Lovely Lunaria as a Cut Flower

 

Lunaria : Money Plant : Honesty :: Whatever you call them make lovely cut flowers :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

A corner of our backyard has the popular dried flower, Honesty.  Sometimes it is also referred to as the Money Plant.  It often has a weedy appearance in the garden.  But, this year the color was especially stunning.  You might describe it as a deep magenta purple.  On a whim I decided to cut two stems and bring them inside.

A small cut-crystal vintage bud vase was the chosen vessel for this loveliness.  There are lots of side stems on this regal-colored plant.  I cut the side shoots off the main stem and had many pretty flowering stems.  Using Lunaria as a cut flower is really easy.  Essentially there is no arranging.  Simply group the flowering stems together and insert them in a small vase.  Be sure to watch the water level as they may be thirsty.  Mine were.

 

Lunaria as a cut flower :: A Vignette :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Often I have seen this plant used as a dried flower in arrangements.  It certainly provides lovely interest.  And if you look closely, you can see the oval green seed pods already forming on the stems.  I have not seen Lunaria as a cut flower and plan to use it more in the future.  In addition to this lovely purple, it may be found in various shades from white to lavender to purple.  It blooms at the same time as the Daffodils and Tulips, and together, they would make a striking arrangement.

To create my table top vignette, I used a small silver tray snagged sometime ago from Goodwill as the foundation piece for this grouping of Lunaria and smiling cat, which I was gifted at Christmas from a dear friend.   A plate on a stand is always a nice complement and helps make a sweet spring arrangement of three with the lamp.

 

Do you have Lunaria growing in your garden or wild in a nearby field?

Have you used it as a cut flower or as a dried flower?

 

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Catch up on all that’s Extraordinary…

 


this week at An Extraordinary Day:

 

5/18 Week at a Glance :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Here are this week’s posts…

  1. This Moment :: Tulip Time on the Sideboard
  2. Finding Great Joy :: Joy Day!
  3. Look what the wind blew in! :: Snowball Viburnum
  4. Hope Quote by Victor Hugo

 

It was another Extraordinary Week on the blog!

To those of you who may be wondering about the post that gave me such great consternation last week….this is the one: This Moment :: Tulip Time on the Sideboard.  As I read the comments I am grateful that I persevered.  Living in the moment is a huge struggle for all of us.   In Sunday’s Joy Day! post I shared about how I have come to the conclusion that great joy comes in the midst of trial and trouble.  Very personal stuff.  A few days later I shared with you a lovely outcome for my table from a windstorm.  And then, because we all need hope, I layered a photo with a wonderful quote from Victor Hugo.  Yes…it was an Extraordinary week!

 

Fun News!

I’m excited to be guest hosting Monday Funday with a fabulous five blogger team!  Be sure to watch your inbox Sunday for more details on this extraordinary link party!

 

Humbled and blessed.

Thank you to the following lovely places for featuring An Extraordinary Day this past week:

Beyond the Picket Fence     ~     Green Willow Pond     ~     Oh My! Creative

One More Time Events     ~     Just Cats

Please take a minute to stop by these extraordinary blogs for even more inspiration.

 

 

From my heart…

So many of you silently visit during the week.  Thank you for your presence.  Others of you are brave to leave your name and your thoughtful remarks.  If you are uncomfortable leaving a brief comment…that is okay…there is no pressure from me.  However, to those of you who do…Thank you!   I am over-joyed at getting to know you, just a little bit.  You truly make my day.

Wishing you an Extraordinary weekend!

Diane

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Comments

  1. I walk in our neighborhood and someone had it growing in their corner space. I’ve seen it in flower but never connected it to the dried version of the money plant…it does make a beautiful cut flower – love it!!

    • Diane says

      Last year was the first that I actually realized how beautiful it is in the spring. It really is fun to have a bit. But, those fun seed pods can produce a lot of extra friends, too! Haha!
      Hope your day is Extraordinary, Nancy!!

  2. Kristine says

    Reading and seeing such beautiful flowers has brought a bright spot into my life today. Just love your blog…so glad I stopped by! Have a beautiful Spring may the birds bring a song of joy to your heart!

    • Diane says

      Kristine, you just made my day! I am so blessed by the nice things you said and knowing that you enjoyed your visit here. 🙂
      Wishing you Extraordinary blessings!

  3. Gwen says

    Where I live we have an early spring plant called linaria which looks like teeny snapdragons on a small plant. I wasn’t able to get any this year but I enjoyed them in my little posies as I call them! The end of April my friend and I made little posies all over in small vases. I love the tray and plate with your flower. I love all the variety! Each week is a new blooming plant to enjoy. Right now its my hydrangeas both flat head and regular. It’s too hot here for them to ever turn purples reddish green so I enjoy them for the moment. Oh yes. A good reminder. To live in the moment as God intends.

    • Diane says

      Oh Gwen, I’ll have to check that out. I do remember a plant in NY that looked like tiny snapdragons, too.
      I think it is so wonderful how you and your friend made up little posies! Isn’t it fun to have little bits of floral sunshine scattered throughout the house? Heat or not, enjoy the hydrangeas, they are always a favorite of mine.
      Wishing you many Extraordinary Moments!

  4. Mel says

    Well, I’m glad you persevered with the post, too. And I adore the simplicity of the flowers with that smug chubby kitty hiding underneath. LOL Probably thinkin’ he’s got the best place in the house. And what fun–seriously, I need to take the pruning sheers with me everywhere I go. There are such gorgeous colours popping out all over right now. (finally!) And they’re all at someone elses house. Pfooey. (no, I won’t prune theirs….LOL…..even though I might want to!) I have no cut flowers in the house at the moment. But I did get 24 pots planted yesterday! Oh, and four flower boxes. *whew*

    WOW. You’re hosting! FUNday is every day in my world, methinks, but it’s good to pick one and make sure you make the conscious effort TO have fun. And since Mondays seem to be a struggle for folks–good choice! I’ll be excited to see what that Monday Funday linking deal is about. *laughing* Like I need more excuses to play?!
    😉

    *keeping you in thought and prayer*

    • Diane says

      Isn’t it fun when just a simple vignette of a bud vase and a few extras can make us smile? Thanks for enjoying it along with me. Wish I could have made up a vase for your desk, too!
      You make me laugh about carrying pruners….I actually did prune from my neighbor’s bush recently. They are home all of two days a month and never see the beauty behind their house and the flowers were spilling into the public access pathway behind my house, so I took liberties and blossoms. Helpful pruning…Yes?
      I am blessed to be able to join this group of seasoned and talented bloggers. Pinch me!!!
      Always…thanks for your prayers… [hugs]

  5. Babette says

    I just wanted to say God bless you and I hope you have a very blessed day. I really love you thoughts that you share.

    • Diane says

      You are so sweet! Thank you for the blessing and your kind words, Babette! [hugs]

  6. Ann says

    Your lunaria has such a gorgeous deep tone. Beautiful as a cut flower. Thanks for sharing.

    • Diane says

      Isn’t that just a stunning color? The camera could not capture the nuances of color, though.
      Thanks for stopping by and leaving your kind words, Ann!
      Blessings!

  7. I have seen the dried plant for sale many times, but I have never seen the plant green or with flowers. I think it is especially interesting that they bloom when tulips and daffodils bloom. I think if that flower grew around here I would have noticed it. Great post.

    • Diane says

      I don’t think many people grown them as garden plants, Jeanne….but I think I’ll keep my little corner of them going. 🙂
      Thanks for stopping by and your kind words.
      Hope your week is extraordinary!

  8. Carolyn says

    Ohhhh! I know this plant but not the flower from my years in southern Chile. I too have seen the dried plant with its beautiful silvery leaves for sale in some of the markets. Didn’t know it could have such lovely flowers. If I remember correctly, it was called the same but in Spanish–“the money plant” or “silver leaves”–hojas de plata. I always thought it was very decorative.

    • Diane says

      Isn’t it funny how we will notice a plant for just one of it’s features?
      My little vase of flowers has now dropped their pretty purple petals….but I’m keeping them going for their tiny green plates. I may show them if my cat doesn’t decide to sink her teeth in them. {arrgh!]
      Thanks for sharing about seeing them in Chile. I wonder if that is where they originated?

  9. Oh it is so pretty and such a lovely colors. Great vignette. Thanks tons for joining Inspire Me. Hugs Marty

    • Diane says

      Thank you so much Marty!
      Hope your week is extraordinary! [hugs]

  10. Beatiful flowers. I love the whole vignette. Gorgeous lamp! I came over from, “Adorned from Above.”

    • Diane says

      Thank you so much Karen Mary! How sweet of you. 😉
      The lamp came from Lowe’s last year. Surprised?
      Wishing you An Extraordinary Day!

  11. Sandi says

    Very pretty vignette, Diane, and I love the plate too. Thanks for sharing.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    • Diane says

      Awwww…thanks Sandi!
      When I brought the plate out I discovered that it was majorly cracked…not to the eye…but by touch. I noticed that when the movers unpacked the truck they didn’t necessarily put the fragile items “Up” and I have found a few antique plates cracked like that. They are okay for display but that’s it. One was a large flow blue platter and I must say that made me sick. A reminder to hang on to things loosely. 😉
      Blessings!

  12. A lovely arrangement – I’ve never grown those flowers before but I should. Love the smiling cat. 🙂

    • Diane says

      Thank you JoAnne! My dear sweet friend gifted me the cat and I usually keep it on my studio table…he was the perfect size to share the limelight with the snowballs.
      Hope your holiday weekend is extraordinary!

  13. I have lunaria in my yard because I used to use a lot of it in dried florals. The drieds aren’t so popular anymore but the lunaria keeps coming up! Thanks for linking these fun posts to “Open House”!

    • Diane says

      I’ve noticed that the Lunaria aren’t as popular as dried flowers, too. But, don’t pull them out. The minute you do they’ll be all the rage!! 🙂
      Happy Memorial Day!

  14. I’m not familiar with this plant but it is lovely. I like to make a nice vignette with simple things like this also. Love the CAT!! Diann and I thank you for joining TTF.

    Linda

    • Diane says

      I enjoy that little cat so much. Isn’t it a blessing to have such treasure to display from dear friends? Thanks for noticing, Linda!! [hugs]

  15. More beautiful flowers! Thanks so much for sharing at the Creative HomeAcre Hop!
    Hope to see you again this week!

    http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/2013/05/join-us-at-creative-homeacre-hop.html

    • Diane says

      Oh me and flowers….you’re just going to be stuck all summer with my sharing flowers are some time or another. LOL Hope you don’t mind!!
      Thanks for the kinds word, Mary!
      Blessings!

  16. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    That is a new to me plant, but I definitely need to know more. Off to google!

    • Diane says

      I’m certain many people think of it as a wildflower. Some of the most beautiful gardens include wildflowers. 🙂
      Blessings!

  17. So pretty Diane!

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  1. […] the lid from the jar was added to the vignette along with my chubby smiling cat I used in an earlier floral […]

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