IVOM: Nearing the end

With the weather getting colder and windy, I decided not to wait to cut some fall foliage while it still was suitable for a vase; actually a low bowl with 3 different size metal ikebana frogs in the bottom.

This annual arrangement tends to be my last one of the growing season. I am endlessly fond of playing with an armload of foliage, thus at this stage of the game, if I cut it I use it. I wasn't  sure how long the golden Cinnamon ferns would hold up; but they were too beautiful not to use. I put this together on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

There were still plenty of lacy leaves left on the assorted Thalictrums to cut. 

I'm not sure what fern this is, but it had curled and dried in this elegant fashion in an earlier bouquet. When that arrangement was discarded, I moved the fern into this new display.

The Hakonechloa grass add a touch of lightness and brightness, but it dried up within a very short time.

The Cinnamon ferns crinkled up quickly but they paired nicely with the dried Hydrangea flowerhead. 

Cimicifugas, with their long wands of tiny pink or white blossoms, have a delicate air in flower that is quite a contrast from their dramatic purple-black seedheads.

Hosta flowers also produce unexpectedly dramatic seedheads as these green clumps demonstrate.

A week later, I added some golden Thalictrum foliage to go with the yellowing Hosta leaves and ferns. 

A few days later, I decided it was time to pull out the dying green and brown ferns and the Hakonechloa grass that looks like string draped in the bouquet.

Ten days after I put this grouping together, I added some fresh greens to perk it up.

A few stems of Oreganum l'Herenhausen' repeated the dark coloring of the Cimicifuga seedheads. 

The majority of Epimedium foliage is still green but I found these bronzed leaves on the E. 'Lilac Fairy.'

Almost all of the Hostas in the garden are visibly suffering from drought followed by cold and wind. But the foliage of Hosta 'El Nino' was in almost perfect condition. Thalictrum 'Black Stockings,' a June bloomer for me, is the only one with beautiful foliage still standing. 

I'm hoping I will find more foliage in the garden to keep refreshing this bouquet, but the next four nights our temperatures are dropping down into the 20°F., so I will just have to wait and see what happens.

Comments

[Kristin]

I love your eye. If it wasn't snowing, I might go out myself and see what I could find. I was just looking wistfully at the last of the zinnias and dahlias I brought in.

[danger garden]

What a wonderful series of images to illustrate the lasting beauty of foliage. I'm in good company with my tendency to bring in new elements for a vase when something fades. There are two large fatshedera leaves in a vase on our dining table that have been there for months, framing whatever flower—or currently a trio of sarracenia pitchers—comes and goes. Oh and I have never seen hosta seed heads!

[Linda Brazill]

DANGER — I was helping a friend do bouquets for a celebration and we went to each other's gardens to clip things and mix in our arrangements. She had let her Hostas make seedheads and I loved them. Sometimes they've formed and gone a golden color when I clipped them. But usually we get frost before that happens.

[Linda Brazill]

KRISTIN — Snowed here as well. Just a dusting but enough to be a shock. Haven't gone out to see what it looks like in person.

[Kris P]

You do foliage beautifully, Linda. As I tear apart my cutting garden to ready it for cool season plants, I expect I need to learn to do more with my own foliage in future weeks.

[Christine]

Such a pleasing mix of textures and muted colors. I think people forget that arrangements don’t have to be big, colorful or exotic to be interesting. These fit the season without the obligatory orange!

[Lisa at Greenbow]

Those dark seed heads are dramatic. It won't be long and there won't be much to play with.

[Beth@PlantPostings]

This is really fabulous--the best arrangement I've seen for the meme this week. So creative. I have lost my desire to be out in the garden the past few days. The cold snap really got me down. I'll be out there during the next few days, though, as it warms up just a bit. I'm not ready for winter at all this year. :(

[Linda Brazill]

BETH — I am so not ready for this change in the weather. Still quite a lot of winter prep to do in the garden even with leaving more plants up than I used to do.