These self-seeded nasturtiums appeared out of nowhere a number of weeks ago and have been flowering their little nasturtium socks off since, their cheeriness (almost) making up for the fact that they are sprawling across the path and not behaving themselves in the border. They are certainly brighter than anything else in the garden so deserve to be featured in today’s vase on Monday – anything except the orange peppers I mentioned yesterday which have joined them in the vase, along with an intact sprig of Golden Hornet crab apples before they all end up on Rotten Row. The vase is a simple Royal Doulton jug (car boot find) with an orange stripe on the handle and a thin orange line around the rim.
Given advance notification of my intentions for the vase I could have cooked up a jar or two of St Clement’s curd (made with oranges and lemons) to support the theme but, as it invariably is, it was an off-the-cuff vase – and anything other than lemon curd would be an inferior substitute anyway, this being my Number One for taste and ‘mouthfeel’…mmm, I am salivating just thinking about it! Alternative props were in the form of tiny board books 
from two different sets, one featuring numbers and colours and the other letters of the alphabet, with a handbell to add completeness to the St Clement’s theme*. The bell was in the house when we came and most probably came from the Victorian school which gave our lane its name and which has been a private residence since it closed.
As always it has given me so much pleasure choosing what to put in a vase for today – and just as much joy looking at the completed vase as I write this post. Even the Golfer, a stalwart refusenik where ‘cut flowers’ are concerned, has begun to appreciate and comment on these weekly vases – now that’s progress! What can you find in your garden or forage in the wild to bring into your house or and pop in a vase for your pleasure this week? Do share it with us by leaving links to and from this post.
*Don’t get it…? ‘Oranges and lemons say the bells of St Clement’s, etc…’
Rambling in the Garden 
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Love the mix of peppers (great colour) and nasturtiums. I too have some nasturtiums that only started to flower a couple of weeks ago – makes you wonder why they have been sitting there all this time and only now ……
Here’s my ‘vase’: https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/vase-on-monday-eastern-promise/
Yes, it’s odd, because they have been through periods of dampness and warmth – perhaps they need a bit of darkness or cover to germinate and earlier in the year the seeds may have just lain on bare soil…
I guess that must be it.
A very scrumptious vase full!
Thanks Jackie
The peppers look so shiny and succulent, I like the left one that makes a heart shape at the top. They look so vibrant with the billowy Nasturtiums, and I like their red bee guides. The cup is rather billowy too, and the lemon and orange cards fit nicely with the color scheme and crab apples. I liked your grandma family resemblances you did formerly and presented one too-
http://weedingonthewildside.blogspot.com/2015/10/welcome-to-my-blog-today-i-am-linking.html
Thanks Hannah – I was pleased with how well they went together. The peppers helped by sitting nicely on the rim of the jug!
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A lovely, sunshine-y vase Cathy. I do love cheery Nasturtiums. I have had a go at a vase myself for the first time! It’s very ‘beginner-ish’ but it is at:
https://acoastalplot.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/in-a-vase-on-a-monday-my-first-attempt/
The peppers are a gorgeous colour Cathy, are they very hot? No vase from me today as we are inundated with gifts of flowers which are, of course, shop bought from the many visitors that are visiting my MIL. I’m keeping my hand in with arranging these but it is interesting that I now actually prefer flowers from the garden to shop bought ones!
Not hot at all Christina – they were grown from seedlings given to me by one of The Golfer’s playing partners. She usually collects seed from peppers and tomatoes she has bought and enjoyed (and then saves seed from the ones she grow, I expect). These and the long red ones have always done well for me in the greenhouse – without any special attention. I know what you mean about shop bought blooms – I was given some chrysanths nearly 3 weeks ago and they are still blooming in their vase, but still looking ‘unnatural’!
A bright vase Cathy, have you polished the peppers, they are so shiny. The Nasturtiums are just coming into there own in the garden here.
I have had some help today creating my Vase at: http://ourgarden19.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/purple-patch.html
Thanks Brian – these little peppers are great and so easy to grow. Look forward to seeing your ‘purple patch’…
You are so artistic. This is a beauty. Your meme has given Monday a good connotation. Happy Day
Oh thank you Lisa – the meme is certainly bringing a lot of pleasure, both to contributors and readers
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Hi Cathy, a lovely glowing vase this week.
You’ll see I’ve got orange today too, but then I’ve also got practically everything else…
https://duverdiary.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/in-a-vase-on-monday-when-two-worlds-collide/
Thanks Jen – and the mind boggles over what is in your vase…
A great theme again, and I am ‘singing’ your praises over on my blog. Oranges and Lemons….
Mine is still very pink….http://noellemace.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/in-vase-on-monday-time-stands-still.html
Oh thanks Noelle – look forward to seeing your ‘timely’ pinks…
Thanks for your questions about sizes…I am learning so much from joining this meme..and I see how props are useful. As the blooms start to dwindle, I shall maybe have to focus more!
Please be assured it wasn’t a criticism, Noelle – I was just puzzled 🙂
Lovely bright vase, and very clever accessories. I remember once playing handbells a bit like yours when I used to go along to the local church for bellringing. I think we were having a break from the large bells.
Thanks Annette – and how exciting doing bellringing! You don’t do it any more then?
No – I don’t think there are many churches near here with real bells that you can ring. I often think about it though and wonder if I could still do it. It is catastrophic if you don’t catch the sally (the furry bit of the rope!) I wish I had kept it up though as it is very interesting all the different ways the bells can be rung.
Our tiny village church has a single bell which I had the opportunity to ring at midnight at the Millenium – couldn’t quite get the hang of it though, or perhaps it was too heavy for me 😦 Our nearby town church still has a set of bells which are rung regularly – always nice to hear
Oh nasturtiums are usually most naughty in their habits but they are still rather nice Cathy. They make a most sunny combination with the peppers. Your old school bell reminds me of long ago days when I was a bell monitor. If only yours could talk it would have some tales to tell. I was hoping to get back into creating a vase today, but was called away suddenly last week to look after a poorly Mum and I’m still away from home. Hopefully I shall be able to participate next week.
The bell monitor!! I never got to be monitor for anything 😦 So sorry your Mum has not been well – hope she is feeling more herself soon. Don’t forget to wave when you pass through by on the train on your way back!
I love the rambling habit of nasturtiums and of course their bright vivid colours too – a very cheery vase! Here is my link – https://annieedwardsphotography.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/in-a-vase-on-monday-snowberry/
I grew some softer colours from seed this year but they suffered from lack of rain. These self-seeded ones are clearly made of sterner stuff!
A bright gorgeous vase, Cathy!
Here is my link:http://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2015/10/in-more-vases-on-monday.html
Thanks Anca
Loving those oranges Cathy. This little jugs really sings of zest and playfulness. I’m sorry but I couldn’t make a decision today so I’ve included all my vases. Here is my link:
https://homeslip.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/in-a-vase-on-Monday-merry-and-bright/
Zest and playfulness – I think I agree with you!
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How bright and cheerful! And you always come up with ingenious props too! 🙂 I love the sound of your lemon and orange curd Cathy… I am going to attempt my own marmalade this winter.
Here’s my vase for today: https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/in-a-vase-on-monday-fancy-a-cuppa/
Thanks for hosting again!
Thanks Cathy – I enjoy the added challenge of the props and I like to read the reasons behind other people’s too. Do have a go at making your own preserves – have to confess I don’t always get the peel softened properly when I make marmalade…
A wonderful bit of beautiful to begin the new week…Love the joyful colors.
Thanks Charlie – they are bright, aren’t they?
Your storehouse of props never ceases to amaze me, Cathy. I love the bright, cheerful colors of this week’s vase too. I just planted nasturtium seeds in my front garden, where everything else is taking a time-out, so I hope to have some cheerful flowers of my own soon.
My vase is what may be the last hurrah for the pink Eustoma this year. I admit I’m getting tired of the flowers myself, pretty as they are. http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2015/10/in-vase-on-monday-last-of-eustoma-maybe.html
Thanks Kris – and there is probably a lifetime’s supply of Monday props here, in some form or another 😉 But tired of eustoma – surely not?!
What a sweet little vase – I love the orange peppers! 🙂
Here’s my post this week, might be my last as we got clobbered with frost this weekend. http://wp.me/p3O3z4-Pn Many thanks for hosting, it is great fun to see what everyone has put up each week.
Thanks Eliza – sorry to hear you have had frosts. Perhaps you will be able to find some foliage or twigs if the frost has taken your blooms…
I’ll see what I can come up with, definitely not the abundance there was before. Dormancy is upon us!
So soon… 😦
Love it, very cheerfully seasonal and grey sky defying.
Yes, you put it perfectly! I agree!
Thanks Janet – and it makes me feel cheerful looking at it too 🙂
The orange peppers are a stroke of genius. Beautiful.
Also….forgot to add my link for this week: https://johnsviccellio.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/in-a-vase-on-monday-first-camellia/
Thanks John – they were just the right colour and begged to be included 🙂
Hi Cathy. I’ll echo praise for the peppers–great feature. And I love nasturtiums, a perfect pairing with the peppers. The little board books bring back memories, so cute.
My not-quite-a-vase is https://pbmgarden.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/in-a-vase-on-monday-a-starter-kit/
Thanks Susie – the peppers were such a spur of the moment addition but I am so pleased I included them, and the crab apples too
What a lovely pumpkiny vase, and everything edible as well! I love nasturtiums and don’t mind that they become quite rampant at times. My ‘Aunt in Law’ uses the Bishop’s Crown chiles we gave her in flower arrangements – they are very pretty and she doesn’t use many in cooking. My vase this week is at http://absentgardener.com/2015/10/20/in-a-vase-on-monday-ixias-and-iris/ .
Oh I didn’t make that connection, Cath – the nasturtiums are edible! Well spotted – I could have gone down a different theme altogether if I had cottoned on to that when I first put the vase together! I am not sure what a Bishop’s Crown chilli looks like but I can imagine it
Well we always call them ‘Little Hats’ – and some people call them ‘bells’, if that helps your imagination. 🙂
Lovely, you have made me want to go out and get my own orange vase together. The clouds just glow. My nasturtiums have been blooming non- stop
For weeks now. Sorry, my thumb is too big and keeps sending when I am have not finished.
When I was little I thought nasturtiums were called ‘Nasty Urchins’ and that is how I always think of them now. Your Nasty Urchins are very pretty.
Love those Nasty Urchins!
PS. Clouds? Predictive writing drives me nuts. I meant colours!
Oh I have had a good giggle at your clouds and thumbs and nasty urchins Chloris!! Thank you 🙂
I am stopping by late as we just got back in town from a family event…we were delayed a day with weather but it was worth it. I adore this vase as the peppery tasting nasturtiums are perfect with the peppers….I have some nasturtiums coming up again that must have self-seeded….amazing flower.
Here is my link:
http://gardenseyeview.com/2015/10/19/simply-the-best-natives-rudbeckia-hirta/
I do have the occasional nibble on a nasturtium leaf to remind myself that they are edible, but that’s as far as it goes… Glad your family event wasn’t spoilt by the weather and the delay.
It’s wonderful how you’ve created your oranges and lemons look with nasturtiums and peppers, Cathy! Nasturtiums are probably on the list for winter/spring here as there is really nothing else with quite their happy charm 🙂
I went with cool colours this week, and circumstances combined to delay my post, but it is up at last (love what my post title becomes here – favourite and few, ha!): http://smallsunnygarden.blogspot.com/2015/10/monday-vase-favourite-and-few.html
Thanks Amy – definitely a happy charm about nasturtiums!
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I like all of the orange, and the peppers are a perfect accent! I love the song, too–used to sing it in the car to my children when they were small–perhaps one of very few US citizens who knew all the words! And St. Clemens curd sounds delicious!
I’m putting it up quite late, but my post this week includes several vases I assembled last Saturday, just before our first freeze of the season: https://cosmosandcleome.wordpress.com/2015/10/22/rescue-vases/
Thanks Kimberley – and in this day and age it’s amazing that these old rhymes still persist, although I wonder for how much longer… Don’t worry about being ‘late’ – it’s lovely that you still think about posting beyond Monday 🙂
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