In A Vase On Monday – February In Royal Blue
Each Monday brings the chance to join Cathy’s In A Vase On Monday to share an arrangement using materials gathered from the garden.
Sunday was 70°F and in the main garden sun melted away the last stubborn patch of snow from the previous weekend. Though there are bulbs springing up everywhere the garden looks exhausted.
A couple of stems of hellebore combined with arum and ilex foliage were the only potential vase materials to catch my eye during a morning inspection. Supplementing them are a fresh set of white and red blooms from indoor pots of cyclamen.
In A Vase On Monday
A royal blue goblet lends a punch of unpredictability.
In A Vase On Monday
Materials
Arum italicum
Cyclamen
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Ilex crenata (Japanese holly)
Ikebana Kenzan (floral pin frog)
In A Vase On Monday
It is helpful to study the design in black and white. This is the same image as above.
Study in black and white
In A Vase On Monday
Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly flower arranging addiction. Visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday and feel free to join in.
pbmGarden 
Love that blue vase, it really does add a punch to the arrangement. We have a lovely sunny day today too, which is lovely. I’m glad you reminded us about looking at images in back and white; I do it for the garden but haven’t tried it for a vase yet; it really lets you see the form and strength of the arrangement.
The sunshine is a true gift isn’t it? I often view images of my vases (and sometimes other garden scenes) in B&W. The red cyclamen really hold their own against the blue goblet but in B&W I see they’re very similar in color value. Makes me wonder if more contrast would have been more effective. I don’t know.
So elegant. I have Ilex Crenata too, what a useful shrub it is. Mine looks a lighter green than yours. Interesting to see it in black and white too. I keep meaning to do more black and white photography, but then I forget!
Thanks Annette. There is an Ilex I tried called ‘Drops of Gold’ which had beautiful light green foliage but the shrubs didn’t survive.
That is a shame. I don’t know what variety mine is – will have to try and find the label.
This is a really beautiful arrangement, and I like the red, white, and blue theme. 🙂
Thanks Judy. The red, white and blue was unintentional but it struck me also. These flowers won’t be available in July!
This is pretty enough to repost. 🙂
Thanks Judy. You may if you wish.
What a wonderful way to welcome February. I hope things will soon be looking up in the garden.
Thanks Marian. The garden will probably bounce back after this week’s sunshine works its magic.
Beautiful, your Cyclamen are outstanding, I love Royal blue glass as well. A good use for the workhorse shrub, Japanese Holly, the texture is a perfect complement to the flowers.
I’ve had those cyclamen for a dozen years and they survive with a bit of water when I think of it. That’s my kind of house plant.
Wow, beautiful and low maintenance. I need some!
It makes me happy.
Flowers can do that. Thanks for commenting.
Wonderful, Susie. The blue vase is spectacular.
Thanks John. I’ve relied on these same types of flowers a lot recently so felt the container needed to liven things up.
That is gorgeous, love the addition of the stunning blue vase.
Thanks Charlie, glad you like it. There are six of those goblets and I use them for water glasses. Will have to consider using them as vases more often.
Love the vase. I have some water glasses just like that. But even more spectacular are all the different ways you make us “see” the flowers. Very nice!
Oh, those glasses are so fun aren’t they? I have 6 I like to use for water also. Never tried using one as a vase before. Staging the photos is important I think and I do hope they help convey the design. Thanks.
It wasn’t all obvious that the red and white blooms were cyclamen – what obliging plants you have to keep going with barely any attention. As always you have used the perfect combination of blooms and foliage, and of course the blue glass is brilliant to hold them all. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Cathy. A very accommodating window provides the cyclamen with just the light they love, apparently. I’d like to grow them outdoors sometime though. There are so few blooms available in my garden this year–the blue vase was the only new element I could think of to add.
Simple and utterly beautiful, Susie! You made wonderful use of the light with your photographs too. I’m glad to hear that the snow has cleared out too – your temperatures are warmer than ours!
Thank you Kris! I read you had a bad storm in LA. Hope things were fine for you. We had way too many errands to fully enjoy the lovely day, but each moment in the sun was all the more precious. We even had lunch on the screen porch.
Why, that’s downright patriotic. I’m always short on blues for my Independence Day arrangements. The blue container is a perfect solution.
It’s funny how we associate colors. The pink hellebores were no match for that red, white and blue. It’s rare that I can find anything true blue either on the 4th!
An unexpected but beautiful combination. It is so good to have this opportunity to experiment with colour and form.
I agree Sarah, it is nice to experiment. Each week I look forward to trying out another vase combination, but just as much, learn from seeing everyone else’s.
A combination of colours I would have not thought about, very creative!
There are so few blooms in my garden just now I am making do with what I can find. Sometimes it’s easier to have those kinds of limits–makes you try something a bit unusual.
Oh, to have blooms in winter! I like the red/white/blue combination. Thanks for the tip on photographing the creation in B&W–you’re right: It does provide an improved perspective on the form of the arrangement!
Hi Beth, there aren’t very many winter blooms this year, but each one is appreciated! I like trying out the different software filters on my photos, although I rarely choose one in the end. They’re still fun and interesting to explore.
Red White and Blue the colours!🇬🇧
Funny. Didn’t intend to emphasize those colors but the result is unquestionable.
Wow those red cyclamen are stunning and perfect in the blue goblet with the arum leaves adding a touch of elegance.
Thanks Donna. Some of the arum leaves were broken from last week’s ice so thought I might as well bring them indoors. Love the intricate pattern on those leaves and the shape also.
I love the contrast of the flowers to the striking blue goblet. Your cyclamen really adds zing, but the black and white photo is lovely too. Arum leaves always look good and I am now determined to try growing one this year!
I love your blue glass vase, what a gorgeous arrangement, such a lovely colour combination.
Red, white and blue are a most eye-catching combination Susie. It was also most interesting to see the same photo in black and white. I grew up in age when all photos were black and white 🙂
A perfect red, white and blue arrangement.
I love the way the blue goblet adds to the arrangement..with white and red blooms.