In a Vase on Monday: Wanted, Dead or Alive!

Torrential rain during parts of Saturday night and an uncertainly grey Sunday seemed likely to thwart chances of continuing with the Project yesterday, and a sudden return of the rain drove me inside to find drier activities. On a whim, already having half an idea, I turned back and went to cut stems for today’s vase.

I began dismantling the Joys of Autumn vase from a fortnight ago, keeping the sedum and ammi which were both still attractive in their dried state and, having been reminded of the potential of Annabelle (Hydrangea arborescens) every time I went in and out of the back door, nipped outside again to snip some of her spent blooms before setting off to the bottom of the garden to check another hydrangea, this time H petelioris. Almost a very dark russet in colour, the flowerheads of the latter look good on the naked skeleton of the plant throughout the winter – and perhaps will do so even more since I trimmed back all the lower branches. This subtle ‘russetness’ blended perfectly with the now dark pink of the sedum and the ‘dried petal’ colour of ageing Annabelle, but the recycled ammi was rejected for this vase, being still ‘too green’. The bonus was the unexpected presence of this pink jug which I found tucked away at the back of a cupboard and had forgotten about – the perfect vessel for this trio of has-beens.

The only preparation required was the trimming of stems to a length which would see the flowers sitting a little above the rim of the jug and of course, being already dry, no water was required. I know the Golfer once possessed some 1950s Western cowboy and injun’ paperbacks, but seemingly no more, so modern day thrillers (more than likely all including dead bodies and villains wanted for murder) were used as props instead. No doubt all excellent ‘reads’, but not my choice of literature! The gloomy day was of course a problem for the camera, and the photos don’t really do this quick and simple vase justice.

So, a quick and simple vase using ‘dead’ material – one of the means by which I have been able to produce a vase every Monday for the last 52 weeks. If you would like to join in the challenge then post your vase or container of pickings from your garden or similar, with links to and from this post – and watch out for next week’s celebratory post!