IVOM: The goodbye bouquet

Last Wednesday, before the weather changed, I clipped a crazy assortment of foliage and flowers and made a giant bouquet. Partly it was a test to see what plants have the potential to last in an arrangement, but mostly it was just fun to grab a bit of everything. 

Toad lilies and Aconitum are the main flowers here, along with fading Agastache 'Blue Fortune' and Eupatorium 'Chocolate.'

I've never cut a stem of Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' for a vase as they make too important a statement in the garden to do that. But they were about to bite the bullet anyway, so I did it. And now I know it works well in a display. Here with Arum italicum and the underside of a yellowing Hosta leaf.

The view from the other side shows the beautiful red backs of the hardy Begonia foliage and the sori on the ferns.

I couldn't resist trying a big Rodgersia leaf which didn't last too long. Not surprising given how far gone it was when I cut it. The stems on Anemone 'September Charm' were so long they just wanted to keep flopping. So I let them.

When I brought the display into the house, Mark insisted on taking a photo with me to indicate what a large bouquet it was. I look like a woman who has spent a week fighting a cold and had to cancel her haircut appointment so she wouldn't pass on her germs. 

Comments

[Kristin]

The arrangement is great. I'm glad Mark took the perspective shot, as I had no idea it was so large. Now I'm kicking myself for forgetting to cut my toad lilies before our freeze. It's the first year they've done anything, so I forgot about them.

[Chavli]

Mark was right to insist! This is a wonderful photo and I wouldn't have guessed how massive your late season bouquet turned out: I love it.
(I hope you are feeling better!).

[Linda Brazill]

CHAVLI — Feeling much better. It also helped to get most of the final cleanup in the garden done, so my stress level dropped.

​I really had fun making such a giant display and just throwing everything in it.

We had light snow flurries last night. But it has been warm enough that I am seeing early Alliums starting to come up. Not a good sign.

[Linda Brazill]

KRISTIN — The toad lilies were so late this year that I ended up leaving most of them in the garden. It's always so down to the wire with those late flowers.

[Old Lady Gardener]

It is a surprisingly large bouquet, and quite a stunning assortment, Linda. Its fun to gather a bunch of late season "stuff" to bring in and enjoy a while longer, isn't it?

[Linda Brazill]

OLG— Our temps have dropped into the 20°sF overnight with snow flurries. So I am really glad I made the effort to make one more bouquet.

[Susie at pbmGarden]

Linda, that's truly a magnificent arrangement and it's an impressive size. Hope you're feeling better.

[Linda Brazill]

SUSIE — T​hanks for those kind words. Feeling much better now.

[Christine]

Spectacular! I love that it is a bold autumn arrangement but not the typical red-orange-yellow & green color combination.

[danger garden]

Beautiful! I especially love the photo of the Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty', Arum italicum, yellowing Hosta leaf and fern frond.