In A Vase On Monday – Flowers For The House
Each Monday brings the chance to join Cathy’s In A Vase On Monday to share an arrangement using materials gathered from the garden.
Both Camellia sasanquas are blooming now at the northeast corner of our home. Red ‘Yuletide’ began flowering about 5 days ago, joining the pinky-white ‘Hana-Jiman’ which had a three-week head start.
In A Vase On Monday – Flowers For The House
As weathermen predicted, yesterday, Sunday, November 13, 2016, brought our first freeze of the season. The temperature dipped to about 25°F. but it quickly warmed up. As a precaution I had gathered some of the tender camellias late Saturday and conditioned them in water to use in today’s vase.
For a couple of years now I have tried to find a way to use in a Monday vase this ceramic bird house, a gift from a dear long-ago neighbor.
In A Vase On Monday – Flowers For The House
As an experiment I simply began inserting the stems into openings in the top and front of the house, then allowed a few more blossoms to wrap around and past the side.
In A Vase On Monday – Flowers For The House
A scarlet pelargonium rescued from the impending cold sits with the little bird at the peak of the roof.
Pelargonium Cluster Atop The House
To the left a couple of spilled petals help balance the composition. A stem of tight camellia buds and greenery complete this week’s arrangement.
In A Vase On Monday – Flowers For The House
I really like the way this ephemeral design turned out. For a longer-lasting display I would insert stems into plastic water tubes, but since I did not have enough, I just decided to enjoy it for the moment.
Pelargonium Cluster Atop The House
Materials
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Pelargonium (Geranium)
Ceramic bird house
Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly chance to express our flower arranging passion. Visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday. Feel free to join in.
pbmGarden 
Susie, you are so clever! This is charming and I like that you told us how it could be made as a lasting display.
Later I put the flowers in vases of water. Before taking this apart I kept it for about three hours without any wilting, but see Marian’s comment for a better tip.
What a wonderful way to arrange your camellia blooms. That bird house is adorable! Do you know that you can push a grape over the end of a camellia stem to keep it fresh for a day or two?
Thank you for that tip about the grapes. What a good idea.
That’s a useful idea, thank you.
Brilliant!
I love your little bird house – it’s really sweet! A lovely arrangement and a lovely idea to just enjoy the flowers for the moment. Marian’s tip is useful. I wonder if a little piece of oasis would also work.
Thanks Cathy. I adore that little bird on top of the house. The oasis might be worth a try also. The grape idea is something I’d never have thought of. We all seem to have seen frost finally this week.
What a wonderful little vase. And those flowers are so lush and rich. I still have a few flowers left in the garden but nothing that’s going to add such drama to a vase.
Linda, the shrubs are loaded with buds so I am hoping to have camellias for a few more weeks. Keep wanting to add more to the garden to extend the flowering time.
A beauty using my all time favorite Camellia, Yuletide! I hope they hang around for a while for your enjoyment. The birdhouse makes a puzzle for a flower arrangement, I think you solved it.
Thank you. Yuletide was frequently on our Thanksgiving table growing up. Hope to be able to continue that tradition.
How interesting, I don’t recall them until the 90’s! maybe more popular in the Carolinas?
Ahead of our time.
Camellia progressives!
What a nice idea!
Thanks Anca. It was fun and afterwards I place the flowers in vases of water.
The best thing about Fall and Winter are Camellias. Your arrangement is very creative!
Thanks, Love the way camellias fill the air with sweet scent.
Very charming! The photo would make a beautiful card.
Thank you. I often think I’ll get some cards made but then I get sidetracked. Perhaps I’ll print one out today.
Oh yes! It would!
Oh I am so pleased you were able to put your creative idea into action, Susie – it works so well with the red and white camellias (and you have reminded that I still have pelargonium flowering but have moved them into the sitooterie – maybe another week…). And we have all learned something new from the grape suggestion!
Yes, I love the idea of using grapes to keep the stems fresh. Marian is coming to town tomorrow to speak at a local garden club so I’ll get to thank her in person for the tip. Will be fun to meet her.
Oh how lovely that will be Susie!
It’s a charming arrangement, Susie, temporary or not. My own Camellia sasanqua are struggling as well, albeit with heat rather than frost – with gardens, we all have our challenges!
Susie, your arrangements are always so creative. I love this. Yuletide is a beauty. My first Camellia sasanqua is in bloom but it is pink and not as striking as your lovely Yuletide.
Thank you Liz. Glad I finally took time to use this little house. Enjoy your sasanqua season–someday I’m hoping to add a white-flowering one.
Festive, elegant and cute all at once – so clever – and I am going to try that grape trick!
I know–there will be a run on grapes now as we all hurry out to test this idea.
😉
I spotted that camellia in the garden centre this week. It looks so festive, I’m thinking of going back to buy one with a birthday present voucher. I love your little bird house arrangement. Very pretty. Thanks for sharing. https://karengimson.wordpress.com/
Thanks and happy birthday Karen. The yuletide has been easy to grow.
thank you. x
So beautiful! I have Camellia envy because they don’t survive in my climate. Nicely arranged, too!
Thanks Beth. Camellia bring a lot of color around this area, at least 3/4 of the year.
Fabulous Susie! I love camellias so much but they can be difficult to use in a vase – showing them off like this works so well & I love the birdhouse. You are very imaginative with your work. I hope you are managing to keep cosy in the chilly temperatures. xx
Thank you Julie. I agree camellias are fussy to arrange. I often just float them but it was fun to give this little bird some attention this week.
The Camelias are lovely, and beautifully displayed!
Thanks Jason. Despite the freeze this weekend there are many promising buds that should open fine.
Beautiful!. Using a bird house for flower arrangement…really clever. l love the way you trail the camellias down to the base and along the side of the bird house.
I know how much you enjoy birds and I’m glad you liked this riff on bird living.
I am always a big fan of your Monday post, but this one is special. The flowers are gorgeous, and since I’m a fan of birdhouses, this submission is a home run for this reader. 🙂
Thanks so much Judy. The house was a Christmas gift from very special neighbor and I always thought it was so appealing.
Sometimes the fleeting pleasures are the most enjoyable.
True Ricki, if these were always around would we even notice them? Hope you’re doing well.