my surprise when new foliage started shooting up out of the top.



Yes, the Mum cuttings were forming new roots! I couldn't just throw them out, so...

I repotted a few, and I'll replant them in the garden in spring. It's a circle of life moment. Happy New Year!

[Alternate title for this post: "Unintentional Propagation."  ;-) ]