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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Monday, January 7, 2019

In a Vase on Monday - Blow, Blow, thou Winter Wind

It's Monday and Cathy reminds us that it's  time to gather some of the outside to bring in and enjoy for a while.  While our temperatures have been fairly mild this fall/winter, there have been a few rather strong wind storms and last night's event was a doozy.  At about one a.m. things going bump in the night woke me from sleep.  Fortunately, we didn't lose power or suffer any damage but many did.  I'd planned on cutting a few early bloomers to pop into a vase but on the way to work this morning, I spied a few branches that had blown from the Cedrus deodara that grows by a church near our house.  The female cones of this tree are lovely but once they're mature, they disintegrate to release their seeds leaving the central part on the branch so whole cones don't fall to the ground like they do with many other conifers.  However, if the wind blows large branches down, the cones come with them.  It's only neighborly to help pick up debris after a storm right?


The cones are covered in pitch.  Someone told me today that you can bake the cones and that makes the pitch harden and loose it's sticky quality.  I worry that it might also cause this particular kind of cone to fall apart but perhaps I'll try one and see what happens.  Joining the Cedar branches and cones are some euonymus that had to be cut back by the workers doing the sidewalk job, some Garrya elliptica catkins that blew off the bush, and, even though they're past their prime, a few Callicarpa berries. (Mostly to make Kris P. jealous.)

A few extra cones and a star from atop a Christmas gift (Sunday was Epiphany) joined the glass vase made by Island Art Glass on Whidbey Island.

Thanks as always, Cathy, for encouraging us to enjoy putting together vases each Monday!

Now, head on over to Cathy's blog to see more Monday vases!

24 comments:

  1. "Mostly to make Kris P. jealous." That is too funny, Peter! I'd be laughing, but I am envious, too. I wish we had callicarpa here.

    Those pinecones are AMAZING. I have never seen anything like those before. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Kris can grow so many amazing plants in her zone 10 garden, it's nice to know that there are a few things that we have more success with than those in such dreamy climages.

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  2. If those pinecones are covered with pitch, will they burst into flame in your oven? i'm glad you took a step back to do a full view photograph. That display looks entirely different when you can see the whole thing. The Garrya really lightens it up visually!

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    1. Good question. I'll probably not try baking the cones. Glad you liked the wide shot.

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  3. Linda has said it all....and the arrangement looks very elegant on your beautiful chest of drawers.

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    1. Thanks. I'm fond of that chest of drawers as it came from the shop of a dear friend.

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  4. The cons are wonderful, and so tactile, I guess. Love how your additions just happened to be hanging abot begging to go into a vase! The detailing on your chest of drawers and stairs looks wonderful Peter, so thanks for sharing that wider view with us.

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    1. Thanks Cathy. Sometimes vase contents just present themselves. We are so lucky that former owners of our house didn't paint all that wood as is the current trend.

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  5. You are such a good neighbor, helping to clean up after the storm. I wish you'd been here to help pick the trash out of my front garden from the neighbor's cans that blew over. Just think how a few tp rolls, assorted shredded papers and plastic soda pop connectors would have really dressed up that piece!

    I love what you created, those cones are fabulous.

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    1. What a fun idea for a future Monday vase - debris thrown into the parking strips. I already have an interesting bottle I found there to use as a container.
      Love the cones and hope, since they fell before mature, that they wont disintegrate.

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  6. This is a spectacular arrangement, I love it. It should remain fresh for a long time.

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  7. I AM properly jealous, not just over the Calliacarpa berries but also the Garrya catkins! Maybe I need to dig that pathetic excuse for a Garrya I have up and try relocating it - it's been in the ground for 3 years now but clearly doesn't know that it's supposed to be leaping at this point.

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    1. It's payback for all of those fabulous leucadendrons, grevilleas, and your orchid, and so many other gorgeous plants that we can't grow here.

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  8. The Cedrus deodara cones are interesting, I don't think I've ever seen them before. We had some big wind here too, it blew over two sections of fence, and the back garden is a mess of huge branches. Of course, I'm still getting over this abysmal cold, and Nigel, after nursing me for a week, is finally coming down with it himself, so neither of us is any good at putting the fence back together. We've called a guy from a fencing company to see if they can help.

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    1. Glad to hear that you're feeling a bit better but sorry that Nigel has come down with your cold. You're such a sharing person:) Yikes, having parts of your fence blow down is awful. Hopefully the fencing guy can fix it soon.

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  9. You will have to let us know if baking those cones does harden the resin. That would be nice if it did. And what degrees and how long to bake.
    Your arrangement is very wintery. I love it. I have probably said this before but I am amazed that your beauty berries are still around. I am surprised that no birds have eaten them yet.

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    1. My friend said 350 for atoub 1/2 hour but I'll wait to see if the pitch holds them together as they are. There must be lots of other berries around that the birds prefer as they don't seem interested in the beauty berries.

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  10. What a fun arrangement, inspired by the windstorm. All that storm inspired here was loss of sleep, and another day of yard clean up.

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  11. A lovely seasonal vase but not Christmassy. Very good of you to be clearing up the neighbourhood, I often see things I'd like as I drive around.

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  12. I have not seen the bouquet as yours before, Peter. The cones are so pretty in a vase, it's pity callicarpa does not grow here.

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  13. That's gorgeous and so unique! Yes, I think it is only right that you helped to "pick up the debris." It is very pretty debris. And it looks incredible with the Euonymus branches and the other elements!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.