Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween Flowers in the House

Jane's (Small But Charming) challenge this month to do "Halloween flowers" was a bit of a push for me, but what is life without a challenge?
First, I totally stole her idea of using a pumpkin as the vase.  But orange is not a favorite color of mine, so I went with a softly green one instead. Depending on the light, this beauty can look green, or gray, or even nearly black ... is there such a thing as "light black"?

It's bit large for the number of flowers available in my garden, so I also bought flowers - a pre-mixed bunch and a bunch of coral alstromeria.  (Did I mention oasis, florist tape, and florist "picks".  I did not use the latter two, but am now prepared for the future!  Well, if I can figure out how to actually use them.)

The final product is full of chrysanthemums (purple and green), the coral alstroemeria, and lots of sedum 'Madronna' from my garden.  It is nearly dried, but retains a pinky-brown color that I loved with the pumpkin.  The "bride" flowers are pale coral lilies (not all open yet), with a supporting cast of miscellaneous blossoms and foliage that came in the mixed bunch - one purple stock and other stuff.  [That would be a technical term, I think.]

I didn't like the bright orange chrysanthemums in the mixed bunch, so put them with all the other leftover blooms and some rosemary from the garden into a little bouquet for the kitchen.

If you haven't seen all the others participating in this month's flower display, be sure to hop over to Jane's place and look at the links.  Thanks, Jane.  This was fun!

12 comments:

  1. Webb, you nailed it!

    My favorite color pumpkin and the arrangement is charming.

    As is the little one in the kitchen

    You do girl and have yourself a freaky little Halloween.

    xo Jane

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  2. Looks great. I love the colour of that pumpkin, it's a good background for the flowers. Love your posy in the kitchen too. Happy Halloween, love Linda x

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  3. Lovely! Your pumpkin looks gnarly, and perfect for Halloween.

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  4. I love the pumpkin bouquet, and the charcoal color is just right. The kitchen bouquet is lovely; and you are absolutely right that those flowers look better in a separate bouquet. I should have divided mine into two, but I had them all tangled together in a larger vase before I thought of it, so I just let them be. I may yet disassemble it, though.

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  5. Fantastic. I didn't have the guts to follow the theme properly, but you have produced something really beautiful.

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  6. I really like that color pumpkin and it almost looks ceramic. Your arrangement is lovely!

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  7. Thanks, guys! Glad you like the pumpkin - had to look hard for it. Don't eat too much candy! Boo!

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  8. Love the green pumpkin and the sweet little kitchen bouquet.

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  9. Webb, I don't think an orange pumpkin would do with this combination. Your choice was a good one - it works!

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  10. I think your color pumpkin choice was a great one! I haven't seen a pumpkin used as a vase, so that one is new to me. Great during the whole autumn season. Maybe I could 'recycle' our carved pumpkin by putting a vase inside it and just turning it around so no one can see the face? But in England, we have giant snails all over our carved pumpkin, so maybe not :) Snails - the newest symbol of Halloween?! XOLaura

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  11. Laura, I truly did steal the idea from Jane, but you are welcome to it - minus the snails!

    thanks to everyone for coming to visit!

    And, Jane. I liked the assignment of a theme.

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  12. OH I LOVE! And I'm with you...I really don't much care for the bring orange of Halloween either. It's very much not my color. So seeing it down in other colors is very inspiring. And where ever did you find a pumpkin that color?? Must have!

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