Wild Flowers on Display

It has been well over a year since I installed the handmade ladder in my portico area. I figured it was time to move on so I brought back my birch stumps. I'd had them drying in the top of the garage for the last year. I decided to top them off with some wild flowers. There is a new variety growing out along the road, a dull pink flower in full bloom. I decided to experiment and see how they do in a dark corner.

I paired them with some of the natural ferns in my IKEA buckets and they seem to be doing quite well. The trick with wildflowers is that first test. Can they hold up once picked or do they wilt immediately? These seem to be lasting. I already know this type of fern is a good one. It easily lasts two weeks in water.

I tend to prefer wildflowers in this corner. Every flower or plant that I have purchased immediately grows fungus or mold and dies. Certain varieties of wildflowers seem to do much better.

I visited the Connecticut Botanical Wildflower sight which has a nice "search by color then picture" feature.  I have unofficially identified this weed as Eastern Joe-Pye-Weed. Here is their identifying photo.

Photo credit - Janet Novak

• Family: Aster (Asteraceae) • Habitat: swamps, shores, wet meadows• Height: 2-5 feet• Flower size: tiny, in rounded clusters 4-7 inches across• Flower color: dull pink• Flowering time: July to September• Origin: native to Connecticut

The dull pink flowers combined with the bright green ferns and birch logs really lighten up the dark corner.

Previous Posts of Interest:

• Queen Anne's Lace
• Mid- Summer
• Daisies for June

© 2013 Ashbee Design, Marji Roy

********************

Sharing this post at some of these link parties. They are worth checking out for other ideas.

Motivate Me Monday, Mop It Up Monday, Alderberry Hill, Metamorphis Monday, Tuesday Treasures,Today's Creative Blog, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Not Just a House Wife, The Inspiration Board, Romancing on a Dime, DIY Dreamer, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Transformation Thursday, House of Hepworths, Craftberry Bush, Jennifer Rizzo, One Artsy Mama, Craftionary, Flaunt in Friday, Tater Tots and Jello, Show and Tell Saturday, DIY Showoff, I Gotta Try That, Kathe With an E, The Girl Creative