In A Vase On Monday—An Appreciation

In A Vase On Monday – Cyclamen

Monday brings an opportunity to practice flower arranging by joining in Cathy’s weekly challenge In A Vase On Monday to fill a vase using materials gathered in one’s own garden.

I offer today’s vase as a thanks for the many get-well comments and inquiries I received while recovering from an unexpectedly prolonged winter flu. Time seemed to be the remedy, assisted by homemade soups and other comfort foods, tea with honey, and lots of sleep.

Five pots of cyclamen helped lift my spirits during this time. So undemanding, nearly year-round they bloom and bloom and bloom. Several of these plants are a decade old. The flowers of this plant have joyous rhythm and personality in all stages. I never tire of watching them unfold.

Cyclamen

Today’s simple vase features a couple of cyclamen flowers, one red and one white, along with one of the variegated heart shaped leaves. I placed them into a glass Riedel espresso cup. On the saucer a few sprigs of sedum suggests a change in texture while reflecting the red and green hues from above.

Cyclamen

Materials
Cyclamen
Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ (Angelina Stonecrop), 3 sprigs

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting. Please visit her to see what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday.

35 thoughts on “In A Vase On Monday—An Appreciation”

Donna@Gardens Eye View February 16, 2015 at 1:36 pm

I am glad to hear you are back on your feet and feeling better….a simple and elegant offering. I do not have indoor cyclamen but will be remedying that next year. I have found during this awful winter that I am able to deal with it better with more blooms and greenery.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 16, 2015 at 2:41 pm
  
  Thanks Donna. I do recommend you give the cyclamen a try. Mine sit under a large window where they get lots of indirect light.
  
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Chloris February 16, 2015 at 1:41 pm

So glad that you are better. I love the red and white of your very stylish arrangement.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 16, 2015 at 2:50 pm
  
  Thanks, I hope I’m on the mend at last. The red and white cyclamen work well from Christmas through Valentine’s Day. Several of mine are pink, but the white is my favorite.
  
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Julie February 16, 2015 at 2:04 pm

Your glass cup arrangement looks so stylish Susie and I am very glad you are feeling better too, you have been missed. My cousin has pots of Cyclamen she has nurtured for a decade in a cool porch but I am not as successful.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 16, 2015 at 3:02 pm
  
  Thanks so much Julie! I’m happy to be back. Don’t know what to advise about your cyclamen. It must be a fluke that mine are happy here, because I don’t have much patience with house plants. I would like to try cyclamen outdoors sometimes.
  
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Christina February 16, 2015 at 2:05 pm

I’m so glad you’re feeling better Suzie, the influenza this year seems to have struck many people (myself included) very badly. It must have been a good month before I felt completely well. Your cyclamen are delightful, I love their foliage as well as their bright flowers, they are so tough for such a delicate looking plant.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 16, 2015 at 3:09 pm
  
  Thanks Christina and I’m glad you’re feeling better too. It’s been exhausting. Glad you like the cyclamen. I’d love to try cyclamen outdoors in the garden too, but never seem to get around to it.
  
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Kris P February 16, 2015 at 2:28 pm

I’m sorry to hear that the flu hit you so hard, Susie, and I’m glad you’re on the mend. You nonetheless managed an elegant creation. I hope the flu is soon a distant memory!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 16, 2015 at 3:10 pm
  
  Hi Kris, thanks for the good wishes. So glad you liked today’s vase.
  
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johnvic8 February 16, 2015 at 3:42 pm

Glad to see you are back. The colors in your vase are beautiful.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 16, 2015 at 4:18 pm
  
  Nice to be back. Thanks John.
  
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Cathy February 16, 2015 at 4:50 pm

So simple and yet so elegant. Good to have you feeling so much better, Susie

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 16, 2015 at 5:44 pm
  
  Thanks Cathy. Feels wonderful to be back in touch.
  
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Cathy February 16, 2015 at 5:12 pm

Really glad to have you back Susie – I missed you! Just hope you are taking it easy for a while. I love your cyclamen vase – simple and elegant and with the twist of sedum quite ingenious. You are such an inspiration.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 16, 2015 at 5:47 pm
  
  Thank you–I missed you too Cathy and am grateful to be back. I picked that sedum and some other little things for a vase last week but didn’t have the energy to follow through. It has lasted so well all week I felt it had earned its way into this week’s vase.
  
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An Eye For Detail February 17, 2015 at 2:11 pm

Oh Susie, so glad you are feeling better…and now, just in time for our ice and cold weather! It is very very icy out there. Nice to stay inside, sipping tea. Love these colors and that very brilliant red!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 17, 2015 at 2:28 pm
  
  Thanks Libby. I’m planning to hang around indoors a few more days and yes, drinking lots of tea. This ice and cold is no fun. Stay safe.
  
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Marian St.Clair February 17, 2015 at 2:45 pm

Simplicity is always best! And I’m so glad to hear you are feeling better. Take care and stay out of the horrid weather we are having.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 17, 2015 at 4:04 pm
  
  Fortunately I don’t have to go anywhere for the next few days so I’m staying out of the ice and am hoping the plants can tolerate the upcoming frigid temps. I do enjoy simplicity. I’m pretty much a minimalist at heart.
  
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Judy @ newenglandgardenandthread February 17, 2015 at 3:50 pm

Stunning. It is so simple yet so beautiful it took my breath away. It is gorgeous. No wonder you are feeling better. 🙂

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 17, 2015 at 4:12 pm
  
  Judy, you are so kind! Thanks. I love these little cyclamen flowers and they cooperated nicely so this arrangement went together quickly.
  
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greenbenchramblings February 18, 2015 at 3:42 am

What a rich shade of red!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 18, 2015 at 11:55 am
  
  Yes, it’s a strong one. I saw a nice burgundy one for sale in December but hesitated and now wish I’d bought it.
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker February 18, 2015 at 12:45 pm

The colors are so joyful and striking; what an amazing treat for a Wednesday morning.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 19, 2015 at 7:55 am
  
  So glad you found joy in these little flowers.
  
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gardeninacity February 18, 2015 at 5:30 pm

So glad you are feeling better. And such great colors on those cyclamen, a really clean white and rich red.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 18, 2015 at 6:05 pm
  
  Thanks Jason. I agree, those cyclamen do have wonderful hues.
  
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bittster February 18, 2015 at 8:39 pm

Glad you’re finally feeling better.
The colors in your arrangement are perfect for this cold weather. Have you ever posted on caring for your cyclamen? Mine never seem to make it long, let alone live to see and bloom another winter!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 19, 2015 at 8:06 am
  
  Thank you, it is nice to be feeling better. I am probably the last person you’d want to give advice on taking care of cyclamen or any houseplant. Truth is these sit on a corner of the bathtub underneath a large window where they receive lots of bright, but indirect, sunlight. Most are still in the original containers. I never feed them or anything like that–just give them some water ever 2 or 3 days (or 5 if you forget). If they get too wet or too dry they will die all the way back, but just leave them alone and they start up again before long. You probably won’t find this matches any official advice about cyclamen care, but hope it helps!
  
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  1. bittster February 19, 2015 at 6:42 pm
    
    Thanks Susie! I bet I’m going wrong with the watering, I’ll try and hold back a bit with the next one.
P&B February 18, 2015 at 11:18 pm

I’m glad you’re feeling better. Missed seeing your Monday flower arrangement. Lovely red cyclamen.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 19, 2015 at 8:07 am
  
  Thanks. I really appreciate the value of cyclamen blooming indoors this time of year.
  
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sweetbay February 24, 2015 at 11:42 am

I like the simplicity of the red and white. It makes a very bold statement.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 24, 2015 at 6:21 pm
  
  Thanks sweetbay! The red one is still going strong in the vase a week later. The white one lasted only a day, but they came together for a time.
  
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