In A Vase On Monday – Spring Preview

My dear husband is finally home from rehab after back surgeries. He is slated for lots of therapy in the coming weeks to help him regain strength and mobility.

Naturally gardening time continues to be scarce as together we concentrate on his recuperation, but with his encouragement I was able to carve out a few minutes yesterday to collect some flowers to share for a Monday vase.

With spring-like, record-setting temperatures for the past month the borders are bursting with color. Faced with the many choices I focused on Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’ which began blooming the first of February. In my garden, anemones have been difficult to establish. Most do not survive at all, others are short-lived, so I cherish this particular tiny patch.

Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’

For today’s vases I took inspiration from the blue-green combination of these anemones against the fresh lime green flowers of Euphorbia ‘Shorty’. I selected several complementary hellebores as well.

Euphorbia ‘Shorty’ and Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’

Helleborus x hybridus

Ikebana vases with integrated pin holders are a quick arranging solution.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Preview

Hellebores began opening sporadically in December and for the last month have been spectacular. I added some named cultivars last winter which seem to have survived but only one is blooming. The label is missing and I have not had time to figure out which one it is.

Some of the hellebores in today’s arrangement are from an initial order of plants made the first year we moved into our house in 2001 and others are pass-alongs from Vicki, a garden club friend whom I first met through yoga.

Helleborus x hybridus

Euphorbia ‘Shorty’ and Helleborus x hybridus

This past week several hyacinths popped out for a fragrantly spicy surprise. They seemed to want to be arranged without fuss or competition from other flowers, so they fill one Ikebana container.

Hyacinth orientalis ‘Blue Jacket’ and ‘Woodstock’

Materials
Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’
Euphorbia ‘Shorty’ (Shorty Spurge)
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Hyacinth orientalis ‘Blue Jacket’
Hyacinth orientalis ‘Woodstock’
Porcelain Ikebana vases, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches), Triangle Blue Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H), Triangle Black Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H)

I am happy with the finished effect of grouping the vases and delighted to be able to share them today.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Preview

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us a chance to express our flower arranging passion. Visit her to discover what she and others found this week in their winter gardens to place In A Vase On Monday.

40 thoughts on “In A Vase On Monday – Spring Preview”

Christina February 27, 2017 at 8:20 am

I’m so pleased David is home and recovering from his double surgery. As usual I love your restrained vases. The Ikebana vases give a gorgeously simple base to the flowers showing them off to perfection. I’ve also chosen Anemone for my vase today.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 27, 2017 at 9:58 am
  
  Thanks Christina. We’re grateful to be home and have appreciated good wishes from friends near and far. Anemones are nearly perfect flowers, aren’t they?
  
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Cathy February 27, 2017 at 9:08 am

Yes, I am glad your husband is starting his recovery; it must have been a difficult time for you both. I love the simple restraints of your vases today, especially the one with the anemones. I looked on eBay for ikebana vases recently but there seemed to be none available in the UK so I shall need to look elesewhere as I would really like to add to the one I have already. I love the shapes of yours – so organic

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 27, 2017 at 9:56 am
  
  We were unprepared for how extensive the surgery would be and how long recovery would take. Grateful to be on this side of things. Hope you come across an ikebana vase to experiment with. I’m sure there’s one out there just perfect for you.
  
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lammjane February 27, 2017 at 9:52 am

I was so glad to see this post this morning. Glad your husband is doing better.

Rehab is difficult especially when there are factors besides surgery.

Jane

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 27, 2017 at 10:06 am
  
  I appreciate your kind thoughts Jane. Have missed seeing you at garden club lately. Congrats on your new office. The peony is up. Haven’t had time to check on the other things yet.
  
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theshrubqueen February 27, 2017 at 11:16 am

Lovely and the color scheme is perfect with the Euphorbias. I am glad to hear your husband is on his way to wellness, good luck with the rehab.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 27, 2017 at 8:03 pm
  
  Blue, purple, greens are my favorites. The garden could use more euphorbia I think. It looks good through most of the year. Thanks for the get well wishes for my husband. He’s been touched seeing everyone’s encouraging comments.
  
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  1. theshrubqueen February 27, 2017 at 9:48 pm
    
    More Euphorbia is always better
jolanda February 27, 2017 at 12:56 pm

What a scrumptious post Suzie, in celebration of your husband’s homecoming no doubt. What wonderful containers – so tactile. Love the fact that the Kenzan is out of sight. Little objects of desire and then enhanced by your glorious plant material.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 27, 2017 at 8:28 pm
  
  Thanks Jolanda. My husband and I do have a lot to celebrate, though still many goals to reach. The ikebana containers have been well-used. Sometimes it is worth it to make an investment when one comes across items like these. A friend bought me one for my birthday and I treated myself to the other two.
  
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Kris Peterson February 27, 2017 at 1:39 pm

I was pleased to see your post pop up in my feed this morning, Susie, and I’m glad to hear that your husband is making good progress with his recovery. Your vases are, as always, scrumptious. My own anemones tend to die out within a couple of years too – those I planted in prior years have produced foliage this year but no flowers as yet, however, I added a few new plants to give me the bold blue color I was craving.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 27, 2017 at 8:40 pm
  
  Thanks Kris, it’s great to be back. I’ve missed following your garden adventures the past few weeks. Hope you didn’t have bad effects from the storms. Hope the anemones will thrive to give you that boost of bold blue. I love the rich colors as well.
  
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Chloris February 27, 2017 at 3:32 pm

Good to hear your husband is on the mend. Your spring arrangements in the shiny ikebana vases are stunning.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 27, 2017 at 8:58 pm
  
  We’re so happy to be home. My husband’s been a champ throughout all this. Came across the ikebana vases last summer and am so glad I chose them.
  
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Alison C February 27, 2017 at 3:50 pm

So beautiful, and the vases too. It’s lovely to see the detail on the hellebores, I never tire of them.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 27, 2017 at 8:16 pm
  
  Thank you Alison. Enjoyed your hellebores today too but got lost trying to leave a comment on your blog and eventually had to abandon it. The verification tests matching all the trees, signs, etc., quit responding. At any rate it was a brilliant idea to include the Heuchera leaves along with floating hellebores. Colors work so nicely.
  
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  1. Alison C February 28, 2017 at 9:04 am
    
    How annoying. I had a look at my settings, as I didn’t realise there were verification tests. I can only see word verification and that is turned off. Any idea on how to prevent it?
    Thanks for trying, I did get your comment on the snowdrops.
Brian Skeys February 27, 2017 at 5:50 pm

I always like your arrangements, hope all is still going well.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorFebruary 27, 2017 at 8:18 pm
  
  I appreciate that. Thank you Brian. Health issues are never fun but things are going much better now.
  
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Nomads By Nature February 28, 2017 at 2:24 am

Those arrangements are fantastic and inspiring — bit of joy brought indoors! What a great inspiration for you both while your husband continues to recuperate. I can’t even imagine all that’s been on your plates lately just to get to the next step. Thank you for posting where you got your vases – I’m on the lookout now! They just set your blooms off perfectly!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorMarch 12, 2017 at 4:16 pm
  
  Thank you!
  
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Cathy February 28, 2017 at 2:36 am

I love the anemone Susie. I have just seen Christina’s too. Such rich colours. The ikebana vases grouped together like that are very effective. Best wishes to the patient, and hope you have a little time to enjoy your spring garden together this week now he is home. 🙂

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1. pbmgarden Post authorMarch 5, 2017 at 4:31 pm
  
  Hi Cathy, yes the anemone colors are vivid and compelling. So glad I found several of those ikebana vases. They’re among my favorite vases–so versatile. I’ll pass along your good wishes to my husband. He’s been cheered by everyone’s concern.
  
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Edinburgh Garden Diary February 28, 2017 at 1:33 pm

I am sure your husband was delighted by the sight of these beautiful arrangements on his return home, and I do hope he has a speedy recovery. The ‘Mr Fokker’ is a quite different colour indoors compared with outdoors, as can be expected. I presume the bluer shade is the truer shade?

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1. pbmgarden Post authorMarch 5, 2017 at 4:29 pm
  
  Mr. Fokker is difficult to capture. The outdoor shot was midday so very bright light, indoors shot is affected by fluorescent bulb. I like the bluer version but it’s actually redder. Thanks for the kind wishes for my husband.
  
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rusty duck March 1, 2017 at 3:15 am

Great to see you back Susie. I hope your husband’s recovery continues well and that a few days in the Spring sunshine will refresh you both.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorMarch 5, 2017 at 4:25 pm
  
  Thanks for the good wishes. You’re right about sunshine–it’s building us back up!
  
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Julie March 1, 2017 at 3:41 pm

Hi Susie, I am very glad to read your husband is home from his surgeries, I bet you are both drained from all of this, I hope too that the physiotherapy goes well. There’s never a good time for surgery but the prospect of recuperation in a spring garden with new emerging plants to enjoy must be uplifting at least. Lovely vases too btw! best wishes, Julie.x

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1. pbmgarden Post authorMarch 5, 2017 at 4:24 pm
  
  So nice to hear from you Julie. We’re forging ahead with PT and getting stronger each day. It does seem fortunate to have spring on our side through this, rather than gloomy gray days.
  
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rickii March 2, 2017 at 4:22 pm

Very elegant collection of vases…and good news about the healing process.

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1. pbmgarden Post authorMarch 5, 2017 at 4:22 pm
  
  Thanks so much Ricki! Yes, healing is good and getting better each day.
  
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An Eye For Detail March 2, 2017 at 8:10 pm

Anemones….oh aren’t you lucky! They are just gorgeous and love them combined with the green. I’m glad your husband is home and on the mend, Susie; it is difficult for both people that I know. I was given an ikebana vase a few years ago, by my sister, and at first didn’t quite know how to use it. But oh, they are so lovely aren’t they? Yours are all stunning!

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1. pbmgarden Post authorMarch 5, 2017 at 4:22 pm
  
  Hi Libby, anemones are a treat. Wish I could get some to grow in other areas. My husband has been a champ. The surgeries have worn me down too but we’re both feeling better.
  
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Annette March 3, 2017 at 6:49 am

So glad he’s back and wish him a good recovery. Your vases are just stunning, Susie, and most suitable for the occasion. All the best x

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1. pbmgarden Post authorMarch 5, 2017 at 4:19 pm
  
  Thanks Annette. Springtime is a time for joy.
  
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P&B March 5, 2017 at 11:22 pm

I’m so glad to know that your husband is back at home. I believe that he’ll regain his strength much faster when he’s at home and in the beautiful, lovely garden. My warm wishes to you both.

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ccrainbowflower March 10, 2017 at 1:22 am

Those vases are beautiful and very different, lovely display

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1. pbmgarden Post authorMarch 10, 2017 at 7:01 am
  
  Thank you. Spring flowers will be surprised this weekend. Snow is forecast.
  
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  1. ccrainbowflower March 10, 2017 at 8:15 am
    
    Oh dear but the flowers will look lovely still peeping through the snow, wrap up warm 😊