Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.
In A Vase On Monday – Odds And Ends
In a fruitless search for hellebores in flower I happened upon the sasanquas nearing the end of their season. So with hellebores tediously slow to emerge this year, I selected a few stems of Yuletide, mostly for the dark green foliage, but eventually a flower made its way into Monday’s vase.
Already I had gathered sprigs of lavender and pieces of Daphne in bud to form a collar around the base of an orchid.
Daphne odora and Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Purple Orchid and White Amaryllis
Three remaining flowers from last week’s cut Hippeastrum stalk opened Friday, but by Sunday they were already fading. I propped them up beneath the orchid to include in today’s presentation.
In A Vase On Monday – Odds And Ends
In A Vase On Monday – Odds And Ends
Hippeastrum (amaryllis)
Materials
Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Hippeastrum (amaryllis)
Orchid
Foliage
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Lavender
Container
Gray Marble Mortar
The container is from a mortar and pestle set made of marble that measures 4 inches high with a 4-inch diameter, a bit small for the height of the flowers.
I wish I had nestled the amaryllis down closer into the foliage but I was called away for a few minutes and in coming back to the vase later I did not take time to rework it. I think it would have balanced the design better by grounding or anchoring the weight of the largest flowers, allowing the smallest ones, the orchids, to float. All in all though these odds and ends found around the house and garden are a soothing balm at middle January .
In A Vase On Monday – Odds And Ends
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to share flower-filled vases across the world. Visit her to discover what surprises she and others found to place in a vase this week and feel free to join in with your own vase.
pbmGarden 
A lovely collection of odds and ends from your garden. I would never have thought to use a mortar bowl, but it works. 🙂
Thanks Joanne. The mortar doesn’t get much use for its intended purpose, but is a fine vase.
A lovely combination of quite exotic selection. That double amaryllis is spectacular.
Thanks Noelle. The orchid and amaryllis were both Christmas gifts that are getting through winter.
Any flowers in the winter are welcome. Your vase is very creative.
I agree flowers in winter can brighten the days. Thanks.
I think I have the same mortar and pestle – mine must be close to 40 years old. 😉 Nearly indestructible!
Lovely double Hippeastrum, it’s rich and creamy. I’m impressed with your orchids, for some reason success with them alludes me.
Eliza, I wanted a mortar and pestle for years but think I’ve used this only once for its intended purpose. I have two orchids (purchased at a grocery a couple of years ago) with buds forming, but this one is actually is new-a Christmas gift from a friend. It was already flowering and has been delightful.
Back when I got the mortar/pestle, I was making lots of potpourri, using it to grind roots and spices. Now my spouse uses it mainly to grind cardamon seeds for his coffee. It would make a nice vase, too!
The cardamom coffee sounds yummy. Maybe I’ll put the mortar and pestle to work after all!
I thought the same as Joanne and I have a mortar just like this but had never thought to use it as a vase – well, perhaps hardly surprising as I have never used it, full stop!! You have managed to collect together some very pretty odds and ends to place in yours – I wonder why the hippeastrum flowers began fading so quickly? It’s not obvious in the photo though, as it makes a very stately focal point. I ordered a replacement ‘Yuletide’ before Christmas, but it hasn’t arrived yet and at this rate is unlikely to have any blooms by the time it does! Thanks for sharing
Cathy, years ago I wanted a mortar and pestle in the worst way but once I finally had once I was beyond my eagerness to be in the kitchen all day. I chose it as a vase today because of its pedestal form, although it was a little too small. Hope your persistence with ‘Yuletide’ soon brings you some lovely flowers. Thanks for hosting, Cathy.
I’d have never thought of combining those orchid flowers with the red Camellias but you made it work, Susie. The white Hippeastrum is an excellent mediator.
That red camellia doesn’t really match anything but I needed one more flower, so tried it and it looked okay. I think you’re right–it helped to have the Hippeastrum as a go-between.
Your odds and ends are lovely Susie, and I also like your marble ‘vase’. We bought one years ago and I think we used it once to grind some doggie tablets down to a powder for easier dosage! 😉LOL! I am patiently waiting for my one single Hippeastrum to flower. That white one is a beauty. 😃
Thanks! Pets get special treatment! Looking forward to seeing your own hippeastrum.
You’ve got some excellent odds and ends to work with!
I’m impressed by how well the daphne works as a base, it’s a perfect match for the camellia and really settles the whole arrangement.
Add me to the list of people who can’t keep an orchid alive 🙂
Very nice! I wish I could grow Camellias; I just love them. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Beth!
Is just the beginning of the second week for the amaryllis, or has it been going longer. It is nice that it works so well as a cut flower. As I mentioned earlier, I would be hesitant to try. Some types do well in the garden here, but I do not know of anyone who cuts them to bring them in. I would be more likely to try cutting those types though, since the obviously can not be brought in any other way.