In A Vase On Monday – Camellialabra
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.
In A Vase On Monday – Camellialabra
Grateful to find a few camellias Sunday afternoon I searched through vases for inspiration and found it in the form of a tall glass candlestick. Using a special floral foam adapter that inserts into the candleholder I began arranging a few bits of foliage: shiny, deep green camellia leaves and fresh light green hellebore leaves. Scavenging from last week’s Monday vase I rescued and reused stems of gaura.
Next I positioned the recently gathered flowers. Most were red Yuletide camellias. There were a couple of pink and cream Hana-Jiman. Twice as many camellias would have been nice but when all were used I was satisfied. The morning, after all, had been below freezing.
Then I glanced over at the Thanksgiving arrangement sitting nearby, made from purchased bouquets.
T
After nearly two weeks those flowers were still amazingly fresh. From among them I chose a white with pink-accented Alstroemeria to fill out today’s design.
In A Vase On Monday – Camellialabra
In A Vase On Monday – Camellialabra
Materials
Flowers
Alstroemeria
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Chrysanthemum
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Blush’ (Butterfly Gaura)
Foliage
Helleborus
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Lavender
Container
Glass candlestick with floral foam base adapter (4.5 inches diameter)
In A Vase On Monday – Camellialabra
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 
So elegant! I’m always meaning to plant the autumn/winter camellias, but never get to it.Your ‘floral foam adapter’ sounds interesting – how does it work?
Thanks Cathy. Here’s a link to a similar candleholder adapter. It’s a plastic dish with a projection that inserts down into the candlestick.
Many thanks Susie – I have just looked and understand properly now. I probably need to visit a local florist, something I never do!
Nor do I really. Learned about this from a floral design workshop I attended a few years ago through my garden club. (There is a product for everything!)
Absolutely stunning. An amazing arrangement to have created with garden flowers in December.
Thanks Christina. The cold rainy weather makes it challenging even for the camellias but I was lucky to find enough for today.
The camellias made a very graceful arrangement. You must have many in your garden.
Thanks AG. I have two Sasanquas but they grow large. Had a bit of luck finding these too–last week there were only spent flowers.
Elegant as always, Susie. I am so impressed with the effect created by raising the arrangement with the candlestick, allowing a completely different profile, and the way you have used your available blooms is spot-on with a perfect balance of colours. Lovely!
Thank you Cathy. I’m happy with the effect of elevating the flowers too. Glad I rediscovered that candleholder. It’s especially handy because it’s very heavy and stable.
Even better then, if it’s heavy and stable
That’s a balancing act worthy of any acrobat, Susie! I love it!
Thanks Kris. Fortunately the candlestick is heavy so the flowers are stable.
Beautiful flowers in a lovely vase. Perfect for this cold rainy day. 🙂
Thanks Judy. Flowers feel right in any weather. Stay warm!
These are so pretty and colourful. I always admire your camellias but they don’t do well here.
Thanks Alison. I’ve taken camellias for granted for many years as they’re ubiquitous here. Monday vases have encouraged me to give them their due. Anything that is blooming after 23 degrees has my appreciation.
I do love your single camellias Susie ! I love all camellias but I do think single ones are a real treat! Amanda
Glad you like it Amanda. I like them all too.
Breathtaking, I love it. The balance in the design is spectacular. I wish I had a candlestick like that!!
Do you grow Alstromeria in your garden? I have one in a pot and used to grow them in Atlanta.
I grew Alstroemeria a few years ago (in a pot because I had been told it could take over a garden bed). Don’t think it did very well but I’ll try it again.
This is beautiful, Susie, and perfectly festive for the holiday season. ‘Yuletide’ is aptly named!
Thank you Eliza!
A great idea to use a candlestick, beautifully arranged flowers, and I do admire how you managed to arrange the flowers without it toppling over! I am quite envious of your Camellias. 🙂
Thanks Cathy. The candlestick is heavy and stable—so far at least the flower arrangement hasn’t toppled! The camellia has bloomed for weeks. Glad to have it this time of year.
Fabulous!
That’s marvelous! I love the mix of colors.
Thanks. Sadly the camellias fade quickly and are on their way out but we’ve enjoyed it.
Alstroemeria looks so unfamiliar. There were only a few cultivars available when I grew it as a cut flower crop back in the 1980s. I think that most of those old types were best, but a few of the newer cultivars are really excellent too. This one looks really sharp. I saw a similar white alstroemeria with minimal spots in the supermarket.