Tag Archives: stock

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide And A Practice

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide

Monday brings the chance to practice flower arranging by joining in Cathy’s weekly challenge In A Vase On Monday, where the goal is simply to fill a vase using materials gathered in one’s own garden.

Sunday morning the garden was coated in frost and the supply of flowers is dwindling quickly. Today’s offering is a simple collection of Sasanqua Camellia ‘Yuletide’ placed in a small blue ceramic vase.

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide

I remember Yuletide camellias floating in a glass dish at many Thanksgiving dinners. This camellia seems early this year. It has been flowering since October 24.

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide

In A Vase On Monday—Yuletide

I wanted to share a second practice vase today, although these flowers did not come from my garden.

Roses, Stock and Eucalyptus

Roses, Stock and Eucalyptus

On an outing with some friends earlier in the week I came across something called the Perfect Arranger.

The device is stainless steel armature with a weighted base that holds flower stems tightly in place without the need for using floral foam.  I bought two sizes of the arrangers (as well as an Ikebana holder and some clippers).

Flower Arranging Tools

Flower Arranging Tools

I was anxious to experiment with my new toys, so when I found 20 long-stemmed roses on sale this weekend for $10, I indulged myself with a rare cut-flower purchase of creamy white roses with apricot-tinged centers, purple stock and eucalyptus.

Apricot-tinged White Rose

Apricot-tinged White Rose

I inserted the larger arranger into a crystal urn and it worked great to hold the flowers snugly in place.

Perfect Arranger

Perfect Arranger

Roses, Stock and Eucalyptus

Roses, Stock and Eucalyptus

Roses, Stock and Eucalyptus - From Above

Roses, Stock and Eucalyptus – From Above

Apricot-tinged White Rose

Apricot-tinged White Rose

Stock and Eucalyptus

Stock and Eucalyptus

Stock

Stock

As always a big thank you to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for organizing and hosting. It is always fun to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday.

Garden Club Flowers In A Mug

Flowers In A Mug

Although I have already posted pictures of flowers in a vase today here is another arrangement.

My garden club meets tomorrow morning and each member has been asked to bring in a mug of flowers to set up on a table for a cheerful spring display.

With this in mind, on Sunday I purchased some purple and white stock and some white roses tinted with the barest apricot hue.

Flowers In A Mug-7

The flowers were not in pristine condition, especially the roses, but I used them anyway tonight to create a round design in a heavy, lime green soup mug.

I filled out the arrangement with stems of Japanese holly, branches of spiraea and a few sprigs of lavender.

 

Flowers In A Mug-2 Flowers In A Mug-3 Flowers In A Mug-5

In thinking about how the design turned out I would change several things. I would increase the number of roses and reduce the stems of stock. Perhaps I will like it better when the stock finishes opening.

Flowers In A Mug-6

I used the Japanese holly stems around the base of the mug to hide the florist’s foam and it seems very dark and dense. Next time I might opt for lavender or something else that is lighter.

I also cut the roses too short and should have adjusted the other material accordingly. In fact, lowering the arrangement by several inches might improve the overall proportions, but overall I am please with the balance.

The white stock is especially pretty, more fully open and fresher than the purple one.
Flowers In A Mug-8

Flowers In A Mug-9

Flowers In A Mug-10

This was a fun design to create and it is always a good learning experience to work with different materials. It will be fun to see the other members’ mugs. The spring garden table will be overflowing with flowers at tomorrow’s meeting.