Here we are again on a Monday morning, getting the week of to a good start by picking bits and bobs growing in the garden, bringing them into the house and popping them in a vase to enjoy during the week. If you would like to do the same (and it has proved such an enjoyable and inspiring challenge) then include a link to this post in yours and a comment on this post with a link back to yours – or just pick something anyway for your own pleasure. We are not in the least bit competitive and most of us are essentially ‘plonkers’ at heart, so fancy arrangements are definitely not a prerequisite. Do join us!
I knew I intended to put Annabelle (Hydrangea arborescens) to work today, and spotting a couple of solid green seedheads on what I think is Campanula glomerata a green theme 
was quickly deemed to be the order of the day, although the potential pickings varied from the initial inception of the idea. I don’t think Tovara virginiana ‘Painters Palette’ (now reclassified as a pericaria, I believe) has been featured on this blog before, but perhaps it should have been with its intriguing blotchy leaves, but it has made its debut today, along with Echinops sphaerocephalus ‘Arctic Glow’, now more green than white. A sprig of unripe currant tomatoes and seed pods of everlasting pea Lathyrus latifolius were included too, with an unripe spike of Arum italicum ‘Marmoratum’ cut at the last minute from just outside the back door. Orlaya seedheads and (again) those of Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ failed to make the final cut, although I was interested to note the latter being used in some upmarket bouquets over the weekend.
Finding a vase of an appropriate size with an opening sufficient to take the contents took a little thought and erring on the side of caution and used what I think must have been a drinking glass, inserting some florist foam cut to size, the first time I have used the latter since the very early vases. With the dark green curtains of the rear sitting room as a backdrop there was enough light for reasonable photographs as the sun was still shining, although not for much longer. Props? Apples? Too big. Beans? Too stringy. Courgettes? None. Mini peppers? Perfect!
So there is today’s vase, and once I have found a new home for the sunflower that opened in last week’s effort I can enjoy both for most of the week. What could you find to put in a vase on Monday and enjoy for the most of your week?
Rambling in the Garden 
Cathy what a fun imaginative vase…using veg garden bits and bobs with flowers. I love it. Very creative as usual which then fires my imagination.
I had a bit of fun making 2 vases using a different theme this time.
The tomatoes looked too pretty to ignore – like strings of big green pearls (in fact I think I should add that comparison to the post!). Can’t imagine what stuck foot flowers are…
Nice! I love a green theme and will have to copy that some day. I think gardeners don’t always think of green and brown as colors even though they make up most of the show.
When the meme was first started I often used just foliage or seedheads as it was late autumn, but it’s good to include them alongside summer flowers too.
I managed to do my own vase, just forgot to post the link. Here it is, sunflowers this week 🙂
http://katob427.wordpress.com
Look forward to seeing those sunflowers!
After reading your post, I think I should have tucked some of my purple pole beans into my vase – too late, the photos were done.
Thanks for hosting, Cathy! Here’s what I managed to cobble together this week: http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2014/08/in-vase-on-monday-floral-accents.html
Those beans sound as if they could have been an asset – still, there will be other weeks! Look forward to seeing your floral accents 🙂
Oh I do like that trailing tomato stem Cathy – I wonder how long the fruits will remain green for now that they are indoors. You have got me thinking of along the lines of a veggie vase, though sadly most of mine are now either eaten or looking somewhat bedraggled. Maybe next year 🙂 Don’t faint but a vase from me this week :
http://www.greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/in-vase-on-monday-accidents-will-happen.html
Hmm, there seems to be a connection between accidents and Monday vases, Anna….! I managed to rescue some not-quite-as-bedraggled-as-most perpetual spinach for a meal tonight – not easy though!
Fun vase Cathy, I like the idea of using green seedheads. Annabelle is of course delightful. Here’s my effort, its large to make up for not participating last week. http://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/in-a-vase-on-monday-a-basket-full-of-joy/
Thanks Christina – and no doubt you are full of joy at being back in your garden again too, I guess.
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I’m joining in here for the first time today. The tomatoes trailing out of your arrangement are a nice touch, along with those peppers! I used a fair amount of green goldenrod buds as filler in my arrangement which features Cosmos in an antique china pot. http://cosmosandcleome.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/in-a-vase-monday-august-18-2014/ Thanks for giving us this opportunity, and a little nudge to bring some beauty indoors!
Thanks for joining Kimberley – and presenting it as a meme for other people to join in if they wished was exactly the nudge I needed too! Look forward to seeing your vase.
Fabulous, Cathy! It’s very serene and calm, maybe a sign of autumn which has been lingering in the air for quite some time. I’m still enjoying Imelda’s bouquet…the foliage of Persicaria is striking, isn’t it? Happy Monday 🙂
Thanks Annette – and yes, there are definitely autumnal signs around as I swept up quite a few leaves over the w/e….
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This is so very artistic and avant guard and it should be made into a contemporary painting. I had my children do most of the work for me this week. They always surprise me with their creativity!
Oh thank you – and I now feel challenged to try and produce a painting which is not a skill I have much of…!!! I am really intrigued to see what your children came up with today – what a great idea!
What a great idea to add vegetables to the vase Cathy! A green theme suits me fine, as distraction from the fact that autumn colours will soon be the thing. Love the hydrangea too. Here’s my vase – also mainly green this week. Thanks Cathy!
The tomatoes just seemed an opportune addition and the peppers definitely worked as a prop – but it’s also a reminder that the vases could contain anything from the garden I suppose.
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I love your echinops and your spotty leaves – how stunning they are. As usual you found just the right accessories too. Don’t fall over but I have my vase done on the right day this week – I enjoyed making it so much so thank you again for hosting.
I have eyed up the echinops before but it has never been the right vase for it or its blue cousins. The tovara/persicaria tends to get overlooked as it doesn’t do a look and hasn’t spread at all (which could be a good thing in the persicara stakes!). I am glad you find making your vase as enjoyable as we do – I get quite excited when Monday morning comes round again!
Hi Cathy, you do have a way with your greens. Gives me hope that I’ll be able to keep filling my vases when summer has ended and all the flowers have gone over. I don’t grow vegetables, but after seeing your trailing tomatoes, maybe I should. However, I do grow herbs and I have included some mint this week together with a mystery or two, here’s my link: http://silverscrappers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/in-vase-on-monday-berthas-blows.html
I started the meme last November, Elizabeth, and found something to include every week – it really makes you look at the garden in a different way, and hence the tomatoes I suppose.
This is a very imaginative and fun bouquet. You had to think outside the, er, vase for this one and it has me thinking that way too, even though the garden is overflowing with the traditional stuff. Next week, I promise.
Oh thanks Ricki – and no pressure for a vase. I suspect you might be worried that you will be hooked… you will be! 🙂
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Hi! I found you through Closmos and Cleome’s website! This looks like so much fun, and I will give you a post I did last week, since I have been out of town the past few days. Next week I will try to do better, but this simple jug of zinnias, gives you an idea of what I like. Very simple. I live in garden zone 10, so will attempt a tropical feeling bouquet next week! Everyone’s bouquets here are so sweet and beautiful. So here is a post for you: http://asucculentlife.blogspot.com/2014/08/new-zinnia-plants-and-seeds.html
Hi Julie and welcome! It really has been a good challenge for us, encouraging us in a way that individually we may have struggled with.
I like your green approach today Cathy and using the tomato vine is inspired. The arum is a good idea too and I love your Annabelle. I finally pressed the button to post my contribution just before midnight. Long day but wanted to join in this week. http://pbmgarden.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/in-a-vase-on-monday-august-mingle/
It does become a challenge doesn’t it?! These tiny tomatoes look beautiful even before they ripen, so I thought “why not?”
I like your veggie theme this week, how original using tomatoes and beans and why not? I expect with autumn coming on we are going to see more fruits used and maybe veg too.
You have come up with a popular meme, people are really enjoying it.
Thanks Chloris – and it has done the trick of ensuring I fill a vase every week myself!! 🙂
Lovely textural choices there Cathy. And still with our old favourite, Annabelle! Doesn’t she do well? I’m not surprised Crocosmia “Lucifer” has been used in displays. They have the most interesting appearance through all stages, right up to its seed heads. I must look closely again, at elements other than flowers, for future selections, especially as summer now is starting to fade, and blooms will be harder to come by. Ingenuity will be required, methinks!
That’s all part of the charm of the meme 😉
I like the green theme, it’s autumnal without being obvious.
Confined indoors by the weather, I was contemplating using one of my cauliflowers, but dithered in case you thought it might be a taunt too far. However, she who hesitates….., by the time I’d made up my mind it had been prepared for supper!
Taunt? So that’s what it’s come to…? ps cauliflowers welcome in a vase any time 😉