leaf on wooden spool

This is the most satisfying windowsill arrangement I've done in months, and it started out in the weirdest way. I was looking for something to use as a platform for a very small ornamental gourd. Thought a large wooden spool would be good. Discovered that in my entire collection of spools of thread there was only one wooden one. Why didn't I save more wooden spools?! Tried to use that one under my gourd, but it was too small. Tried the small spool under a tomatillo that happened to be sitting nearby. Too boring. Then I looked to my right and saw this wonderful little leaf sort of shriveling up in and arrangment I had done earlier (and posted on August 22). JUST RIGHT!

hardy begonia looking for a home

These stems of hardy begonia wound up in these vases only because the vases were sitting on the windowsill with water in them, and I needed a home for the stems. Ended up liking the combination of wacky leaves and wacky vases.

 And, just because it was part of this process, here's the place the hardy begonia stems were removed from--a little shelf in my dining room. Very long story, but the hardy begonia stems were in these test tubes before the dahlias were, but I needed to photograph this...and the begonia stems looked to "heavy" in the photo...hence, the shift.

tiny leaves, flowers, and cicada shell

Catherine Ellyson created this beautiful little collection of leaves, hydrangea florets, and a cicada exoskeleton. Interestingly, three of the leaves are artificial (made out of tin), but you'd never know.

Marty's marigold

This one's for Marty Ross, who gave me a package of mixed Marigold seeds. I didn't expect much from the mix (probably the ones the seed company had leftover, thought I), but boy, was I wrong! I'm getting the most interesting marigolds from that mix. I particularly love this one, which has stems long enough to cut but not so tall they need staking and bright red-orange flowers with yellow edges.

 

coxcomb color

I've been eyeing these particular coxcomb flowers for weeks and today decided, why not cut them?! I'd been thinking I needed an artist in residence to appreciate their color with me, but having none such, I photographed this, which does them no service. They're not the usual color (sort of magenta) but instead have undertones of yellow and orange and apricot. I wish I had the photography skills to prove it!

P.S. Other things in the photo are Tatume squash and hardy begonia leaves.