In A Vase On Monday – November Gifts
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement using materials collected from our gardens.
My husband and I attended an annual reunion of first cousins over the weekend and it is always a treat to get together with these special family members. Among those present were my three sisters, one of whom surprised me with a large green, urn-shaped vase she had discovered at a thrift shop. Thanks Judy! What a treat it is to have this November gift as inspiration today.
In A Vase On Monday – November Gifts
In A Vase On Monday – November Gifts
There were many more flowers than I had expected, nature’s own November gifts. Although the weather continues to be quite dry, the nights are cool and days are comfortably warm—no freeze yet this fall.
In A Vase On Monday – November Gifts
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) and Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ enjoy these conditions and are blooming freely.
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
First appearing by mid-October, Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’ was featured several weeks ago is now in full bloom. Unexpectedly I noticed this week the red Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ is already coming into flower.
In A Vase On Monday – November Gifts
The passalong Button Chrysanthemum from my garden mentor Virgie has been a fall staple now for several decades. It always wants to rotate toward the back in any arrangement, but eventually I convinced it to cooperate, more or less.
Begonias planted in containers at the front porch did well all summer and continue to thrive. A few Cleome hassleriana (Spider Flower) have emerged.
In A Vase On Monday – November Gifts
Achillea foliage drapes along the rim of the vase. A plug of freshly emerged Lamb’s Ear adds color and textural contrast, as does a stem of Eucalyptus. I do not grow Eucalyptus but had some on hand (from last week’s book club arrangements).
In A Vase On Monday – November Gifts
Materials
Flowers
Begonia
Button Chrysanthemum
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Cleome hassleriana (Spider Flower)
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
Foliage
Achillea filipendulina (Fern-leaf Yarrow)
Eucalyptus
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear)
Container
Large green vase
In A Vase On Monday – November Gifts
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 gardens to place In A Vase On Monday.
pbmGarden 
That’s beautiful Susie; quite different from your usual style.
Thanks Christina, without the new vase for inspiration I would have just floated a camellia today. Hope things are ok with you. Sending hugs.
How thoughful of your sister. This is a lovely arrangement to celebrate your new acquisition.
Thanks Noelle. The vase is rather large so it was lucky to find enough blooms to fill it.
Lovely vase and I am sure you had a lovely visit with everyone. I have not gotten together with my first cousins since 2010 when we had gatherings on both sides of my family. We are scattered all over the country (as are my siblings) so it is not easy or often that we can all gather. Thanks for reminding me of what a great time I had at my event back then.
It does get harder to get everyone back together every year, but always seems so worth it. Hope your family can reconnect soon too Linda. The trick for us is that one organizing person who takes the initiative to set the date and host.
That is a very interesting vase. I’m sure you will make lots of arrangements in it.
The extra holes around the outside didn’t work the way I’d expected so I’ll have to practice to see how they can be exploited.
Yes, such an intriguing vase and tall enough for single stems in the outer part to stand upright which can be a problem for other vases with ‘holes’ in like this. There is something warm and fuzzy about your vase today (I think it must be the chrysanthemums and the way their centres relate to the camellias) – it just has a really friendly feeling to it, as I imagine your first cousins reunion did. Thanks for sharing
I tried several kinds of stems inserted into the outer holes, but they ended up rather awkwardly posed, so I had to remove them. It will fun to “get to know” this vase. The softness of the colors may also have something to do with your reaction to the vase, like a baby blanket.
Oh, so there were no stems in the holes…?!
The perfect gift for a talented flower arranger like yourself and you’ve filled it with a selection of beautiful treasures. I especially love the chrysanthemum.
Thanks for your kindness Annette. Seeing this chrysanthemum each year brings back wonderful memories of the sweet woman who shared it with me so many years ago.
True, I’m very fond of plant gifts too as they not only serve as a memory of a person that was/is dear but sometimes of happy days in one’s life.
Amazing the combination this first week of November! And a Cleome. Go figure. Love the color combination with the green vase. What a cool vase – I love the thrift store finds and you have a stellar sister.
My sister is wonderful and she certainly found a bargain with this vase. The vase is so large I didn’t know if there’d be enough in the garden to fill it, so surprises all around.
I find the big vases are a great challenge that can be met.
That is a unique and wonderful vase from a sister who clearly knows you well, Susie. And, of course, you made the most of it. I do love those pretty chrysanthemums.
Thanks Kris. The vase was a lovely surprise. Glad the chrysanthemum was in bloom now to inaugurate it.
I really love this arrangement Susie – and love love love that vase! The small Chrysanthemum flowers are pretty, and the Camellia flowers are a great focal point. 🙂
Thanks Cathy. It is an interesting vase, isn’t it? I’ll have to practice with it to see how best to take advantage of those extra holes.
What an interesting vase, I’m sure you will put it to good use. Those dear little chrysanthemums make a lovely foil for the other flowers.
Thanks Alison, I’m looking forward to trying this vase again. Now I’ve seen your chrysanthemums I’m thinking I should opt for some larger flowered ones as well.
That vase will be so useful, a great gift for your lovely flowers
The vase was a great surprise. It’s quite large so I’m happy there were enough blooms to fill it today.
What a wonderful cousin to give you such a special gift….and a perfect arrangement to show off the gifts of your garden….I especially love the pale yellow Button Chrysanthemum…absolutely adorable.
Seeing passalongs in bloom, such as this chrysanthemum, is like visiting with old friends. Nostalgic.
What a performer that button chrysanthemum is and brilliant in your lovely vase. The camellias are the stars though, quite beautiful.
Interesting and unusual vase…I can see you having lots of fun with it over time.
Thanks Ricki.
What an unusual vase – You’ve filled it beautifully!
Thanks Eliza.
Super vase, both in shape and colour. Thanks for letting us have a look at it empty and filled. The first impression of the arrangement was spring – so special at the beginning of November. I think it was the soft yellow of that pretty chrysanth that did it. The achillea foliage is just right too, You are very talented, Susie – just the right recipient for a great vase
Beautiful
A very attractive and unusual vase – the color is very appealing. I like the bicolor mums.