When I went over to the west side of the house this morning, the bougainvillea was so brilliant and beautiful that I decided it was time to feature it in a vase. There is so much color that it makes a splendid vase by itself, or nearly...
I also added branches from Eremophila maculata "Valentine". A close look shows that buds are just beginning to form along the stems. True to its name, it normally blooms some time in February here, but the swan-necked buds become decorative long before.
All the stems ends were placed in newly boiled water. As it was a busy day, they stood for a long time in the water, enclosed in plastic to keep the humidity in, before I was able to arrange them this evening (hence the photos taken in artificial light). Thanks to my sister for kindly allowing me to use her vintage glass vase, which was just the right size after all...!
Happy IVoM, and do check the other vases at Rambling in the Garden this week!
Here is the bougainvillea outside in this morning's sunlight!
Weather Diary: Fair; High: 66 F (19 C)/Low: 39 F (4 C); Humidity: 19%-70%
Cathy (Tuesday, 06 December 2016 06:55)
It's beautiful! Especially love the photo of it in the sunshine. I am not familiar with Eremophila, but those tiny buds look fascinating. :)
Cathy (Tuesday, 06 December 2016 06:59)
Oh my! That is a most gorgeous display, Amy - what a delightful vase to be looking at day after day! How long do you thin the stems will last in water?
Kris P (Tuesday, 06 December 2016 11:27)
The Bougainvillea are beautiful in your vase, Amy. I'll be interested in hearing how long they last with the conditioning in boiling water too.
Dorris (Tuesday, 06 December 2016 12:00)
I love to see Bougainvillea perhaps because it is a holiday plant for me. It would never survive in my garden.The outside shot is beautiful.
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 07 December 2016 01:37)
Cathy@Words and Herbs - Thank you! :) The various Eremophilas have been a wonderful discovery for me with this garden, and I wish I could try each one that becomes available. The buds on this one get quite a bit larger and redder before they finally push out brilliant pink tubular flowers... one of the things I look forward to in spring now!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 07 December 2016 01:41)
Cathy@Rambling in the Garden - They are lasting very well - to my surprise and relief as they often shrivel within a matter of hours if merely poked in water. It's nice to have a really big bouquet around ;-)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 07 December 2016 01:47)
So far, results are very good, Kris. Allowing them to sit for hours in the boiled water prior to arranging them, seems to have helped tremendously. Overnight soaking (again with just boiled water) would probably work very well...
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 07 December 2016 01:55)
Dorris - Thanks so much and welcome! :) I think bougainvillea is a wonderfully cheering plant in any case, especially in the brash colors, like this.. It is marginally hardy here; our bush gets nipped badly each winter as we normally get a degree or so of frost. But its wonderful colors and its heat-tolerance ensure it a place in our yard, and I have another ready to plant... ;-)