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!
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.
I love it and had totally forgotten a former garden favorite, northern sea oats. This is a great representation of your winter garden. Amelia - the shrub queen.
ReplyDeleteHi Amelia: I do love the Northern Sea Oats, too. :) Thank you. It's surprising how even a few elements can combine for a little cheer.
DeleteOh Beth this is fabulous. What an offering from your winter garden!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donna. The berries really brighten things up, and the other elements are good frames for them. :)
DeleteA lovely and inventive arrangement, Beth. Enjoy the thaw!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susie! Yes, "warm" winter temperatures for the foreseeable future now. We've certainly had the extremes this year, with very little "normal" winter weather.
DeleteI'm going to have to woods and meadow walk next week and see if I can find some beautiful, dried stems. The pinecones are so pretty too with the berries, and hydrangea flowers give the appearance of the most delicate of watercolors when dried. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's wonderful to have the Hydrangea blooms in vases year-round. And fun to play with several elements, even if there are no fresh flowers. :)
DeleteOh what an effective vase this is! It has such an abundant look, an abundance not usually possible in winter - thanks for sharing it. I love the chasmanthium, something I now have grwoing in my grass border, although there were no useable stems left on mine over winter!
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy: Thanks. :) The N. Sea Oats are faring well in this partial shade garden; apparently it grows well in full sun, too, in some climates.
DeleteBeautiful!! We made ice sun-catchers and luminaries during the cold snap. I used pine, pinecones, sliced oranges and cranberries to design them. I will share on the blog this week.
ReplyDeleteCarla
Thank you. The sun-catchers and luminaries sound like fun! I'll look forward to your post. :)
DeleteWhat a wonderful composition, Beth! I especially appreciate the sense of movement provided by the Hakone grass and sea oats. Thanks for braving the pre-arctic blast to create it. I hope it doesn't get too icy.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kris. The grasses dry well, too, to save from year to year. I think the N. Sea Oats were from last year, and the Hakone Grass was out in the winter garden. We're "warm" today, with a wintry mix on the way. :(
DeleteI like those sea oats added in! Also, great idea to fill in the glass bottom with greenery.
ReplyDeleteYes, they're fun elements in all seasons. I "borrowed" the evergreens in the glass vase idea from someone else. :)
DeleteDried Hydrangeas have the most wonderful subdued mix of colors--magical.
ReplyDeleteA whole different world of "Arctic Blast" yet you managed garden beauty anyway. Brava!
Hope you are warm and safe in such cold weather and that your area has gotten through the worst of very extreme weather.
I love the Hydrangeas, too, and they seem to display different mixes of colors every time I dry them. I think we have an arctic blast at some point every winter. But I hope we're done with it for 2024! I was getting cabin fever, although we had to go out with the dog every day.
DeleteFor a second, I thought the cranberrybush Viburnum berries were from the bittersweet vine. That red contrasts beautifully with the tans and dark greens. That red/orange color in winter is definitely something missing in my yard, unless our pyracantha has some fruit this year.
ReplyDeleteHi Jerry: Yes, the bright red berries are certainly cheery. And they were very plentiful this year. :)
DeleteYou chose great vase companions. Like you, I'm fond of Sea oats in the garden and in arrangements. Nicely done, Beth! Tina
ReplyDeleteHi Tina: Thank you. I love the Northern Sea Oats...one of only a few native grasses that thrive in shade here. They have great structure, too, don't they?
DeleteA cheering vase guaranteed to keep the winter blues at bay Beth. Name of that lovely grass noted. I must look up some information on how to dry hydrangeas - mine always turn a murky shade of brown 😂
ReplyDeleteThe Hydrangeas are always enjoyed. I found a tip to place them in a vase full of water, and then let the water slowly drain down on its own. Then simply allow the blooms to dry, and you can use them for months and years beyond.
DeleteYou found some lovely treasures for a vase Beth! I love those evergreen sprigs in the vase for anchoring too. Amazing that the cranberries held their shape after being frozen!
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy: The evergreens in the vase was an idea I found from another blogger. I'll plan to employ it in the future, too. Yes, I was thrilled that the berries held their shape and color!
DeleteWhat a beautiful arrangement you made from dried flowers! I recognise the hydrangeas, but all of the other plants you used are new to me. Thank you for posting a very "different" vase for this subtropical dweller to admire. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jo. :) I underappreciate the evergreens; they really are beautiful year-round, and I need to use them more often in vases. It's relatively easy for me to be creative with vases during the growing season, but I need to try to appreciate the plenty of winter, too.
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThank you. :)
DeleteAnd a second visit - still find this vase perfectly balanced and harmonious in every detail <3
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diana. I need to get out there again and build another vase. Our weather is "mild" for us lately. Soon spring will be on the way...
DeleteI love the arrangement! You are so creative and have an eye for design. My garden is full of similar things and all I seem to do is rake them up and toss into the compost pile.
ReplyDeleteJeannie@GetMeToTheCountry
Thanks, Jeannie. I don't always have the "get up and go" enthusiasm for arranging in winter, but I should do it more often. Once the items are compiled, it cheers me up. LOL.
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