In A Vase On Monday – Harbinger Of Spring
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement using materials collected from our gardens.
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ and ‘King Alfred’ signal spring in this southern garden.
Narcissus ‘King Alfred’, Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ and Hyacinthus orientalis
A few hyacinths are blooming also and this pale, pale yellow one is actually the starting point of today’s vase.
Hyacinthus orientalis (Dutch hyacinth)
Stems were inserted into a florist’s frog and placed on a white ceramic square dish for a quick arrangement, as in the first image.
I tried two different vase options—I like both. Here is a shallow blue ceramic dish with purple overtones.
In A Vase On Monday – Harbinger Of Spring
Materials
Flowers
Hyacinthus orientalis (Dutch hyacinth)
Narcissus ‘King Alfred’
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’
Foliage
Daffodil leaf
Vase
Florist’s frog
White ceramic square dish / Blue ceramic vase
Another One
A generous mixed bouquet in a large porcelain vase graced the refreshment table this past Saturday as I participated in an all-day silent yoga retreat. The retreat was a lovely experience, a great mix of yoga, sitting and walking meditation, journaling, mediation and more yoga. At the end of the day I was offered the chance to select some flowers to bring home. Not wanting to break up the arrangement, I chose just this one, richly colored perfect Gerbera daisy.
Gerbera From Silent Yoga Retreat
I paired the gerbera with a branch from the native eastern redbud, added the first anemones of the year and tucked in a sprig of soon to bloom candytuft.
In A Vase On Monday – Harbinger Of Spring
Materials
Flowers
Anemone coronaria ‘Mr Fokker’
Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud)
Gerbera
Foliage
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Vase
White ceramic square dish. Florist’s frog in black plastic cup
Have a great week everyone. I am behind reading blogs but trying to catch up soon. Love seeing what you are up to in your own gardens.
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to share flower designs across the world. Visit her to discover what she and others found to place In A Vase On Monday.
pbmGarden 
The Narcissus are a real sign that spring is coming although they can be wrong (winter has returned here with snow and strong winds). Your second vase is perfect. I’ve been watching some videos on YouTube about creating Ikebana. I love the elegant style so I’m looking forward to trying more as different flowers come into season.
The last couple weeks here have been mild but April 15 is our last frost date, so I do worry about all these trees and shrubs breaking into bud. My neighbors saucer magnolia opened this weekend but it usually ends up brown. Perhaps it will beat the trend this year. Overnight the Gerbera Daisy had bent down at a spot where I accidentally bruised it, forcing me to trim it down about 3 inches this morning. Actually improved the design significantly when I returned it to the vase.
I did notice on the videos that the flowers at the vase of the design were very low close to the vase.
Your pale yellow hyacinth is the prettiest colour, I’ve never seen one like it. It looks lovely with the daffodils and must smell beautiful.
The soft yellow is a nice alternative to what often are brasher colors in hyacinths (though I love them all). Yes, the fragrance carries thoughout the house.
Two amazing vases and I love the sound of that retreat….the yellow vase is stunning and I especially love the yellow hyacinth….and the vase is making me smile as winter yields a bit here and I am seeing the tips of the daffs finally pushing up
Seeing the green daffodil tips is fun. They’ll probably bide their time for just the right moment. The retreat was helpful. I know to do these things like meditation and journaling but being in that setting helped me with the discipline of it. Perhaps you’ll try one sometime.
A wonderful springlike vase of yellows. I have Tête-à-têtes and King Alfreds too, or rather King Alfred Offspring as I think that is all they sell these days. (Like Cathy I buy my bulbs from Peter Nyssen).
These King Alfreds have been in place for quite a long time, but I can’t really vouch for their authenticity.
Yellow is such a cheery color and a pretty arrangement for the beginning of Spring.
Spring is the only time when I am drawn so readily to yellow. They seem to go together.
I always need a splash of yellow in the garden. I think because it is easy to see from inside the house.
Both arrangements are truly delightful! You have a wonderful knack with the presentation arrangements: lovely!
Thanks. It’s nice to have more variety from which to select as the days get warmer.
Anticipation is always the fun part and thinking about what will be blooming soon! Right now I’m listening to African thunderstorms building with the hope of rain (many times have just been a loud and noisy tease) and a lush explosion of color in my garden throughout the week!
Fingers crossed for that luscious nourishing rain.
I can taste the moisture in the dusty air. Hearing pings every now and then!! Praying!!
Your style always impresses me and the golden warmth of the first arrangement is perfect for this time of year when we’re all longing for spring. I would have simply plunked that single bloom in a jar but you’ve made it into a masterpiece. Bravo!
Thanks Peter. I imagine the daffodils would have been lovely plunked as well–sometimes that’s more natural.
While both vases are lovely, Susie, I adore the second one – nothing could sing more eloquently of spring than that vase! I’ve got a few daffodils making an appearance here and there but my garden hasn’t produced the bounty of these yellow blooms yours has. I’ve never been drawn to Hyacinths but that pale yellow one is absolutely gorgeous.
Thanks Kris. No matter how many daffodils come up I chide myself for not adding more. They are really a delight this time of year. BTW, I saw you’d had hail! Crazy.
This is indeed a bountiful post, Susie, with all your vase variations. I was going tp say that the white hyacinth looked brilliant with the narcissi but you then tell us it is actually a pale yellow which perhaps explains why it made such a stunning combination. You were very restrained just taking the one gerbera, buy it nevertheless plays a big part in your last vase. All lovely, Susie, and what a wonderful day’s retreat you have had too
Cathy, the pale yellow hyacinth was one of a package labelled Sunrise Mix. The colors are all paler than one would expect from a sunrise, but I like their softness.
That’s something to look out for then; like you, it was their softness that appealed to me
Such composure …..love the way the daffodils have been arranged.
Thanks Noelle. I wasn’t sure the daffodils would stand up well just inserted into the frog but decide to try. So far they’re holding up fine that way.
That pale hyacinth is a delight and I don’t think I’ve seen bulbs that colour or I would have bought them! Daffodils also of course always a joy. I love gerbera and it pairs beautifully with the branch.
Hi Alison, was just telling Cathy the pale yellow hyacinth was one of a package labelled Sunrise Mix. The colors are all paler than one would expect from a sunrise, but I like their softness.
I really love your sunshine yellow arrangement this week Susie. What a lovely combination of soft and intense shades of yellow. 🙂 The Gerbera is gorgeous too.
Thanks Cathy. Daffodils always carry a smile it seems.
Very nice,love the first one the most!
Thanks. It’s hard to top a vase of daffodils.
Agreed,those Hyacinths helped!
Lovely arrangements.
Thanks, the hyacinth fragrance is filling the house.
It is time for anemones already? I saw one in town, but thought it was off. I have not grown them in many years. They are like annuals here, which is why I might not ever grow them again. However, I still see them around sometimes. Although rare, they can bloom for a few years.
These anemones are in about their 3rd year, greatly diminished in number. I would happily grow them as annuals but am finding them very stubborn.
That yellow bouquet is oh-so-lovely, Susie! The buttery hyacinth softens the brighter yellows nicely. I’m amazed that your Cercis is about to bloom, it feels like winter just zipped on by!
Thanks Eliza. My cercis is dying and I need to have it taken out, but for one more year am enjoying the flowers. Just read yesterday that people eat redbud buds!
Interesting, I didn’t know that! As a legume, I guess that might be so.
This sunny posy is just what I need, Susie, yes, let’s not loose hope, spring will come eventually! Hope your yoga day was a success, best wishes xx
Hope the cheery thought of daffodils helps you through the week Annette. Yes, the yoga is something that has been helpful to me.
I love that mix of pale and bright yellow. It lifts my spirits!
Daffodils always seem like a boost—courage to get through rest of winter.
What a marvelous vase; it yells out “SPRING!!!!!”
Thanks John. Hope spring will be nice and long this year.
Sun on stems. If you don’t have any Tete-a-tetes, I will send you some. They are my favorites. I call them “The Cutest Daffodils in the World.”
Thanks. So week of you to offer. I have some though and love them. Actually some of the smaller ones in this arrangement are there-a-Teresa—just not many have a partner bloom open yet. BTW. Check out Chapel Hill Garden Club garden tour. Last weekend in April.
I love the vase with the daffodils. The tête-à-tête and yellow hyacinth look amazing with the larger daffodils.
Thanks so much. The daffodils have been so beautiful this year all over town.