Throughout the cold months, while I await Spring’s arrival, I remember past growing seasons via vases of dried plants collected during the summer and on long autumn walks.
The brown tones of this hand-thrown pottery vase (another great, free-table find), echo the colors of the arrangement.
I love the rusty backsides of Southern Magnolia leaves (M. grandiflora), the bronze tones of Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) galls, and the golden interiors of Milkweed pods (Asclepias syriaca).
Dried Hypericum berries (H. androsaemum) cluster low and seeded grasses (Calamagrostis and Dactylis) arch high. A few twisted branches of European Filbert (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’) photobomb from a vase offscreen to the left.
Cathy at Rambling In the Garden, hosts a weekly meme to showcase arrangements created from our gardens, indoor or out. Wander over to see what gardeners all over the world are arranging this week.
Eliza Waters 
Gorgeous vase & arrangement, Eliza.
Thank you kindly, Micheal!
How very attractive this is!
Thank you very much, Anne!
Fabulous:)
Thank you! 🙂
Such an artistic arrangement! Almost looks like modern art.
Thank you so much, Peggy. I so appreciate your nice comment!
:))
Very avant garde – it strikes a chord similar to a autumn fashion photo shoot. Perhaps the vase shape and height? – anyway, your result is stunning. Bravo!
Thank you!
When there are no fresh flowers the dried ones are a joy to behold; much the same can be said for those dried stems in the garden too.
Yes, they tide us through the winter. 🙂
Hiya Eliza,
Very graceful, but I’m sure you will appreciate the fresh flowers once they come along again 🙂
Sorry, but I am not sure which continent you are on. Could find it on your site.
jolanda/joanna
Thanks, Jolanda. Spring is right around the corner here in New England, USA!
There is so much beauty left, after the flowering season! By the way, are there exit holes on the galls?
Some do. I’m not worried if they hatch out, there won’t be anywhere to go in the house and the vacuum or the cats will get them. 😉
It just made me think: I brought 4 Gerberas in, in the fall, brought one of them to the kitchen sink to water, Dec 29th (!!!!!) was delighted to find a slug crawling on the leaves! IPad photo dates!
Ha, not sure a slug would delight me. They are one of the few creatures I really find hard to tolerate. Everyone has a nemesis, I guess. 😉
Very beautiful Eliza, I especially love those twisty hazel branches and the Goldenrod galls. i think the fly that makes the galls might not live here, I have never noticed any on my plants.
I expect not in NZ. The gall doesn’t seem to keep the plant from flowering, so they aren’t too disruptive it seems. Birds in winter will tear into them to get the insect, an easy boon for them.
Thanks for your visit, Cath!
I think you have a whole ecosystem in a vase! Perfect:^)
;-D Thanks, Marian!
Such a varied and pretty selection of dried material, and the vase is perfect for them – thanks for sharing
Thank you, Cathy.
Naturally beautiful, Eliza. Such a wonderful creation. Inspiring!
Thank you kindly, Carrie!
What a gorgeous presentation!
Thank you very much, Dor!
That vase was quite the find! I really, really like the dried arrangement. Not as glorious as flowers, perhaps, but it has its own elegant beauty.
Thank you so much, Laurie. 🙂
Only you Eliza, could make a gall look beautiful! Great score on the vase. I love Milkweed pods.
😀 Thanks, Kathy!
This weekend was heartening around here – the pussy willows are all out, and lots of trees have little buds on them. And my bulbs are starting to poke their little leaves out, too! Spring is coming!
We’re recovering from that nasty arctic blast, so I’m glad to hear you are sending warmer temps our way~ 😉
Warmer temps and a lot of wind, if it’s anything like today! I had to bring my wreath in because it kept blowing off the front door. That hasn’t ever happened at this house before!
I’m not a fan of wind. A (rare) tornado whipped through town here a week ago and laid waste acres. Luckily, while property was damaged, no one was hurt. As you pointed out, the weather is changing and I fear we’re helpless to do much about it. 😦
I’m glad to hear no one was hurt! Our wind continues – my parents lost their mailbox yesterday, and I’m seeing more branches and limbs down today. I think the sustained wind is putting a lot of pressure on things here.
The woods are really cleaned up of dead wood that’s for sure.
The container’s strong form is perfect for this varied collection of dried materials. I too love the color of the underside of magnolia leaves.
Thank you, Susie. 🙂
The vase is the perfect foil for its contents, Eliza!
It is, indeed. I knew its purpose as soon as I saw it. 🙂
Love the vase!
Thank you, Kim! ❤
The flower and vase colors are a great composition, beautiful job and a free vase to boot.
Thanks, SQ. I do love that free-table! 😉
I really need to go look at our recycling center more thoroughly.
If they don’t have one, maybe suggest they start one. It is a great resource and keeps loads out of the waste stream and landfills.
That is a beautiful arrangement, put together with great care I imagine. And the vase is perfect too!
Thank you, Cathy. It is an aggregation that builds over time with handfuls gleaned here and there, with memories tied in.
There are golden baby dragons hiding in there. 😀
Ha, yes!
A lovely arrangement and a nice reminder of the season past and to come…
Yes, it carries fond memories. Thanks for your visit, Belinda.
What a lovely collection of dried beauties – I always like to have a few dried specimens around during the winter to remind me of the warmer seasons! I particularly love the variety of plants you have found for this collection.
Thank you, Julie. It really is a collection that grows through the late season, culminating in a big clump!
What a beautiful arrangement of things many people don’t notice. I am learning from your Monday vases!
Thank you kindly, Lisa!
I enjoyed your beautiful selection of photos and descriptions.
Thank you, Michael.
I love this combination!
Thank you, Maria!
Lovely unusual treasures Eliza. Milkweed seems to be such a beautiful and useful plant in and out of season. The galls are interesting. I love the shapes, but having clicked through to the link and seen the cause, I’d feel a little cautious about them being indoors (too many scary movies perhaps!)
They are host specific, so no worries – haha!
Handsome memories of a bounteous season past. Soon spring will have us giddy with the prospect of what’s to come. For now, remembering warmth and abundance past is precious. Beautifully done as usual!
Thank you, Peter. 🙂
The presentation in the vase is beautiful, Eliza! 🙂
Thank you, Christy!
Such an elegant vase of memories! Love the shapes and soft colors here. What artistry ❤
Thank you very much, E! 🙂
It just shows that even without flowers, it’s possible to make a very attractive display.
Thank you, Bun. 🙂
You are so talented with live flowers now dried, wow!!! I love the shades of earthy colors:-)
Thank you kindly, Robbie! ❤