In A Vase On Monday – Subtlety
Each Monday Cathy from Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase assembled from materials collected in our gardens.
Another set of gladioli bloomed this week, white ones this time, with strong-stems. Looking back at last year’s vases I see I used the same white flower at the end of last June.
In A Vase On Monday – Subtlety
I collected the gladioli over 3 days, storing them in a colorful pitcher until I had time to arrange them. That time for arranging never came but I snapped some photos anyway. So here you see how I have been enjoying them all week, with the shape of the design determined by long sword-like leaves and spikes of flowers.
In A Vase On Monday – Subtlety
The title Subtlety comes from the gentle revelations of the blooms when viewed close up.
In A Vase On Monday – Subtlety
The buds have an ivory cast. Soft creamy yellow petals brushed with lavender pink markings direct attention to the anther’s deep purple pollen.
In A Vase On Monday – Subtlety
In A Vase On Monday – Subtlety
Materials
Flowers
Gladiolus
Foliage
Gladiolus
Container
Stoneware pitcher glazed with bands of cream, green, blue. (pitcher and 4 cups, Pringle Pottery, North Carolina, circa 1977).
Many 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 
Beautiful, I thought the name of the gladiolus was the name of the post. It is a gorgeous rich creamy colour, they look perfect in your pitcher.
Hi Christina! Hope you’re doing well. After I’d written the post and labeled the pictures I realized ‘Subtlety’ might be misinterpreted as the name of the flower, so I added an explanation. Have no idea what this one is actually called. Waiting on my zinnias to kick in and anticipating some dahlias, but not much blooming here of interest so I was happy when this batch of gladiolus appeared like a gift.
These are stunning, Susie, so pristine and perfect and making me want to get out my Peter Nyssen catalogue and see if they supply a pure white variety. They will last quite some time in a vase, I guess?
They do last well. Most of the top buds continue to open as the lower buds fade. So you just keep plucking the lower buds and trim up the stems to keep the proportion.
That’s a good tip – I have some G byzantinus this ear and in hindsight I should have done the same on those
The flowers arranged themselves well! I really do need to try growing Glads. They’re such stately flowers.
Kris, I think you’d enjoy them. They make better cut flowers I think than garden ones, so they are perfect for enjoying close up.
Ah, another in all white! Still my favorite color.
White flowers are serene.
and they show up nicely against the dark green and brown of redwood forests.
The flowers are beautiful, arrangement is lovely, and the vase, well the vase calls to me. Beautiful arrangement for sure. 🙂
Thanks Judy, so glad you enjoyed this vase. Jim Pringle is quite well known in this area as a fine potter. The pitcher and 4 small mugs were a wedding gift so it’s 42 years old.
I come by way of New England Garden and Thread. I couldn’t believe my eyes when your photos of white gladioli popped up. I am partial to white in the garden, and I am taken back to my mother’s garden long ago by the glads. So I couldn’t help feeling you’d created that arrangement particularly for me. Thank you!
What a wonderful comment. Thanks for taking time to write. I too love white in the garden—so peaceful and elegant.
Those are stunning Glads! I used to grow them, but then my “sunny” garden got shadier. I love them, though, and they’re excellent cut flowers! This one is special, and your arrangement of it is exquisite.
Thanks Beth! It’s funny how our gardens transition over the years.
What a beauty your gladioli are. Great show
Beautiful gladioli – love the color.