Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Carolina Jessamine & Georgia Red Maple or Floral Arranging with Natives

If you gather a few seeds or flowers from the wild you can be floral arranging with natives for the time it takes you to gather the materials. Basically the arrangements are free provided by mother nature. Today I gathered Carolina Jessamine flowers and Georgia Red Maple seeds for my floral arrangements with natives.

 I've placed the flowers and seeds in four different vases for you to see.

I drove around looking for the maple seeds. Most trees were too tall for me to reach the seeds. I could see the seeds in the trees but I couldn't reach them. Then I saw a tree had fallen over but still was rooted so I gathered a few seeds from that tree, a Georgia red maple.

Although the Carolina Jessamine is a native, I planted one in my yard last year and since it's blooming now I clipped a few flowers from the vine.

The maple seeds are called samara because of their winged appearance. I also learned that maple seeds are edible and taste like a cross between a pea and hominy. 

The Carolina Jessamine is very fragrant and even this small bunch filled a room with it's fragrance.

These small vases are nice to place on the counter in a bathroom or by the bedside or on a dresser.

Oh heck, a small vase with an arrangement can be placed just about anywhere and it will brighten the room. Thanks for reading and for all your comments

19 comments:

  1. I also love tiny vases, and never knew the name of Jessamine, it's pretty.

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  2. Hi Barbara, thanks, the jessamine is in full bloom and I didn't even notice till yesterday, how did that happen. ha it has wonderful fragrance. and is so bright

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  3. This is lovely, and I like seeing the little vases with a flower, especially the natives.

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  4. Hi Joanne, thanks, even on a budget I can do floral arrangements. the maple seeds are so beautiful I just love them. If I had been more observant the trees had flowers before these seeds, next year hopefully I'll get some.

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  5. A glorious combination! Your vases and the maple seeds.

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  6. Hi Robyn, thanks, oh I do love that peachy color of the seeds, and the arrangements seem Asian inspired. So glad I took the time to go and get the seeds.

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  7. Lovely! Especially love the maple seeds in the your vases.



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  8. Lovely! Especially love the maple seeds in the your vases.



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    1. Hi Charlene, thanks, oh I do love those peachy and pale green seeds so soft and beckoning.

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  9. We almost always have flowers/seeds/leaves in vases. It makes the house look welcoming and distracts the eye away from the dusting I really need to do (or at least I hope it does).

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    1. Hi Sue, thanks, if you saw my house and dust you'd be mortified, life is too short for that, flowers, seeds, nature and all are so much more important especially at this late stage and age of the game.

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  10. the arrangement in the first photo is stunning!

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  11. Hi Michele, thanks, that one is my favorite of course, that's why it's first. te he.

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  12. How beautiful...the blooms and the your wonderful works of art. :)

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  13. the jasmine is a very bright yellow and the maple seeds look interesting and all set off well by your vases..

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    1. Hi Anna, thanks, now I'm thinking of other natives I can use in arrangements.

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  14. Hi, I'm wondering what the vase life is on the Carolina jessamine? And also, what month they bloom in your region? I sell cut flowers and am wondering if I should buy some plants. Thanks!

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  15. Hi KristenJas, thanks, I think they lasted a good long while, and the jessamine would be a nice addition for cut flowers because they can droop over the edge of a vase and dangle down or even be used in an ikebana arrangement.

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