Many areas of the northern world are in the icy grip of the polar vortex while here in the Pacific Northwest, we're experiencing the warmest January on record. At longitude 47.26 north, we are north of Illinois, Wisconsin, even Maine. The warming effect of the Japanese current usually keeps us warmer than those areas but this year even more so. The winter bloomers are starting but some of the herbaceous plants are still green. Today's vase combines some evergreens, winter-blooming Helleborus argutifolius and Euphorbia wulfenii and the usually dormant Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon.'
All are stuffed into a crystal vase and joined by some glass ice cubes, a nod to those of you currently experiencing freezing temperatures.
In a Vase on Monday is hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Click
here to see her vase and to find links to those of other participating bloggers. Keep warm everyone!
I do like that colour combination, it's quite striking. Good to know that you have lovely things to look at and mild weather. Let's hope it continues.
ReplyDeleteIt's unusual to have 'Red Dragon' to cut this time of year but I won't complain.
DeleteI agree with Alison...wonderful colours and form.
ReplyDeleteThanks, it's always fun to dash out to the garden on Sunday to see what will work in a vase.
DeleteOh stunning. I love green flowers.I am amazed that the persicaria is still looking so good. You have an edndless supply of interesting props to set off your arrangements, I love the ice cubes.
ReplyDeleteThe persicaria and lots of other plants that are usually dormant at this time of year are confused by the warm winter. It'll seem strange to cut back old growth that's still green for spring clean up. One of the blessings and curses of living in a house with lots of space is that it can be filled up with all sorts of props.
DeleteThat is a beautiful arrangement. I have to laugh to realize we are having an old fashioned winter while you are warmer than ever. Ice cubes is the correct motif for us!
ReplyDeleteCrazy weather this year! Glad you're having an old fashioned winter and equally happy that we're experiencing a northern California season.
DeleteIt is so interesting reading about where you are and your weather, Peter - I must plot my North American blogging friends on a map to give me a better idea of wwere you all are. Your vase is so joyous to see in January and the glass ice cubes are a wonderful prop - I love them!
ReplyDeleteOne of the joys of IAVOM is seeing what others around the world are finding in their gardens at various times of the year. Thanks for that gift! The ice cubes were purchased a few years ago for use in some glass project or other. Of course, it's good to have extras on hand should the need arise again, right?
DeleteThe ice cubes are a great touch! The green flowers do an excellent job of highlighting the Persicaria. We had near summer-like temperatures over the weekend ourselves but they're falling again now and rain is reportedly on the way, although, having been fooled by forecasters before, I'm trying not to get too invested in that promise yet.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do get more rain! Wouldn't it marvelous if the weather gods decided to put an end to the west coast drought?
DeleteI like the green, cream and burgundy combination you have created here, Peter. And thanks for acknowledging those of us waiting it out in the subzero zones!
ReplyDeleteLike many, this combination was accidental. It was originally going to be a bright yellow bouquet with Kerria japonica flowers but the blooms were too high to reach without getting out a pole pruner so this happened instead. Hold tight, Mother nature told me that spring is only 31 days away.
DeleteWhile it's not warm here, it certainly isn't frozen either. When the sun hits the Sarcococca the air is filled with fragrance. Bulbs are coming up. And as you show, there are bits to pick in our gardens to make pretty little bouquets.
ReplyDeleteOur relatively mild winters are always a delight but this year is rather unusual. Years ago, I planted a Sarcococca by the front porch. It's hidden most of the year but in January, when I come home and pause to unlock the door, that glorious fragrance announces the blooms. While there are others around the garden, that one is my favorite because I enjoy that scent every day!
DeleteA strong design Peter. Wonderful you can enjoy these early bloomers. Our weather has been all over the place, especially very wet since fall. Hellebores are opening along with early daffodils.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy, enjoy!
Thanks Susie. Such a lesson that plants can teach us about persisting regardless of what the world throws at them. No daffodils in gardens here yet but hellebores and snowdrops are blooming.
DeleteLove your color combo! I finally cut back my Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon’ the other day. It was strange that it was still lively and even stranger that I had to carefully cut back the old stems around 6” tallish new growth!
ReplyDeleteHasn't this zone 9 winter been interesting? Lots of new things to learn.
DeleteI love your arrangement today Peter. Not just the lovely ingredients, but the fact alone that you have such gorgeous foliage in January! The Persicaria must be quite confused. Love the glass ice cubes. We have snow, but the temperatures are hovering around freezing point so it is heavy wet snow.
ReplyDeleteMany plants seem confused by the warm winter. It'll be fine as long as we don't get a surprise deep freeze in February.
DeleteLovely, refreshing vase with all those lime green flowers. You must live in a mild area indeed. Hellebores never cease to amaze me, they're such hardy creatures. Last year mine were shock-frozen for days and looked pristine again soon afterwards.
ReplyDeleteThe same thing happened to my hellebores last year, they were in bloom and then a freeze had them lying flat on the ground. Thought they would be done but as soon as the weather warmed, they perked right back up. I do live in a mild area but this has been our warmest January on record so it's even more mild than usual.
DeleteI have always wondered why your little pocket of the northern world was so darned warm. Thanks for the geography lesson. Our area started out warm for January and these last few days are making it one of the coldest. Brrrrrrrrr... Even your ice cubes look warm to me. ;) Love seeing what all you can collect for the pretty little crystal vase. Happy IAVOM.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem odd that we're so far north but have mild weather due to the ocean current. The eastern part of our state, where the large Mt. Rainier blocks a lot of the clouds, it's much colder in the winter. We're zone 8 and they're zones 4- 6 low desert.
DeleteWow, those are beautiful photos! Stay warm...the arctic air made it all the way to Houston this morning...brrrrr!
ReplyDeleteYikes! So far, we're still above freezing at night with daytime highs in the 50's.
DeleteThanks for this hopeful post, as we plunge into the polar vortex for the next few days. This, too, shall pass.
ReplyDeleteKeep warm, Beth.
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