Whoohoo! It’s Monday again and time to scour the garden for likely blooms, dusty shelves for vases and assorted bits and bobs for props. If you would like to join in this empowering meme, just post your vase of bits from your own garden or thereabouts and link it this post, leaving a link to yours in a comment. The pleasure of putting together a vase every week ( or even occasionally) has succeeded any expectations any of us might have had, so do have a go if you haven’t already done so.
I am conscious that not only have tulips been used again today but that the vase is on a similar colour spectrum to last week’s, but will certainly not beat myself up about it. The tulips will not be around for very much longer and the soft apricot Tulipa batalini ‘Bright Gem’ in the foreground had just burst out from the tight buds and showed how pretty they were, not really the ‘sulphur yellow, flushed orange’ described in the Peter Nyssen catalogue after all – and all the better for it. They were flowering right next to Geum ‘Tequila Sunrise’ with its apricot feathery petals and the combination sold itself immediately, supplemented with Tulipa clusiana ‘Cynthia’ from the same bed.
Supplementary blooms and foliage were easy to find – Primula veris (cowslip), leaves of Heuchera ‘Marmalade’, flowering stems of that useful Luzula and gorgeous curly red fronds of Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Prolifera’, the rosy buckler fern. I decided on the sunny spring colours of a vintage chicken jug, and added two 1920s amateur watercolours from north Australia. Trying out a new spot for the photographs in a hallway at the foot of the stairs seems to have been fairly successful as it is not in direct sunlight at this time of day, thus increasing my options for what is often the most difficult part of the challenge and contributing to an overall effect that seems to have worked quite well. I wonder what will be in my vase next week?!
Rambling in the Garden 
Wow, this is stunning Cathy and aptly titled. The colors in your arrangement, vase and surroundings all complement each other nicely. I like the variety of flower forms and textures you’ve used too. Appreciate your hosting this Monday vase idea. It’s fun to do and I love seeing what everyone has created each week. My vase is here: https://pbmgarden.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/in-a-vase-on-monday-may-night-in-april/ Susie
Thanks Susie – I was pleased how well it went together
Beautiful colours. I love the Heuchera leaves in the arrangement and how you put everything together. I must try one of these days when I have enough flowers to pick one or two.
In the belief that odd numbers are meant to make an ‘arrangement’ more balanced, this had 3 of everything, so it doesn’t take much, although even single stems are pretty. Look forward to you joining in when you are ready, Annette.
Lovely combination of colours and forms of flowers. As you say photographing the vase is often the most difficult part. Sorry ism not at home today to make a vase, I did a table decoration yesterday for my mil but had already set the poppies up to post today. Hopefully I’ll join in again next week.
Thanks Christina – hope you are enjoying your visit (must catch up with your last post). I wonder what poppies you have…
If I had tulips growing in my garden, Cathy, I’d flaunt them every week they were in flower. Tulips and peonies are among the many cooler-climate blooms I covet. Your ‘Bright Gem’ certainly deserves the attention. I have a variety of blooms this week, all jockeying for the lead position in this morning’s composition: http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2014/04/in-vase-on-monday-rose-takes-backseat.html
Thanks for getting out in the garden with scissors!
I think there will be a lot more jockeying in future weeks, won’t there Kris! ‘Bright Gem’ closed a little once the day cooled down, and is such a lovely shape as well as colour.
What gorgeous colours! I am mad on that Geum. I thought your tulips were lilies at first glance. The whole arrangement works very well.
Thanks Chloris. Now, I am happy with T clusiana whether open or shut – so elegant, and obviously very lily like. The batalini are a real surprise too, and Tequila Sunrise is a gem, isn’t she?
Gorgeous!
Beautiful, Cathy. I’ve been eyeing ‘Tequila Sunrise’ and wondering about getting one, you have convinced me, not that I need much convincing about geums. You will be shocked to know that I have actually managed to join in this week! Finally… Another vase of tulips.
I had forgotten how feathery the petals were, Janet. It was from a J Parkers catalogue 2 years ago so was not expensive and it was great even in its first year. I am of course delighetd that you have joined in and I am off to look at your tulips post haste…
A most subtle and harmonious meeting of flowers and foliage Cathy. I most curious to know what a chicken jug is. Another shock – hope you can take it – I’ve joined in to this week :
http://greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/in-vase-on-moday-down-lane.html
I do enjoy your unique phrasing of comments, Anna, and chicken jug…? Duh – a jug with a chicken on…. (but perhaps you were just teasing – I should have said it was part of a chicken tea service!). Lots of people springing surprises onto me this week, so I am getting used to it and am delighted to have you taking part 🙂
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I love it Cathy!! The background works perfectly with the spring feel of this vase and all your colours compliment each other so well.Like Chloris I thought you had lilies at first glance. Please don’t apologise for using tulips – we need to make the most of them whilst we can. Also you are very lucky to have that geum – mine haven’t flowered yet.
You can find my contribution this week at http://peoniesandposies.com/2014/04/28/in-a-vase-on-monday-queen-annes-lace/. Still very springlike but a complete contrast to your vase this week.
The Geum Totally Tangerine I bought last week is in flower, but these Tequila Sunrise flowers were the only others that were out, although there are several in bud on Mrs Bradshaw. It’s exciting seeing what each of us comes up with every week, isn’t it? Probably not tulips next week though… 😉
Really pretty setting and the flowers too of course. I’m new here but do post arrangements I make and will definitely link up next time. Thanks for a great meme!
Oh thanks Mel – for popping in, and your desire to join in the meme. It has proved to be a good challenge for us 😉
What wonderful, warm colours – a beautiful way to set off the poppies! They look so different when fully open in a vase like that. I also like the geum, but I’m interested in the rosy fern too – most unusual! So now two more plants to add to my wish list!
No poppies, Ali – not sure which flowers you meant… ? The colour of the opening fronds is what gives the fern its name, as they are fully green when open – very apt
Oops! I meant to say tulips! Can’t believe I said that – so sorry!
How beautiful and the effect is rather painterly I should think. Lovely wallpaper and it goes so well with your bouquet that I wonder whether you’ve decorated the walls just for the occasion but although you’re always full of energy and innovative ideas you probably wouldn’t go that far…would you? 😉 Have a great week, Cathy!
Tee hee – but how about a sample book of wallpapers so you could have a different background each week…?! Only joking – when I decorated this part of the house perhaps 15 years or so ago I really struggled to find wallpaper that I liked, as I was looking for tiny prints (think 70s Laura Ashley) – but this was perfect for here which is why it is still there!
A most beautiful display – I love your vintage vase. Hoping to put something together for next week and join in!
Thanks for visiting, Helen, and your kind comments – I look forward to your own vase sometime soon 🙂
Those colours are gorgeous – the Heuchera leaf sets the tulips off perfectly, and the cowslips add zing! A good idea to bring some of the last tulips indoors to enjoy. I was a bit late this week, but put a vase on my Tuesday post: http://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/tuesday-view-29th-april-a-vase-and-some-bits-and-bobs/
Thanks Cathy!
And I am late in replying! I was really pleased with the effect of the heuchera but the cowslips haven’t lasted long which surprises me as when I have used primroses they have lasted nearly a week.