Tag Archives: Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

In A Vase On Monday – Odds And Ends

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

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.

In A Vase On Monday – January With Gold

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In A Vase On Monday – January With Gold

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of cuttings from our gardens. We have entered a new year but as the garden has offered up no new flowers to welcome 2021, I returned to Yuletide camellias.

In A Vase On Monday – January With Gold

To try to create something different I selected a pair of small black vases painted with gold flowers that once belonged to my maternal grandmother.

In A Vase On Monday – January With Gold

I suspect the little glass vases were mementos picked up by my uncle during his naval career travels, but I have no way of knowing. For the past week the days have been so cold and dreary and the daylight so weak the touches of gold and the deep yellow centers on the camellias are the brightest things around.

Materials
Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Foliage
Gardenia
Lavender
Container
Vase Pair, Glass with gold floral decoration

In A Vase On Monday – January With Gold

In A Vase On Monday – Late December

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In A Vase On Monday – Late December

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of cuttings from our gardens.

After some very cold nights with temperatures as low as 19°F. still on Sunday morning I managed to find my patch of alyssum still blooming at the base of a couple of large flower pots.

Alyssum – December 17, 2020

I imagined filling a tiny container with the miniature purplish-magenta blooms to finish out the year of Monday vases. The alyssum didn’t prove easy to collect or work with so I was glad I had also checked out the Yuletide camellia. Though many blooms were browned by the cold blasts of the past week, a few fresh flowers had opened.

In A Vase On Monday – Late December

Alyssum

Today’s resulting vase strayed from my initial concept—more of a hodge-podge—making a quick wrap-up for this year of vases. See the entire 2020 collection of Monday vases.

In A Vase On Monday – Late December

Camellia, Alyssum and Berries

Silvered Lichen

Materials
Flowers
Alyssum
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Foliage
Crape Myrtle stem with lichen
Liriope
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches)

In A Vase On Monday – Late December

Almost Wordless Wednesday – Camellias In Situ

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Annette of Personal Eden wondered what my sasanquas look like growing in situ as opposed to indoors in a vase. The shrubs are utilitarian, hiding utilities from the street view and yes, we are this close to the neighbors’ drive so they have to be kept trimmed.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’ and ‘Yuletide’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’ and ‘Yuletide’ screen gas utlities next to house on north side. Shrubs have intermingled over the years. They are tightly pruned to keep them from overtaking the neighbors’ drive. Beyond the red ‘Yuletide’ are several gardenias (not in bloom this time of year).

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

In A Vase On Monday – December Etude

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In A Vase On Monday – December Etude

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of cuttings from our gardens.

At mid-December the temperatures are mild again, nearly 70 degrees. In my garden a fall-blooming iris strangely has developed fat buds again, but only camellia sasanquas are flowering.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ and Daphne odora

Having relied heavily on camellias for vase material for the past many years I am finding them decidedly uninspiring this year. Nevertheless I collected a few Yuletide flowers Sunday morning, but then changing directions I challenged myself to focus on foliage for a vase study this week.

Colorful oak leaves and dogwood buds were the main focus supported by fresh green Winter Daphne form the basis of the design.

In A Vase On Monday – December Etude

With the addition of the red flowers the arrangement took on an offbeat holiday look.

In A Vase On Monday – December Etude

Buds of Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)

Materials
Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Foliage
Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)
Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Dutch’ (Dutch Lavender)
Lathyrus latifolius (Everlasting sweet pea)
Quercus (oak)
Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)
Container
Solimene Vietri ceramic bowl

In A Vase On Monday – December Etude

In A Vase On Monday – Camellias

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In A Vase On Monday – Camellias

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of cuttings from our gardens.

There are two sasanquas in my garden along the north side of the house. They were planted a couple years after we moved here as replacements for wax myrtles (part of the original landscaping package that came with the house. The wax myrtles had unceremoniously become upended after a minor wind storm.) These camellias just happened to be the ones I found at the nursery the day I went to shop: Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’ and ‘Yuletide’. At the same time I bought one hybrid Camellia ‘Coral Delight’ (C. japonica × C. saluenensis) that blooms early spring. I had beginner’s luck with these three camellias—none I have planted since have survived. The rest of the garden is too sunny and harsh and probably too dry.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

The two sasanquas provide flowers for the Thanksgiving table and continue well into January. ‘Hana-Jiman’ began this year around October 24, 2020 and ‘Yuletide’ around November 4, 2020. I find them difficult to arrange. Often they are simply floated in a shallow dish where the entire flower can be easily viewed, but this week I attempted to mix them with greenery and force them into a more complex design.

In A Vase On Monday – Camellias

Look quickly. Twice already I have found the floor covered with camellia petals. Soon the foliage and anthurium harvested from a house plant may be all that remains.

In A Vase On Monday – Camellias

Materials
Flowers
Anthurium
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Foliage
Arum italicum
Camellia sasanqua
Gardenia
Vase
Black-glazed ceramic square, floral pin

In A Vase On Monday – Camellias

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 she and others found to place in a vase this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Vintage Bouquet

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In A Vase On Monday – Vintage Bouquet

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of cuttings from our gardens.

A friend who grows roses has shared several vases with me this autumn. She stopped by again Saturday with more lovely, fragrant flowers. A few days earlier our next-door neighbor had dropped off a mixed bouquet from her grocery store outing that contained 3 roses. The only rose I grow is a passalong that blooms only in spring, so I took advantage of this rare opportunity to work with roses for this week’s vase.

In A Vase On Monday – Vintage Bouquet

Aiming for a traditional round design I began by gathering dark foliage of camellia and gardenia to contrast with the roses. Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’ has been flowering for several weeks and now is in full bloom.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

The Hana-Jiman camellia has white crinkled petals edged in pink with deep yellow centers. These had been battered by Sunday morning rain and several lost their petals before I could finish the arrangement. For those that lasted their coloring complemented the yellow and pink roses.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

A couple of early C. sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ have opened as well. As I turn the vase around, one is visible in the second view along with a sunflower from my next-door neighbor’s mixed bouquet.

View 2 (Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ and Sunflower)

View 3 reveals my favorite of my friend’s locally grown roses. Its large wide open form makes a nice feature flower for the design. The darker pink rose below it is one of the store-bought roses–sturdy and attractive but without scent.

In A Vase On Monday – Vintage Bouquet

This vase is meant to be viewed from all sides. This is View 4. The bottom pink rose on the right-hand side is the most fragrant flower in the bouquet. I do not know the names of any of the roses.

My late season zinnias are tiny, but make a cheerful addition to the arrangement.

Zinnia

Materials
Flowers
Alstroemeria (gifts, not from my garden)
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Carnation (gifts, not from my garden)
Lavender
Roses (gifts, not from my garden)
Sunflower
Zinnia
Foliage
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Gardenia jasminoides
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Blush’
Marigold
Container
Ceramic Urn Stamped “Vintage 4”
6-inch clear Lomey dish
eco-friendly Oasis floral foam

In A Vase On Monday – Vintage Bouquet

After enjoying working with arranging dahlias all summer and fall they have suddenly stopped flowering. The gifts of roses came at an opportune time. As my husband continues to recuperate from a serious health issue (non-covid), our family, friends and neighbors have lent much support with flowers, meals, emails, calls, cards, errands and even lysol spray. We are nourished by their care and good wishes. We are so grateful he is back home and getting stronger.

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Boughs

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In A Vase On Monday – Winter Boughs

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.

After unseasonably warm (but wet) weather in January, Sunday night lows plunged to 25F. I have seen a clump of yellow daffodils blooming in my neighborhood. None of mine have opened but there are a few buds.

Daphne odora came into full bloom this week and outdoors any excuse will do to walk by the deliciously scented shrubs. For today’s vase I gathered several large stems to feature.

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

A few hellebores just starting to flower were selected also to contribute soft color and form.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Bits of fresh verdant foliage—arum, camellia, and columbine—were added for contrast and texture. The greens serve also to conceal the candleholder adapter filled with florist’s foam.

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Boughs

Materials
Flowers
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Foliage
Arum italicum
Container
Glass Candelabra

In A Vase On Monday – Pine And Flora

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In A Vase On Monday – Pine And Flora

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.

January has been mild in temperature but wet, making the garden soggy. Carefully stepping into squishy soil yesterday morning I retrieved a small pine branch that had dropped into the border from the neighbor’s towering tree. The branch is the starting point for today’s vase.

To support the pine branch I reached into a treasure trove of florist pins donated to me by a friend and former coworker. She had inherited the collection from relatives and was kind to pass them on to me. There are various sizes and shapes, mostly metal pins, but a few made of glass. The one I reached for is metal, an extra-heavy 3.5 by 4.5-inch rectangular one whose pins are sharp and nicely spaced. It gripped the branch easily in place.

Florist Pin 3.5 By 4.5 Inches

In A Vase On Monday – Pine And Flora

This arrangement is a bit like a sketch or prototype. I like it much more in person than in the photographs. With more time I would have trimmed and shaped the pine branch more and would returned to the garden for some taller materials to support the design. Perhaps too I would bind some of the needles in green wire. Possibilities are endless.

In A Vase On Monday – Pine And Flora

The hellebore bud used last week opened after a day inside. It is included in today’s vase along with one other, cut Sunday, that opened the same way.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

It is still possible to find a few camellias, so Yuletide is included again today. Daphne buds are reluctant to commit, but there are several stems with open flowers here and there. I caught the fragrance as I cut the daphne and now am longing for it.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ and Daphne

Materials
Flowers
Anthurium
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Foliage
Anthurium
Arum italicum
Pinus taeda (loblolly pine)
Container
Black square plastic dish

In A Vase On Monday – January Blossoms

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In A Vase On Monday – January Blossoms

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens. It is the first Monday of the new year. Providing continuity from the past year, 2020’s initial vase holds the familiar blossoms of Yuletide sasanqua camellia. It really is the only choice for flowers this week.

In A Vase On Monday – January Blossoms

But I included a preview of Vases Future. Hellebores seem a bit late this year despite relatively mild weather recently. Their buds are promising.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ With Hellebore Bud

The Daphne shrubs are full of buds and finally a tiny flower has emerged.

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

The anthurium flower is from a house plant we were given a year ago. Originally the color was pink and perhaps it will be again one day. I have brought it into a different room where it will receive more light and where I will be reminded to water it occasionally.

In A Vase On Monday – January Blossoms

Materials
Flowers
Anthurium
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Foliage
Anthurium
Arum italicum
Container
Blue/brown ceramic flat, round dish

Deep 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 she and others found to place In A Vase On Monday.

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Song

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In A Vase On Monday – Winter Song

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 – Winter Song

My garden has been a one-trick pony lately, offering up only camellias to fill Monday vases. Of course I am grateful to have them blooming this time of year. It was 27 degrees F. when I left the house early Sunday morning, yet Sunday afternoon I was able to pick a few fresh blooms of Yuletide and one Hana-Jiman.

Pink Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’ and Red Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

Nearby the camellias stand several gardenias that a former neighbor rooted for me many years ago. Yesterday I discovered two gardenia hips, orange fruits that only rarely appear on my gardenias.

Gardenia Hip

Scouting for other materials I managed to find one tiny red Erysimum and a small Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ plant which I pulled up, including roots, from the soggy soil of the meditation circle.

Erysimum ‘Sugar Rush Red’

Foliage of Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’

To add seasonal interest I gathered greenery from a ‘Carolina Sapphire’ cypress in the back northwest corner of the garden.

‘Carolina Sapphire’ (Arizona Cypress)

I decided to include spiraea after noticing a few white flowers on the mostly bare stems. The spiraea must be confused by the mixed messages the weather has been sending recently, with temperatures sometimes warm, sometimes as I mentioned earlier, 27 degrees. This week is due to be mild and in the 60s.

A rustic wooden box serves as the container this week. The arrangement looked fine just using the items I found in the garden, but I have lots of flowers on hand that I bought for a luncheon I hosted last Monday. Adding few pale green carnations and stems of hypericum berries helped fill out the design and lifted the color.

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Song

Materials
Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Carnation (purchased)
Erysimum ‘Sugar Rush Red’ (Wallflower)
Gardenia jasminoides hips
Spiraea prunifolia (bridal wreath spiraea)
Foliage
‘Carolina Sapphire’ (Arizona Cypress)
Hypericum
Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue)
Spiraea prunifolia (bridal wreath spiraea)
Container
Wooden crate lined with plastic container holding floral foam

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Song

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.

In A Vase On Monday – Red And Green

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Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.

Happy to find a few camellias to share, I’m off to prepare for a luncheon I’m hosting for long-time yoga friends. These women have been a strong source of inspiration and laughter for many years, and this year especially, a well of support.

Materials
Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Foliage
Container
Ikebana

In A Vase On Monday – Camellialabra

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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.

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

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

In A Vase On Monday – Leaves and Camellias

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In A Vase On Monday – Leaves and Camellias

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens. Camellia sasanquas had enjoyed several weeks of pleasant weather but temperature dips into the twenties now have left the shrubs covered in faded blooms. Plenty of buds remain. They seem in no hurry to open but I managed to find a few flowers in good condition.

In A Vase On Monday – Leaves and Camellias

The light was so poor at 5 p.m. Sunday evening I photographed outside against the front door. I like seeing the flowers against the blue background.

In A Vase On Monday – Leaves and Camellias

The inspiration for today’s vase was actually Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ which is taking on a nice red hue. Sprigs of silvery-green lavender and surprisingly fresh leaves of native columbine contrast with the deep green, glossy camellia leaves.

In A Vase On Monday – Leaves and Camellias

Materials
Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Foliage
Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Lavender (Lavandula)
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches)

In A Vase On Monday – Leaves and Camellias

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Wonders

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In A Vase On Monday – Winter Wonders

Each Monday from Rambling In The Garden Cathy invites us to share a vase assembled from materials collected in our gardens.

A few blooms gathered Sunday afternoon went into one of my favorite Ikebana vases.

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Wonders

Included in the Ikebana arrangement is a Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide.’ The red Yuletide camellia opened in late October (as I recall) or at least by November 8, 2018, and despite the recent cold snap it continues to offer a few flowers. The small size of the camellia made it perfect for pairing with the creamy double-form hybrid hellebore purchased several years ago at Pine Knot Farms near Clarksville, Virginia. It is just scrumptious.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ and Helleborus x hybridus

Hellebores opened in my garden in January, 2019, a little later than in some years. They usually bloom well into April.

Some of the hellebores have been in the garden since 2001. A few years later a garden club friend, Vicki, passed along a large quantity of her volunteers. They took about 3 years before flowering, well worth the wait.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Several tiny flowers of Daphne odora burst open this year on January 12. Very few have opened since then but warmer weather this week may encourage them. These fragrant shrubs usually peak late February-early March.

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Wonders

While Daphne is long-lasting in a vase, the hellebores’ beauty is fleeting. I chose not to singe the stems or try other methods to preserve them.

Materials

Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches)
Fiesta soup mug

Left with quite a few extras after finishing the Ikebana, I tucked the remainders into a lime green soup mug. I liked their cheerful spirit so much I decided to share both designs today.

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Wonders

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

In A Vase On Monday – Winter Wonders

In A Vase On Monday – A Petite Pair

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In A Vase On Monday – A Petite Pair

Each Monday from Rambling In The Garden Cathy invites us to share a vase assembled from materials collected in our gardens. Ahead of last night’s plunging temperatures (17°F.), I collected some of the last camellia blossoms along with the season’s first deliciously fragrant Winter Daphne.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

An exquisite pair of small cream and blue-gray vases were the inspiration to rejoin Cathy today after a few weeks’ absence.

In A Vase On Monday – A Petite Pair

Our daughter Meghan is visiting this week from Los Angeles and at a large family gathering Saturday her cousin Julie gave her these ceramic vases, thoughtfully sized so they can easily fit into her suitcase for the return trip. The artist is Julie’s mother-in-law, which makes them even more special.

Materials

Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Container
Ceramic vases by Mary Murray, Mountain Forest Studio. (2.5 W x 3-inches H)

In A Vase On Monday – A Petite Pair

Since mid-December my husband has had some health issues that required our full attention and energy. As things are settling down I hope to find more time to post. Meanwhile I belatedly wish you happiness, peace and flowers in 2019.

In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Branches

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In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Branches

Each Monday from Rambling In The Garden Cathy invites us to share a vase assembled from materials collected in our gardens.

Today I offer edited and arranged branches of Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ in an artichoke green vase.

In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Branches

The blooms are not fully open and will continue to unfold.

In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Branches

Materials

Flowers and Foliage
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Container
Hand-thrown ceramic vase from Seagrove Pottery, unknown artist

Quick report back on the Hippeastrum from last week’s vase: the stem was cut 9 days ago and placed in water. While two flowers have faded and been removed, the remaining three blooms continue to look fresh. Four of the flowers had been open for a few days before I cut the stem, so I am satisfied with the longevity of the amaryllis as a cut flower.

In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Greetings

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In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Greetings

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement using materials collected from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Greetings

With limited bloom options this week I again selected the Yuletide camellia. Despite very cold temperatures of late freshly opened buds were easy to find.

I was in search of something diminutive so I could use a new vase, a recent gift from my friend Chris.

In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Greetings

Standing approximately 2 inches tall this runner vase is composed of three bottles decoratively wired together.

In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Greetings

The blue glass adds to the charm of the vase.

In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Greetings

A holiday tea towel, several sprigs of rosemary and small candles lend a seasonal touch to this week’s vignette.

In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Greetings

Materials
Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Foliage
Rosemary
Container
Runner vase, 2-inch high blue bottles

In A Vase On Monday – Yuletide Greetings

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and encouraging 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.

In A Vase On Monday – December Gifts

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In A Vase On Monday – December Gifts

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement using materials collected from our gardens. December gifts are those special wonders one finds in the landscape this time of year.

Yesterday a friend mentioned some of her hellebores are already full of buds so I though I might find some to feature today. None were available but I did harvest some of the hellebores’ young, tender, pale green foliage, along with some lovely patterned leaves of Arum italicum and a few stems of fresh aquilegia greenery.

In A Vase On Monday – December Gifts

The red and black container is from my collection of five red and black raku pots by North Carolina potter, Charles Chrisco. I inserted a tall drinking glass into the vase to help hold and support the stems without using floral foam.

The foliage took no time to set in place. With the dynamic shape and texture of the arum, the green materials could have stood alone if necessary. There is very little blooming now so the choices were chrysanthemums (fading), Erysimum (scarce), or sasanqua camellias (best potential).

In A Vase On Monday – December Gifts

Many readers have been enamored of this red Yuletide camellia when I have used it in the past. It has been a prolific bloomer this year. The weather has not been too severe yet so many of the flowers were in good condition this morning.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

Of the two sasanquas in my garden I favor the more fragrant and delicate looking Hana-Jiman. It blooms earlier though than Yuletide and is nearly finished for another year.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’

The camellias cooperated without much struggle and I was satisfied with the result. I snapped one portrait in the kitchen before moving the arrangement to the foyer to catch the natural light of early morning.

In A Vase On Monday – December Gifts

Materials

Flowers
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

Foliage
Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)
Arum italicum
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Container
Red/black raku vase, Charles Chrisco, Chrisco’s Pottery

In A Vase On Monday – December Gifts

A black and white view is always instructive. This one is from overhead.

In A Vase On Monday – December Gifts

In A Vase On Monday – Evasive Challenge

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In A Vase On Monday – Evasive Challenge

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement using materials collected from our gardens. Today marks Cathy’s fourth anniversary of posting and hosting In A Vase On Monday and to celebrate she has challenged participants to create an anniversary contribution in something other than a vase.

I pondered over this task a lot the past few days and finally chose a memento from my daughter’s childhood that I just happened upon yesterday. This blue glazed hand was traced in clay from her own little hand for a very early elementary school project. Hooked onto the bathroom wall, it held her toothbrush for a time when she was a child.

In A Vase On Monday – Evasive Challenge

My idea for using the hand to hold flowers turned into more of a conceptual piece as time ran out to actually hang it on the wall. Instead I posed blossoms around it and took pictures from above.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

Although we had two consecutive nights of temperatures in the upper 20sF. on Sunday I was able to gather quite a few camellias, which I arranged and rearranged.

In A Vase On Monday – Evasive Challenge

MaterialsFlowers
Begonia
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana-Jiman’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Container
“Handmade” ceramic art

In A Vase On Monday – Evasive Challenge

Congratulations and many thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting IAVOM with such enthusiasm. Visit her to discover what she and others found this week in their gardens on this vaseless Monday.

In A Vase On Monday – November Gifts

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