Chinese Lantern (Physalis alkekengi) with purple (painted) eucalyptus
Well how about that, it is my birthday today! As a little treat to myself I picked up a few things that I don’t currently grow in my garden (but I do hope to one day!). I put them together for some fall colour in the house. I thought I’d add it to my “In a Vase on Monday” collection, so here we go!
A little snippet of a view…
This past week while running errands I passed a florist shop that just looked so inviting. It really doesn’t take much for me to want to go into a florist shop, I even love the smell of them! The purple painted eucalyptus really caught my eye. The pictures don’t give it justice, it is beautiful!
Hydrangea from my father-in-law’s garden along with gypsophila paniculata (baby’s breath)
So, I was standing in the shop with some of the lovely eucalyptus wondering what I was going to do with it! I thought of a picture I posted the other day of my California poppies with cornflower and that sealed the colour combination I wanted; Purple and Orange!
full view
I came home and had fun putting it together. I love doing that; fitting everything in its perfect place. Unfortunately, it was really windy when I made it, so I couldn’t take it outside for pictures. It is sitting in my front hall with so much natural light I thought for sure I could get a good picture…
I changed position to try and get more light from the window
not exactly… But you more or less get the gist of the arrangement and colours 🙂 The hydrangea are from my father-in-law’s garden. He gave them to me about a month ago and this time they dried really well. I liked how the lighter shade looked here.
I love those windows, but they stink for taking pictures!
I was told by another blogger that the Chinese Lantern plant will run wild in the garden, so my intention is to grow it in a pot. That is on my “eventually will get to” list. I planted some of the gypsophila paniculata (O.K., I just call this baby’s breath because it is MUCH faster to say!) this spring. One tiny little sprig came up, but with no flowers. I’m hoping next year will be better.
Our Stickley corner piece. A perfect display place.
The large window looks out to part of our front yard. There is beautiful brightness in the afternoon. I love the arrangement sitting right there. And now the front hall smells like lovely eucalyptus!
I’m looking forward to seeing what Cathy at Rambling in the Garden has put together for her meme “In a Vase on Monday”. You can visit her at: http://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com and see other lovely arrangements too.
Have a good week!
Dana
Mom in the Garden 
that’s beautiful Dana
wait, I wasn’t done, and I don’t see a way to edit… I was going to say that’s beautiful Dana! I love the purple and orange combination. Does the purple grow naturally in that purple shade? I’ve never seen that before!
Hi Michelle! The eucalyptus is definitely painted. I’m not sure how, but I thought it looked lovely. The hydrangea is naturally that colour, though! Thanks for your compliment and for visiting! Dana
I adore Stickley too…and I love the dramatic effect of your vase…great colors and effects with height of the stems and the textures and form of the hydrangea and lanterns.
Hi Donna, my favourite pieces of furniture would definitely have to be my Stickley. Thanks for the compliments! Yeah, I’m pretty happy with it 🙂 Dana
Happy birthday! What a fun color combination.
Thank you! I am so glad you can see that I was having fun and just bringing some autumn cheer into the house! 🙂 Dana
Happy Birthday to you! The purple and orange go really well together, don’t they? I love the look of physalis and have some ‘physalis’ Christmas lights above the fireplace – I have heard it can be thuggish too otherwise I might grow it myself. So pleased you were able to treat yourself in this way for your birthday – enjoy the rest of it, and your vase! 🙂
Hi Cathy! Thank you. I had a perfect day! and I too, am so glad I treated myself. I don’t think we do that enough. Must practice being nicer to ourselves! 🙂
Happy Birthday Dana! I love the autumnal feel of the physalis – I saw some growing in a front garden this week and thought it was halloween lights at first! It goes well with all your purples.
Hi Julie, Thank you! The Physalis are so neat looking! It is quite fun to work with them. I’m glad you liked my colour combination, too. Thanks for stopping by! Dana
Happy Birthday Dana! Nice you treated yourself in the flower shop for your special day. The purple and orange color combination make a nice strong statement.
Hi Susie, Thank you, I had a lovely day! I’m so glad I treated myself, too. Such a simple thing to do, and every time I pass it in the hall it makes me smile! Thank you for visiting! Dana
Happy Birthday! Yes, I agree that Eucalyptus looks stunning, especially next to the Physalis. I can only stress what you’ve been told before – don’t plant it out or it will take over! I pull out literally hundreds every year, and the roots are everywhere! The seed heads are gorgeous though, and mine are turning orange now too. Lovely arrangement and hope you had a lovely day! 🙂
Hi Cathy, Oh I am glad you repeated that the Physalis will take over! It is good for me to hear these things more than once to really get the point across (and not make that mistake!). Yes, I was thinking a large container would do the trick for Physalis. Too bad it goes crazy, huh? Thank you, and I really did have a lovely day! Dana
Belated happy birthday wishes to you, Dana. I love your purple and orange flower combination … it certainly has wow factor! Never having grown it, I didn’t know that the physalis could run wild … there’s so much to learn about gardening. Hope you had a lovely day 🙂
Hi Elizabeth, Thank you for the birthday wishes! I did have a lovely day. There really is so much to learn about gardening! But what a fun way to learn – through blogs! Thanks so much for visiting mine 🙂
Awesomely unique arrangement! I just visited a local lavender farm today and thought of you! Since I know you’ve made beautiful things with lavender;) Happy fall to you!
Hi Spy gardener! You know I have not visited a lavender farm … yet! What a great thing to put on my “must do” list. How nice of you to think of me 🙂 Happy Fall wishes being sent your way as well!
What a stunning vase and so suitable for this occasion. Best wishes to you for a joyful year ahead 🙂
Hello Annette, Thank you for the well wishes. Life gets better every year! 🙂
Happy birthday, birthweek and birthmonth too.
Hello Cynthia! Thank you for your birthday wishes! I do think life gets better with age. Don’t you agree? 🙂
In some ways, yes.