Tag Archives: flower design

In A Vase On Monday – Respite

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

I’ve been away from the garden dealing with family health care issues so when I had a chance to wander through one day recently I collected flowers for a vase, of course.

The gatherings of dahlias and zinnias spilled over into several vases—a few minutes of floral meditation and respite. Taking time. Sometimes it’s the hardest thing to do.

Thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Red In Glass Vase

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In A Vase On Monday – Red In Glass Vase

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

Since April 1 I have been watching with anticipation as a large pot of Asian lilies developed greenery, then buds, then buds revealing color.

April 1, 2021 Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily)

May 29, 2021 Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily)

June 2, 2021 Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily)

Finally this past week the first flowers opened on June 7, quickly followed by many.

June 9, 2021 Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily)

Having planned all spring to use the carmine lilies in a Monday vase when they appeared so quickly at mid-week I was unprepared to spend time arranging them. After trying out several vases without success, I opted for a cylindrical straight-sided glass container to hold the simple bouquet.

In A Vase On Monday – Red In Glass Vase

In A Vase On Monday – Red In Glass Vase

In A Vase On Monday – Red In Glass Vase

Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily)

Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily)

Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily)

Materials
Flowers
Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily)
Foliage
Container
Straight-sided glass cylinder

Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily)

As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Gardenias In Blue Pitcher

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In A Vase On Monday – Gardenias In Blue Pitcher

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 – Gardenias In Blue Pitcher

The gardenias are the prettiest and most prolific in years. I packed a blue stoneware pitcher full of fresh cuttings.

Gardenia jasminoides

The gardenias could have stood on their own but I needed to use the last of the saved peonies that have been stored in my refrigerator for too many weeks.

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Coral Charm’ (Coral Charm Peony)

Next a piece, then maybe two, of hydrangea added because it just looks its best this week.

Hydrangea macrophylla

Materials
Flowers
Gardenia jasminoides
Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’ (Cape Jasmine)
Foliage
Hydrangea macrophylla
Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
Container
Stoneware pitcher glazed with bands of cream, green, blue. (pitcher and 4 cups, Pringle Pottery, North Carolina, circa 1977)

In A Vase On Monday – Gardenias In Blue Pitcher

In A Vase On Monday – Gardenias In Blue Pitcher

In A Vase On Monday – Gardenias In Blue Pitcher

In A Vase On Monday – Gardenias In Blue Pitcher

As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Gardenias In Blue Pitcher

In A Vase On Monday – Last Day In May

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In A Vase On Monday – Last Day In May

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 – Last Day In May

May flowers. I began with brilliant orange Asclepias tuberosa, leaving plenty for any monarchs that might show up. (The umbel is a variegated form of Aegopodium, an attractive groundcover but unfortunately invasive.)

In A Vase On Monday – Last Day In May

The color emphasis shifted when gathering other flowers I came upon a second and final bloom of Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait’, the only one of the peonies that did not produce lots of flowers this year.

Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait’

The other peonies in today’s vase, two ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (below) and one ‘Festiva Maxima’ (lower left corner above), have been stored in the refrigerator for a few weeks. It was time to bring them out.

In A Vase On Monday – Last Day In May

The first of the returning dahlias, along with achillea, snapdragon, gaura, hydrangea, dark red clematis and even a bright orange nasturtium all were enlisted as companions to bridge the gap between orange and pink.

In A Vase On Monday – Last Day In May

In A Vase On Monday – Last Day In May

In A Vase On Monday – Last Day In May

In A Vase On Monday – Last Day In May

Materials
Flowers
Achillea filipendulina (Fern-leaf Yarrow)
Aegopodium podagraria(bishop’s weed)
Antirrhinum majus ‘Speedy Sonnet Bronze’ (Snapdragon)
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Plant)
Clematis ‘Niobe’
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Blush’
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten Rose)
Hydrangea macrophylla
Nasturtium ‘Vesuvius’
Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait’
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue)
Foliage
Dahlia
Peony
Container
Ceramic Urn Stamped “Vintage 4”
6-inch clear Lomey dish
eco-friendly Oasis floral foam

In A Vase On Monday – Last Day In May

As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Racemes And Tendrils

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In A Vase On Monday – Racemes And Tendrils

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

This morning racemes and tendrils of Lathyrus (everlasting sweet pea) are held upright by the integrated floral pin of this favorite Ikebana container. The deep purplish pink petals carry no fragrance but this passalong plant returns faithfully every year rambling and scrambling and rambling.

In A Vase On Monday – Racemes And Tendrils

Materials
Flowers
Lathyrus latifolius (Everlasting sweet pea)
Foliage
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches)

In A Vase On Monday – Racemes And Tendrils

As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Peony Trio

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In A Vase On Monday – Peony Trio

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

While peonies are in flower they are the obvious choice for a Monday vase.

In A Vase On Monday – Peony Trio

I used a large rectangular floral pin holder to support the stems. While there are some differences among the three peonies they are essentially the same size and shape. The design might have been more interesting with some in bud, with more foliage, with secondary flowers, or just with the stems inserted into a bowl or vase.

But never mind, they are peonies, fragrant, sumptuous peonies. Each year I find myself amazed when they bloom in my little garden.

Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’

Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (I think)

Materials
Flowers
Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’
Foliage
Lathyrus latifolius (Everlasting sweet pea)
Peony leaves
Container
Black-glazed ceramic square

As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden amazements she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Dramatic Cool

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In A Vase On Monday – Dramatic Cool

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

As the irises take their last bow at center stage in the garden, peonies have taken on the leading role.  I cut bundles of them, mostly P. ‘Festiva Maxima’, after a quick but forceful rain Friday, rescuing some whose stems had broken and others which simply couldn’t hold their heads up under the weight of raindrops.

From the half a dozen peony vases scattered about on the mantel, windowsills, counters and in the foyer, I chose the vase in the hallway to share this day.

In A Vase On Monday – Dramatic Cool

Though cut several days ago it was early this morning before I could photograph the peonies, so they now have opened their hearts fully.

In A Vase On Monday – Dramatic Cool

In A Vase On Monday – Dramatic Cool

As it is wet and gray now after pre-dawn showers, the light was not strong. I didn’t like the cast of the images so I applied a preset filter that seemed to better emphasize the flowers: Dramatic Cool.

In A Vase On Monday – Dramatic Cool

Materials
Flowers
Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
Foliage
None
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Triangle Blue Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H)

In A Vase On Monday – Dramatic Cool

Thank you to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Roses

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In A Vase On Monday – Roses

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 – Roses  back view

My passalong roses began blooming this week lending a sweet, gentle fragrance to the garden.

In A Vase On Monday – Roses

Mama’s first cousin Virgie shared this and many plants with me that became the foundation of my garden life. My mother and grandmother also grew this rose, so today’s vase is a sentimental one.

In A Vase On Monday – Roses

An elegant crystal vase that once belonged to my mother’s older sister made just the right container for the family roses.

In A Vase On Monday – Roses

Materials
Flowers
Old-fashioned rose (passalong from Virgie)
Foliage
Container
Waterford crystal vase (6-inches tall, 6-inch diameter)

In A Vase On Monday – Roses

As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove

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In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove. (Sunday)

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove (Saturday)

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

With rain predicted for all day Saturday, Friday evening I gathered half-dozen peonies that had opened during the week. (Water-logged peonies look so sad.)

I left them in a couple of plastic quart-size containers on the back porch to condition before bringing them indoors. A wooden box happened to be nearby when I was ready to bring them inside so I used it to carry the two containers of flowers. I loved the way the peonies looked sitting in the wooden chest and and decided to take a few pictures before actually setting about to create an arrangement. First, I thought, might as well tuck in bits of foliage to conceal the plastic containers to make the pictures better, and then done–I just stopped here, saving my preplanned design notions for another week.

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove  -side view

Some of the foliage was freshly chosen and some was plucked from last week’s vase.

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove

Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’, Heuchera villosa ‘Big Top Bronze’, Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ and peony leaves form a soft bedding beneath the tall flowers.

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove

The arranged flowers ended up a magnificent 24 inches long by 20 inches deep and 17 inches high.

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove  -front

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove   -back

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove

When fully open the peonies are 6 inches in diameter.

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove

Peonies are an elegant flower and look at home in refined containers of porcelain, crystal or silver; here, they elevate the unassuming box into a chest of valuable treasure.

Materials
Flowers
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Coral Charm’ (Coral Charm Peony)
Foliage
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
Heuchera villosa ‘Big Top Bronze’ (Coral Bells)
Paeonia lactiflora
Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue)
Container
Wooden Box

P. ‘Coral Charm’ ages with distinguished grace. While they were beautiful on Saturday, by Sunday they had opened further and the color had mellowed. I had this post all ready to go but couldn’t resist overloading it a few more images to show their more mature state as they begin to fade to yellow.

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove

In A Vase On Monday – Coral Trove

As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Iris Spring

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In A Vase On Monday – Iris Spring

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 – Iris Spring

A neighbor was selling flower bouquets Saturday from her porch and I could not resist when the list included lupine and viburnum. I have unsuccessfully tried growing lupine seed this year. Then the flower grower didn’t bring lupine this week after all, but threw in buttercups. The viburnum heads were fairly weak even though I conditioned the stems overnight. The color is useful though and I immediately thought it would pair well with deep purple Iris ‘Crimson King’.

Iris ‘Crimson King’ and Viburnum

I filled out the arrangement with other irises of the moment, and other odds and ends.

In A Vase On Monday – Iris Spring

In A Vase On Monday – Iris Spring

Iris germanica ‘Orinoco Flow’

In A Vase On Monday – Iris Spring

Ranunculus bulbosus (Buttercup)

Iris tectorum (Japanese Roof Iris) and Iris ‘Crimson King’

Materials
Flowers
Iris ‘Crimson King’
Iris germanica ‘Orinoco Flow’
Iris germanica ‘Raspberry Blush’
Iris tectorum (Japanese Roof Iris)
Phlox divaricata (Woodland phlox)
Ranunculus bulbosus (Buttercup)
Twin Sisters / Cemetery Ladies (Narcissus x medioluteus)
Viburnum
Foliage
Heuchera villosa ‘Big Top Bronze’ (Coral Bells)
Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue)
Container
Glass Pedestal Dish

In A Vase On Monday – Iris Spring

Twin Sisters / Cemetery Ladies (Narcissus x medioluteus)

As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Iris Spring

In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

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In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

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 – Iris With Birch

Our twenty-year-old river birch was on my mind this week. We have had to call to get an estimate for trimming several branches that are wandering toward our neighbors’ roof. Reaching up from our driveway I was able to snag a few stems with male catkins to include in today’s vase.

In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

But what I had had my eye on for days was to feature a generous number of white Dutch iris. They finally opened mid-week, several dozen, and I selected fourteen stems. Fifteen would have been better.

In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

I collected cerinthe to accentuate the lavender streak in the iris and snipped candytuft  to soften the edge of the vase.

In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

Arranging flowers often takes much more materials than I first estimate. Eventually I returned outside for extra amounts of cerinthe and candytuft and ending up with hellebores as well. Now aged to a a rich lime green, when it first emerged the double hellebore was creamy white. This became one of my favorite sections of the design.

In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

I had not seen originally how strongly the color of the river birch catkins would affect the other flowers.

In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

The idea of white, lavender blue was overtaken by golden catkins.

In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

Materials
Flowers
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Iris × hollandica (Dutch Iris)
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Foliage
Betula nigra (River Birch)
Heuchera villosa ‘Big Top Bronze’ (Coral Bells)
Container
Crystal pedestal dish (floral foam in plastic 6-inch Lomey dish)

In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

In the end I was satisfied with the way this turned out.  While I was playing with flowers my husband had been patiently awaiting lunch; I really wanted to get that fifteenth iris (or more) but it was time to stop.

In A Vase On Monday – Iris With Birch

As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Cerinthe With Pink

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In A Vase On Monday – Cerinthe With Pink

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

I noticed some of the cerinthe is beginning to set seed. It’s the first time I’ve really seen it bloom so I’m not sure if cutting it will help it keep growing, but it seemed like a good choice to feature in this week’s vase.

In A Vase On Monday – Cerinthe With Pink

Small stems of redbud and spirea were used as color accents.

In A Vase On Monday – Cerinthe With Pink

A Fenton handpainted glass vase echoes the colors displayed in the cerinthe and makes the redbud pop.

In A Vase On Monday – Cerinthe With Pink

Materials
Flowers
Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Spiraea prunifolia (bridal wreath spiraea)
Foliage
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Container
Hand painted Fenton Glass Vase – USA

As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Fanciful Flight

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In A Vase On Monday – Fanciful Flight

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

This Ikebana-style design reminds me of flying or dancing.

In A Vase On Monday – Fanciful Flight

While Heuchera leaves reach out and stretch away from the vase, an arching piece of spirea  sports tiny stems playfully pointing upwards. I had intended to use the white flowers of spirea but removed them on a whim.

A young camellia bud leans forward and up; its fully open counterpart keeps the entire design gently grounded.

In A Vase On Monday – Fanciful Flight

Muscari adds texture and balances the deep coral of the camellia.

In A Vase On Monday – Fanciful Flight

Materials
Flowers
Camellia ‘Coral Delight’
Muscari ‘Armeniacum’
Foliage
Heuchera villosa ‘Big Top Bronze’ (Coral Bells)
Spirea Spiraea prunifolia (bridal wreath spiraea)
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Triangle Black Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H)

In A Vase On Monday – Fanciful Flight

As always thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for providing this opportunity to to share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tea

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In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tea

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

I gathered the first Thalia Daffodils this morning thinking they would feature in today’s vase. Stems of spirea, camellias, snowflakes and bits of foliage of different sorts, including fresh rosettes of unfurling columbine–all collected up as well.

Narcissus ‘Thalia’ (Thalia Daffodil)

Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)

But hellebores being conditioned in a drinking glass engaged my attention and inspired me to use them on their own without adornment.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tea

For a container today I had already decided to use my grandmother’s burgundy teapot so I shifted the hellebores into it.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tea

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tea

Three sprigs of Cerinthe seemed to add a nice final touch.

Helleborus x hybridus

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tea

Helleborus x hybridus

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tea

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tea

Materials
Flowers
Helleborus hybridus
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Foliage
Container
Grandma’s Teapot. McCormick Tea, Baltimore Md., Made In USA (some history of this teapot)

Many thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to try arranging flowers to share. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

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In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

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

More spring-like weather moved the garden along this week so there was a bit of choice as to what could go in this week’s vase. I gathered various flowers but settled on a large bunch of summer snowflakes to serve as background for cerinthe.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

Only two stems of cerinthe proved ready to cut but I forged ahead, styling the flowers in a very pretty blue wine glass I thought would complement the cerinthe.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

Unfortunately the distinctive blue color and etched pattern of the glass disappeared once filled with the green snowflake stems and the vase turned rather bland. The glass was a bit too tall as well, making the proportions seem off.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

I shifted to placing coral-hued camellias in little containers, thinking I could group them with the glass of cerinthe and snowflakes. The effect was still not what I had in mind.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

Eventually I settled on using just the trio of camellia flowers, two in vodka shot glasses and one floating atop a milk glass punch cup.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

I was happy with the camellias but not quite satisfied that the cerinthe didn’t make the cut. So I tried the snowflakes and cerinthe in a Caithness bud vase. The vase color worked this time but the opening was much too small to hold many stems.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

Materials
Flowers
Camellia ‘Coral Delight’
Leucojum aestivum (summer snowflake)
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Foliage
Camellia
Container
Assorted glassware; Punch cup paneled grape Milk Glass (Westmoreland); and Caithness glass bud vase

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

Regardless of vase styles or arranging collections of vases, at this time of year each flower seems perfect—all make the cut.

In A Vase On Monday – Spring Tryouts

Many thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to try arranging flowers to share. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Daffodils In Green Vase

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In A Vase On Monday – Daffodils In Green Vase

As each week begins Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Daffodils In Green Vase

The increasing hours of daylight are a gift that cannot go unremarked.  Spring is in the air. Since last Monday one small patch of Tete-a-Tete daffodils opened with conviction, dancing and swaying in the sunlight (yay, there was actual sunshine the past week). I filled the vase with a mass of the solid yellow flowers.

In A Vase On Monday – Daffodils In Green Vase

Tips of spiraea branches still in tight bud were used to lighten and lift the design.

In A Vase On Monday – Daffodils In Green Vase

Materials
Flowers
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (Tete-a-Tete Daffodil)
Foliage
Spiraea prunifolia (bridal wreath spiraea)
Container
Hand-thrown Seagrove Pottery (olive-artichoke glaze)

In A Vase On Monday – Daffodils In Green Vase

In A Vase On Monday – Daffodils In Green Vase

Many 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 garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Glimpse Of Spring

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In A Vase On Monday – Glimpse Of Spring

Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share each Monday a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Glimpse Of Spring

Cold and rain are due back Monday but Sunday brought respite—sunshine and temperatures reaching 77 degrees. Mostly weeds are blooming here, but also I spotted the first yellow of daffodil, not quite open but the sighting is reassuring.  

Around the garden hellebores at last are filling out and I included a creamy double in today’s vase. It proved to be floppy-headed but I could not be deterred.

Helleborus x hybridus

Helleborus x hybridus

The rich color of Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’ is thrilling to see. I find it very difficult to grow and after many years of introducing new corms again only a couple of plants have shown up.

I grew ‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe from seed last year. It got off to a late start and suffered through last summer’s heat. But a few plants have overwintered. I am not sure if the mottled appearance of the leaves is normal but all the plants turned out this way.  I have seen cerinthe in other’s Monday vases that is more dark purplish and green and had expected this to look similar.

‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe and Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’

Daphne odora appeared ready to bloom a few weeks ago. I found one stem with flowers that have opened but most are still holding back. The lemony fragrance is delectable.

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

Materials
Flowers
Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Foliage
‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Triangle Black Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H)

In A Vase On Monday – Glimpse Of Spring

Many 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 garden surprises she and others are offering this week.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

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Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share each Monday a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

While so many people suffered from snow, ice and lost power, we felt fortunate to have had merely another cold, rainy week and then the winter sun even reigned over the weekend. Late afternoon yesterday I gathered hellebores and placed them into one of my favorite containers, a porcelain Ikebana vase titled Rectangle Blue Zen.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

The hellebores are very late this year and most have not begun blooming. These come from a patch along the north side of our house.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

Materials
Flowers
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
Foliage
None
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Rectangle Blue Zen (6.75L x 3.75W x 2H inches)

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Zen

Many 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.

In A Vase On Monday – February Mini

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In A Vase On Monday – February Mini

Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share each Monday a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

More rain has kept the garden drenched, but the sun has sparkled here and there. Days seem longer and I feel general optimism that spring is nearby.  The hellebores and winter daphne remain timid about blooming, but even one open winter daphne flower is a fragrant treat.

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

The purple, heavy glass dish measure 3-inches in diameter and may actually be a candle holder, although I bought it several years ago for tiny flowers.

A couple of indoor cyclamen offered up one bloom each for this week’s diminutive vase. I also braved cutting one of 4 orchid stems from a gifted Christmas plant to make the purple vase pop.

In A Vase On Monday – February Mini

In A Vase On Monday – February Mini

Materials
Flowers
Cyclamen
Orchid
Foliage
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Container
Purple glass vase, 3-inch diameter

Many 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.

In A Vase On Monday – Tardy

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In A Vase On Monday – Tardy

Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share each Monday a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.

In A Vase On Monday – Tardy

As it is Tuesday there is no denying my unpunctuality so I have duly noted it in my title. The hellebores and winter daphne deserve their share of the title as well—both seem a bit late this year by at least two weeks compared to last year.

A couple of hellebores braved 2021 last week and a few more buds are visible at ground level, but I had thought there would be plenty in flower by this week’s vase time. Instead of flowers we have suffered rain (sorry Kris!).  Sunday it was pouring rivers all day long, perhaps the hellebores were glad they had stayed tucked away. I know more hellebores will be open soon so I gathered what I could.

Helleborus x hybridus

Helleborus x hybridus

Similarly Daphne odora (Winter daphne), which first flowered last year on January 6, is delayed by comparison; however, my two shrubs promise many flowers and rich fragrance in due time.

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

Materials
Flowers
Helleborus x hybridus
Foliage
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
Lavender
Container
Porcelain Ikebana vase, Georgetown Pottery, Maine. Triangle Black Wave (6.5 W x 6.5 L x 2H)

Wishing you a great week.  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.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Jar Tower

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In A Vase On Monday – Blue Jar Tower

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

The white double hippeastrum (amaryllis) and the purple orchid may look familiar. The orchid appeared in Christmastide December 21, 2020; the hippeastrum in Blue Vase January 11, 2021; and jointly they formed the basis of Odds And Ends January 18, 2021. Redundant as they may be I am grateful to have these fabulous flowers in bloom for such a long period during an otherwise drab time of the year.  

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Jar Tower

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Jar Tower

I was amused last week by how many of you commented you own, but mostly don’t (or even never) use a mortar, and you were surprised to see one used as a floral container.  Each week as I search around for something to hold Monday flowers, pretty much any vessel is fair game to use as a vase. I didn’t plan today to try to use something unexpected as a container, but coincidentally my mother’s cookie jar, which normally sits on the same counter where the hippeastrum has been growing, is the inspiration for today’s design. These past weeks I kept wondering if I could transfer the plant into the cookie jar without breaking the stalks to give it a stronger foundation and yes, it was simple.  The bulb was originally planted in a 6 by 6.5 inch ornamental pail. Luckily the pail had a removable plastic insert so I was able to lift the insert and move the contents without disrupting roots, stems or flowers. The cookie jar is two inches taller than the original container and much heavier.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Jar Tower

Neither the cookie jar’s turquoise color nor its shape worked quite as well as I had envisioned. But all in all the 2.5-foot towering arrangement carries an awesome sense of floral drama for this time of year, even if the height made it difficult to photograph. This image was taken looking down at it from the staircase in the foyer and so has foreshortening.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Jar Tower

Placed upon the buffet the vase fills the dining room.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Jar Tower

Materials
Flowers
Hippeastrum (amaryllis)
Orchid
Foliage
Lavender
Orchid
Container
Turquoise Cookie Jar, 8-inches high, 6 inches at mouth

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Jar Tower

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.

In A Vase On Monday – Odds And Ends

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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.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Vase

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In A Vase On Monday – Blue Vase

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

I previewed this hippeastrum (amaryllis) a few days ago before any flowers had fully opened. We received the pre-planted bulb a couple weeks before Christmas, a thoughtful surprise from our niece and her family. I love the color and detect a slight fragrance (almost pepperminty), which I’ve never experienced with these flowers before.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Vase

It has been fun watching the plant in action. To use as a cut flower it is recommended to cut the stem when the bud is at marshmallow stage, before the flower has opened, but generally it should be okay to harvest at a later stage. Three of my six buds are now in full bloom with the center-facing one actually starting to fade slightly.  I made the cut about an inch above the bulb and placed the stem in water for conditioning for several hours before using. Now the bulb can concentrate on nurturing the two remaining stalks.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Vase

Stately and serene, the lidded ceramic jar is one of my favorite vases for holding white flowers. It was a gift from my daughter so I send her a little smile whenever I use it.

In A Vase On Monday – Blue Vase

Materials
Flowers
Hippeastrum (amaryllis)
Foliage
Arum Italicum
Container
Dark blue matte ceramic jar (by NC potter Julie A. Hunkins, c. 2000)

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.

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

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.