The top pic might be an unripe lychee.

Show your pictures to a flower shop/flower arranger.

The first does look a bit like unripe lychee but they also appear to be attached to stem that looks to be coniferous. It is possible they are a cluster of male cones of white pine or just immature conifer cones of some sort. Don't suppose you could pull out that stem for a clearer shot?? :-))

The second are hypericum berries, St. John's wort - very commonly used in floral arrangements.

Here is a picture of the first one. I think you are right it is some kind of conifer.

Thanks...Karin

It sure does look coniferous but I can't recall any conifer that produce cones in clusters that look like that ....exactly :-)) You might try posting that last photo on the Conifers forum - there are a lot sharper folks on specific conifer ID than I lurking about.

I'm sure I'm wrong, but it looks rather like an unknown Aussie plant that I never could get an ID on.....

I looked at your 2nd picture and thought tomatillos. Have never grown so don't know?

The first plant - the one with the yellowish balls/berries/cones and conifer-like foliage - has been identified as a Brunia, an evergreen shrub native to South Africa but is grown commercially in CA specifically for the cut floral industry. It comes in a range of colors, with silver being very popular for wedding bouquets. Those balls are actually the remains of the flowerhead once the petals drop off.

Thank you...that may be what I HAD.....it was sickish when brought home and did not make it through Winter...either, cold, waterlogged or VW....

Thank you everyone.

Karin