Cathy’s weekly challenge entitled In A Vase On Monday encourages gardeners to create floral designs from materials gathered in our own gardens. Looking for inspiration late yesterday, after a cold, rainy and windy weekend, the grass squished under my feet while I gathered blooms and foliage from around the garden’s edges.
There were not large quantities of any one flower, but in the end I collected an adequate sampling of spring blossoms for Monday’s display.
White Narcissus ‘Thalia’ are only just beginning to open and a sole hyacinth escaped the winter’s chill.
Hyacinth
For containers I selected four footed cordial glasses from a set of six, a well-loved and often-used wedding present from a dear friend. I also chose a small crystal vase that belonged to a maternal aunt.
To use as a feathery, airy filler I cut freshly emerging Achillea leaves. From a nearby container I also selected a few leaves of Salvia Dorada ‘Aurea’ (Golden Sage) that had not been damaged by the rough weather.
Achillea leaves contrast with tight form of Muscari racemes
In foreground, leaves of Salvia Dorada ‘Aurea’ (Golden Sage) merge with those of Iberis sempervirens
The vase holding the Thalia and several Tete-a-Tetes made a pleasant individual arrangement, with the daffodils hovering above a base of Iberis sempervirens.
Narcissus ‘Thalia’, Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ and Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Narcissus ‘Thalia’, Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ and Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Picked from the path of the meditation circle, purple violas with deep golden centers proved difficult to photograph, their rich dark color resisting the camera, but this image reflects the strong hue fairly accurately.
Violas
The grape hyacinths are extra small this year and scarce, but these few fan out to make a large impact when paired with Iberis.
Muscari and Iberis
Muscari and Iberis
I find the flowers of Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft) so charming and I admire the pure white, creamy petals. Repeating Iberis among multiple vases ties the arrangements together.
Creamy white flowers of Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
It was fun to collect and disperse these spring flowers among a set of vases this Monday.
Materials List
Achillea x ‘Appleblossom’ (Yarrow)
Hyacinthus orientalis (Dutch hyacinth)
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Muscari (Grape hyacinth)
Narcissus ‘King Alfred’
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’
Narcissus ‘Thalia’
Salvia Dorada ‘Aurea’ (Golden Sage)
Viola
crystal vase, acrylic doughnut-shaped stem holder, footed cordial glasses
Thanks again to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting. Enjoy visiting her site to see her arrangement this week and see what other participants are placing In A Vase On Monday. I am headed over there right now.
pbmGarden 
I adore these vases especially the great foliage you used…so creative.
Donna, thank you. These were fun to make. Harder to photograph!
What a lovely collection of spring flowers you have put together this week. I have similar flowers in my garden this week – by contrast my muscari flowers are bigger than I have ever seen them – perhaps because of our mild wet winter. I really like the achillea foliage – I would not have thought to use that. I love the way that we are all learning from each other in this weekly project! WE have a lot to thank Cathy for.
Julie, I too am learning a lot from making these weekly arrangements and seeing those of others. I need to replenish my muscari supply and/or move these to a better location. I noticed Christina’s muscari was very tall also, perhaps there is a particular variety to look for.
Susie your spring flowers look so fresh and pretty in the lovely crystal vases. Blue, white and yellow is such a lovely combination and the purple pansies are gorgeous.
Thanks Chloris. We’ve had a start and stop spring but this week it will be warm, so maybe I’ll have more to choose from next week. I feel I’ve been showing the same flowers each week, but guess that’s part of the challenge. The violas held on all winter and are basking in the slightly warmer temperatures.
Beautiful!
Thank you.
How do the hyacinth hold up in water? Cindy and I were just debating whether we would cut some. Mine are just opening. Love your little arrangements.
Thanks Judy! I only have a few hyacinths, so don’t usually bring them in but I read they will last well in water. Try one or two first and see if you like them–they can have a strong fragrance.
I only just commented on how I adore groupings of flowers just like yours. I shall start looking out for little vases to make my own collection as I think the autumn and winter will mean fewer flowers for my usual type of vase! A joyful arrangement and I bet the scent is out of this world!
Hi Sarah. That’s how I started out using little vases–during winter when I could still find a few sprigs of something to bring in for the dining table. Glad to have found your site. It looks great. Susie
These are always such a treat to see on a Monday. Thanks for posting.
Ann, thanks so much. Always nice to hear from you.
I think you’re enjoying your Monday vases more than the outside garden! Good for you 🙂
I like how the achillea mixes in with the flowers. Spring is really in full force in your part of the world.
I’ve spent more time on these Monday vases than in the garden recently, but that is about to change I think. We finally have a nice week of weather ahead and I’m moving outside.
Using Achillea foliage is a good idea, and the Iberis look very pretty in a vase – would never have thought to cut them. Have a nice week Susie!
The Achillea seemed an unlikely candidate when I spotted it but its texture was appealing so I decided to try it. So far it’s holding up ok. Hope you have a good week also Cathy.
Not one but four vases! Wow, you certainly spoil us, Susie but they’re all elegant and delightful 🙂
Thank you! The multiple vases seemed out of necessity Annette. Once inside with the gathered materials I couldn’t find a single vase that suited them equally.
Your spring creations this week are lovely Susie, how do you keep your glass vases so crystal clear; with the high mineral and chalk content here they often get white lines. I wouldn’t have thought of using Iberis but it is delightful with the other flowers. My Muscari were the cheapest available so nothing special, they are mostly M. Armeniacum which I planted in 2008. There are also some M. Armeniacum Cantab which are two tone.
Thanks for the muscari names. I’ll see if I can locate them as yours are certainly much showier in the landscape. I rely on Iberis frequently for small containers. They often have an odd bloom or two even at odd times of the year. No secret tips for you on the crystal. We have treated water here, but at our former house we had very hard well water. Soaking in white vinegar is one I’ve read if there is just a film, but if the minerals have etched the glass there’s not much you can do.
Ours is well water too and it has a lot of minerals not just chalk. Always happy to help with names if I know them Susie.
The small flowers look wonderful in the crystal cordial glasses you chose. My own Narcissus and Muscari have faded away already so it’s nice to see those cheerful blooms again in photos.
Thank you Kris. I imagine you have something blooming all the time. Looking forward to following your garden’s progress. Susie
I love the whole idea of seeking inspiration every Monday, seeking out flowers and foliage to complement each other and this is exactly what you have done with your spring assemblage Susie. I was pleased to see my new achillea starting to reappear – but no chance of sparing any leaves!! It’s so exciting seeing what everybody else does on a Monday, and of course gives further inspiration – I really look forward to seeing all the different vases so thank you for yours 🙂
It’s very enjoyable to go through this learning process each week and exciting to see everyone else’s arrangement. So glad you created this opportunity. I noticed the number of participants is expanding–that’s nice too.
I love these Monday in a vase posts. Your arrangements are lovely.
Thank you. It’s fun to experiment with flowers. (anyone is welcome to join in).
Thank you! I may give it a try. It looks like fun.
Beautiful arrangements! Flower arranging is not a strong suit of mine so I enjoyed seeing your combinations. The vases are so interesting, I need to go hunting for some. That would be an immediate improvement in my arrangements.
Thank you Stephi. I use old vinegar bottles, liquor glasses–whatever seems to suit the height of my flowers. You may have all kinds of interesting containers around the house.
Never thought of muscari in a vase before – great idea!
Muscari has a lot of charm in little vases.