The fresh garden flowers are taking a break this week, allowing me to show some of the dried flowers prepared last summer. The vase is a soap stone one bought in China and given to me by my mother several decades ago.
The pale green of the vase is not quite the right hue or shade to match with fresh foliage and flowers, so at last it gets an outing and pairs fairly well with some of the flowers I dried last year.
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| Pseudodictamnus acetabulosus |
Pseudodictamnus acetabulosus dries well and keep its form, and Origanum 'Emma Stanley' too with the colour only fading slightly.
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| Origanum 'Emma Stanley' dried |
I have quite a few dried poppy seed heads around so choose three for the vase, and at the base are three more where the outer skin has been removed to leave the fine inner formations. A couple of years ago I noticed such 'skeletons' where I had dropped poppy seed heads on the beds, and used it again last year to great advantage.
This is so pretty, Noelle, the colours go perfectly with this most unusual vase. I'm intrigued by the dried Pseudodictamnus which –like the poppy seed heads– is a work of art. The origanum looks vibrant and fresh and complements the brown shades so well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Annette. I have two types of Pseudodictamus, this one has larger 'ruffs', but both are excellent. All my decorative origanums dry very well.
DeleteMy goodness, Noelle, just as W&H Cathy has done, you have shown us how successful drying flowers can be and I am immediately on the lookout for both those you have featured today! As you suggest, their depth of colour works perfectly in this intriguing soapstone vase - your IAVOM displays always look so elegant!
ReplyDeleteThank you Cathy, nice to have material from the garden to use in the winter. I had the Pseudotictamnus hanging upside down from each side of the curtain pole each side of some long voile curtains, and it looked quite decorative like that.
DeleteYour poppy seed pods in particular are beautiful in both forms, Noelle. I'm also impressed by the Origanum, which is a lovely color. I need to experiment more in working with dried plant materials...
ReplyDeleteI came across how to have the skeletons of the poppy seed heads just by chance. When we have a few months without many flowers it is a bonus to have the dried material.
DeleteBeautiful! I love the subtle colors and arching branches. A.melia.
ReplyDeleteThe branches arch naturally, but I am thinking that I might try some of the stems from the plants that curve a little more this coming year.
DeleteThe materials you have used are beautiful Noelle! The pseudodictamnus is very striking in its shape and form, and I was surprised the origanum flowers retained so much shape and colour - they will definitely be on my list of things to dry this year! I have never had any of my poppy seedheads decay so magically into these skeletal forms - wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy, the skeletal poppy heads are courtesy of the slugs and snails! I leave them out, and just check them each day, until they are just right!
DeleteYour post shows just how beautiful dried flowers can be Noelle and your mother's vase is just perfect for them. I love the skeletal poppy heads - they always remind me of lanterns when they get to that stage.
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