The rapid progress of a gifted
amaryllis hippeastrum had me on tenterhooks – how soon could I snip its bloom for a vase on Monday? It clearly wasn’t going to be fully open in time for today, but hopefully cutting it as it opens will give at least a complete week of bloom in the vase. This one, the ubiquitous ‘Red Lion’, was the first of my hippeastrum to get to this stage despite being the last planted, although I was excited for a few weeks by the embryonic flower stem ofย ‘Neon’, one of last year’s bulbs and the first time I had managed to keep one going for another season. Sadly, however, it suddenly gave up and shrivelled to nothingness ๐ฆ
As always, the rest of the vase came together of its own accord. A couple of hours at the weekend spent cutting dead stems and removing redundant canes drew my attention to the unpruned climbing rose ‘Parkdirektor Riggers’. Armed with thick gloves for protection from its exceedingly thorny thorns I set too and was soon rewarded by a neater rose and a large pile of brightly hipped prunings. Too good to waste, I noted how well the orange red hips would complement the hippeastrum, and the vase was born.
The vase itself is the bigger brother of the Caithness Glass one used a few weeks ago and was reminiscent, I thought, of the African plains where lions roam. As many rose stems as possible were crammed into the vase around the Red Lion, having been dipped into boiling water to prolong vase life and some of the thorns removed to make the job easier. Joining them on the plain was a small herd of elephants and a natural piece of ‘tiger’s eye’ rock, usually seen highly polished to accentuate its chatoyancy. Surely a lion as hip as this has never before roamed the great plains of Africa?
It is such a joy to seek out something to pop in a vase every Monday, and for me choosing props and an appropriate title are part of the fun. Neither props nor punchy title are obligatory though – nor a vase, nor contents even, as we have seen empty vases and material without a receptacle of any sort. Thinking ‘out of the vase’ is both welcomed and encouraged, so do consider giving it a go if you haven’t already done so – the basic challenge is to find something in your garden or foraged nearby to pop in a vase and bring inside to give you joy during the week. If you like you can leave links to and from this post so we can share in your joy and be inspired by what you have done.
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How sad the other hippeastrum gave up the ghost but this is beautiful and will change every day as it opens so is the perfect flower to enjoy in a vase. As always I love your props and thought processes for arriving at a title. Here’s the link to my vase https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/in-a-vase-on-monday-classic-blue-and-yellow-and-more-tulips/ Thanks for hosting
Thanks Christina – I think the soil in the pot might have been too damp for Luna. I have 2 others on the go, bur developing very slowly.
Your Amaryllis buds look like they are about to burst forth into splendor. The rose hips are a great accompaniment and look marvelous against the green background. The green background and vase go so nicely with the cute little elephant herd. I must confess I put my Amaryllis to bed very late, and have not woken it up again, I’ll have to rescue it from its slumbers.
My link is-
http://weedingonthewildside.blogspot.com/2016/02/enamored-with-evergreens-february-22.html
Thanks Hannah – and after the near-success of keeping the bulbs for another year I will make more of an effort and keep persevering
I was inspired to go hunting for my poor sleeping amaryllis and found it in a crate, one bulb has pale little leaves peeking out at the top. So I can hope for blooms in a few weeks.
Wow, the rosehips are the perfect colour with the hippeastrum. My vases are a remix of some of the flowers I’ve already used over the last few weeks, but I am still enjoying them.
http://absentgardener.com/2016/02/22/in-a-vase-on-monday-more-lilies-and-lovely-hydrangeas/
Thanks Cath – the colours worked together so well, didn’t they?
I love seeing your creativity Cathy…I had no hippeastrum this year so seeing your vase was wonderful. Rosehips are just the best vase material I think…I love using them all winter. And of course your props are always fun. I have never seen raw Tiger’s Eye. Quite lovely.
Here is my vase….getting down to the last dried material for winter vases….hope spring comes soon.
http://gardenseyeview.com/2016/02/22/simply-the-best-natives-solomons-seal/
Thanks Donna. This rose is probably about the hippiest one I have – don’t know why the birds haven’t bothered with it! The rough tiger’s eye is fascinating as you can see the layers so clearly but it is only when it is polished that it takes on its typical appearance
Another striking vase Cathy! Good bad about Neon not being cooperative, but Red Lion is looking lovely. The tiger’s eye is really interesting. I have a ring somewhere I will now be looking for today, but never have I seen such a large piece. Before I knew it I had two vases again this week–
https://pbmgarden.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/in-a-vase-on-monday-late-february-profferings/
Thanks for hosting Cathy! Such fun.
Thanks Susie – I shall keep trying with hippeastrum bulbs as I was so nearly there! I always like to have crystals in their natural form as well as polished, and some you wouldn’t recognise in their raw state
I have finally realized I should pay close attention to the title of your posts to get all the details of your posts. I am always impressed by the thought and attention to every aspect of your posts. I love the last view of the arrangement. Happy Monday.
Thanks Lisa – I sometimes have to consider whether a title is just a little TOO subtle.. ๐ For the last picture of the vases I try to have an overhead shot or one that shows all the different blooms as sometimes they can stay hidden are hidden from view in a photo
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I think the rosehips look wonderful with the Hippeastrum, and it will just get better when it opens up. You were lucky to find so many rosehips still intact. Love the title and props again! ๐ Here’s my contribution today. https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/in-a-vase-on-monday-bling/ Thanks Cathy!
Thanks Cathy – it has opened up only a little since I cut it which was on Saturday evening so I am still trusting that I haven’t cut it too soon… This rose is probably one of the first I ever bought and I do tend to forget about it – the birds clearly didn’t notice it either!
This one will look even more spectacular once the bloom opens, I think. Will you post a follow up picture?
Thanks Renee, and yes – I shall include it with next week’s vase
I agree with Lisa! Not only a creative bouquet each Monday, but the title and setting all add to the effect. I don’t think I’ve ever had the nerve to cut off an Amaryllis stem to put in a vase but they look so great that way. My offering is here: http://eachlittleworld.typepad.com/each_little_world/2016/02/in-a-vase-on-monday-old-friends.html
I would never have cut one of their stems before this meme, Linda – but when I first dared to I realised how much better they looked than stuck out on a limb at the top of such a tall stem
The Circle of Life with Amaryllis can be a real bummer. I brought one from my other gardens years ago and it has not bloomed yet. Still alive, though. I love rose hips and had forgotten all about them so I enjoyed seeing your vase. The lion theme is great and you are right about thinking outside the vase is part of the fun. The roses here are in full bloom now – they are few and far between.
Here is my vase this week:https://theshrubqueen.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/in-a-vase-on-monday-the-ephemeral-martini
Thanks Amy – Luna didn’t get any leaves at all tillwell after it flowered last year, so I was unsure how to tend to it. I will try harder this year!
Hmm, that is confusing. I hope someday mine will bloom, I think they are Red Lion like yours.
Thank you for the Monday morning smile, Cathy! I’d no idea that you were a Hippie. Your play on words is as much fun as your arrangement is beautiful. My offering can be found here: http://www.outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2016/02/in-vase-on-monday_22.html
Thanks Peter – I suppose I was slightly hippish as a student in the early 70s, but only slightly…! ๐
As ever your offering this morning works on so many levels…the flower and hips are bright and beautiful..your creatures great and small with their stories entrall…and I love your tiger’s eye stone. It helped me let rip with words..and found me looking up some interesting facts: http://noellemace.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/in-vase-on-monday-sticks-and-stones-and.html
Thanks Noelle – and I enjoy putting it all together. Look forward to finding out what facts you have found
I imagine that your lion will soon be roaring and reddy to go Cathy now that it has come into the warmth. Those hips have done well to last so long. Maybe a sign of just how warm this winter has been. Love the little elephants. I have a small trinket container that would match. My weekend wasn’t brilliant so putting a vase together this morning improved my spirits. Thank you ๐ Here it is :
http://www.greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/in-vase-on-monday-grumpy-old-woman.html
Thanks Anna – I had been thinking of the lion sleeping tonight until I snipped that pile of hips, but yes he will be roaring before the week is out! Sorry you had such an awful w/e ๐ฆ
I’m sure the red Hippeastrum will give you a lot of joy, Cathy. Thanks, as usual, for hosting this weekly feature with energy and enthusiasm! Here’s my post, also featuring some red this week: http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2016/02/in-vase-on-monday-keeping-things-simple.html
Thanks Kris – I am certainly looking forward to it fully flaunting itself!
“exceedingly thorny thorns”….you made me smile! And what a coincidence as my “In a Vase” post includes exceedingly thorny thorns too!
http://www.thedangergarden.com/2016/02/in-vase-on-monday-mash-up-of-multiples.html
They obviously don’t want to be handled, do they?
Your vases always make me smile Cathy. What fun you are having putting them together and what joy they bring. I should have joined in today as like Anna and her w/e I have had a horrid day and posting a vase would undoubtedly have made me feel better. Ah well, next week.
Oh Sarah, I am sorry you have had an awful day and I hope that the cause of it is at least way part way to being resolved so you can have a good night’s rest and start afresh tomorrow. Take care
Very creative and inspiring, as usual, Cathy! You are opening so many unexplored perspectives, thanks!This is my vase:http://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2016/02/in-vase-on-monday-hocus-pocus-crocus.html
Thanks Anca – and I see you have an inviting title too!
What a marvelous idea to take advantage of your rose hips. Your vase this week is lovely.
Thanks John
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Now the theme song from the old movie ‘Elephant Walk’ is running through my brain…along with visions of hippies with rose hip crowns in their hair. Here’s my spring thing; http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/5239
Sorry about the earworm rickii – although it’s not one I had heard of and I had to look it up!
A few daffs to join you this week Cathy. https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/in-a-vase-on-monday-saved I love your little elephant collection.
Thanks Dorris – and I remembered too late a teeny tiny elephant that lives inside a hollowed out seed and which could have joined the troop
Love the creativity, it gives me a lot of ideas on things to try.
Full, vibrant, pulsing life stilled at one, heartless stroke โ mere hunting trophy.
Haiku response formed
Mum’s inaugural comment
A brave step taken
Hip hip hooray ๐