The tulips in the tank shown in the recent GBBD post (those that may or may nor be Ollioulies and Van Eijk) have been beckoning all week, demanding a role in a Monday vase – or a further role in the case of the darker pink ones.
They were not permitted a solo appearance, however, as there were a number of other contenders clamouring for space and they were joined by Narcissus ‘Thalia’ and N ‘Bridal Crown’, both used in last week’s practice wedding posy, a single white hyacinth planted in the ground after a season inside and few Tulip ‘Fur Elise’ which had been languishing in a corner of the fruit cage where they had been moved once the blooms were over last year but which have now been repotted and placed in full view from the kitchen windows. On a whim I also cut the complete flowering spike of Helleborus foetidus, realising as I did so what a good base it might have made for a wedding posy – too late for that now…
The blooms were cut the day before and conditioned in water overnight before being placed in a white enamel IKEA jug. Choosing a vase has been made very much easier now we have cleared the old wardrobe in the downstairs bedroom and added shelves to enable the vases and other vase paraphernalia to be stored in one half, rather than in boxes under the bed (Anna might recognise my two Bizarre Bookshop jigsaws peeping out of the other side). The jug was photographed outside against a background of lilac felt, almost giving the impression of clouds in a soft summery sky, and accompanied by the remains of a packet of Liquorice Allsorts… all sorts in the mix.
I love the density of blooms in today’s vase, evident from the overhead shot below, and the gentleness of their colours – very easy on the eye – and yet it involved very little effort. No doubt it will bring as yet untold pleasure during the week. I hope many of you will also find pleasure in what you can cut from your garden today, or forage nearby, and share it with us by leaving links to and from this post.
Rambling in the Garden 
What a confection of a vase, Cathy and such a lovely closing shot from above. If that was my packet of liquorice allsorts there’d be none left!
Confection – that is such a good description, Kate, and all the more so with the Liquorice Allsorts! The Golfer is the sweet eater, but he picks out the coconut ones of these for me 😉
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Oh so lovely and fresh. Here’s mine: https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/vase-on-monday-primrose-day/
Thanks Sandra and yes, it does look fresh and clean doesn’t it?
A beautiful, romantic combination and scented too – what more could you wish for?! I like the background too, well chosen, Cathy. Here’s my contribution – thanks for ‘making me’ do this, it’s such fun. You know, it really sparks my creativity…hope everyone can cope with that! 😉 Happy Monday to you and all fellow bloggers 🙂 https://personaleden.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/in-a-vase-on-a-monday-a-poets-dream/
Thanks Annette. They say it takes about 8 times of doing something for it to become a habit and Monday vases are definitely a habit for me now – and lots of other bloggers! Sparking creativity is so good for the soul, is it nt?
absolutely! and that’s something we can never have too much of 🙂
What a beautiful and romantic posy, Cathy, it does have candy-like colors. How nice to get all organized, I’ve been thinking how I could do that, I do store a lot of vases on the long windowsill in my basement that is not suitable for growing plants. My link is-
http://weedingonthewildside.blogspot.com/2016/04/in-vase-on-monday-spikes-april-18-2016.html
Thanks Hannah – I didn’t think of it before but in hindsight it does look romantic. The vases were ‘sort of’ organised in boxes under the bed, but I would have to pull each box out in turn to find the right sort of vase so this will really help.
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The vase is very pretty from the side but from the top it is spectacular! My vase is also very closely packed today. Here’s my link: https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2016/04/12/april-12th-2016-the-cut-flower-beds/ Thanks for hosting as always.
Thanks Christina – the appearance of it took me by surprise when I first looked at the photo
Cathy, the colors are so gorgeous…soft pastels against the bright green. I love the look of the tulips especially. A beautiful bouquet. And perfect against the lilac. The addition of the licorice was adorable. Yummy and the perfect theme!
Here is my link….
http://gardenseyeview.com/2016/04/18/simply-the-best-natives-common-bluestar/
Aw thanks Donna – I was really pleased with the effect of the hellebore, which really was quite a chunky stem. I could do a similar thing with H argutifolius but the florets wouldn’t be as dense – must try it though
Beautiful display with tulips and daffodils as the focus. Love the effect from overhead. The felt makes a nice backdrop too. Thanks for hosting Cathy. My vase is: https://pbmgarden.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/in-a-vase-on-monday-violet-to-green/
Thanks Susie – I was really pleased with the overall effect as I had picked what was at its prime without considering this
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I also love the effect from the top which really emphasises the contrast between the green and pink and brings in the green on the bottom of the Narcissi. Here’s my vase – https://absentgardener.com/2016/04/18/in-a-vase-on-monday-salvia/
Thanks Cath – sometimes we are surprised by our own vases, as I am by this overhead view!
A sweet mix of flowers this morning. Happy Monday…
Thanks Lisa – and it gives me great pleasure to look at now, as I write
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This is such a pretty vase, Cathy. I do love tulips but I mostly have oranges and purples. I must get some pink ones too… I love the white narcissi here and the overall delicate effect with the hellebore – your overhead shot is lovely. My vase is at: https://acoastalplot.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/in-a-vase-on-monday-prima-ballerina/
Have a lovely week.
Thanks Sam – I want to add more tulips for next year so shall think carefully about the colours. So much choice!
Your mix of colors is just perfect and I love that vase. My one Ikea experience was so dreadful I never went back. I may have to reconsider. The tulips make me wish I could grow them in South Florida, lately after looking at all the spring vases I have been ending up on a tropical bulb website! Very inspiring. Here is my vase: https://theshrubqueen.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/in-a-vase-on-monday-no-pansies-here
Oh Amy – sorry to hear about your IKEA experience. You do hear such horror stories but if you pick your time carefully it can be a real treat – first thing in the morning or in the evening, and preferably during term term, are generally the better times. I have only fairly recently come to love tulips, after memories of regimented borders of red and yellow ones in the 60s and 70s – it took an informal bed of various pink and white ones to convert me and now I know just how many colours aand types there are! Hope you can find something similar 😉
Well, nobody at the IKEA could run the computer, a real dilemma. I understand your tulip conversion – my sister lived in London for a while and it was Red Emperor tulips, yellow tulips and forget me nots (I think) everywhere, I like the pastels as well.
Once again you have presented a lovely arrangement. I really do like the white vase.
https://johnsviccellio.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/in-a-vase-on-monday-keiko/
Thanks John – and I don’t think I have used the jug before so my new shelves are helping to expand my choices!
I love the colours too Cathy. They look good enough to eat. What a good idea to photograph it from the top, it is so pretty.
Great to have room for your ever expanding vase collection.
There’s now space under the bed for more…only joking!! It is only in retrospect that I realise how appropriate the sweetness of the colours are for the Allsorts link – just another of those falling-into-place moments I suppose 😉
I love white jugs with pastel bouquets in them, they are so elegant!This is mine: http://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2016/04/in-vase-on-monday-nothing-else-matters.html
Thanks Anca – and this may be the only white jug I have so I will definitely use it again 🙂
That’s a beautiful combination Cathy, and so very “springy”…there are so many things blooming right now in my garden that I had a little trouble knowing what to chose – so I kept it rather simple.
http://www.thedangergarden.com/2016/04/in-vase-on-mondayoh-riches.html
Thanks Loree – and when the garden is bountiful it can indeed be a difficult choice to make
How I’d love to have a collection of bulb blooms like that! The colors mesh perfectly. Looking at your vase, I do feel that I’m living in a different season altogether. We’re in the middle of another summer-like heat wave, brought on by our wicked Santa Ana winds. Thanks for hosting and here’s my post: http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2016/04/in-vase-on-monday-smashing-pink-blooms.html
These tulips must be in their third year in the container, with very little attention, so I am well chuffed – as I was with the vase. Much milder days here, but temperatures only in low to mid teens (C) so far – but we will get there. Don’t want to rush into summer…
Mmmmm – I’ve not had any Liquorice Allsorts for some considerable time. I like those pastel shades Cathy and the overhead shot shows them off to perfection. Now my eyesight isn’t good enough even with my specs on to hone in on those jigsaws so I’m glad that you pointed them out 🙂 I’m sure that I used to be able to click on your photos to enlarge them but it doesn’t seem to be the case at the moment. The wind toppled my vase over this afternoon so I had to do a patchwork rescue job :
http://greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/in-vase-on-monday.html
The overhead shot has certainly been a success with all the positive comments! Sorry I made you squint to try and see the jigsaws – I don’t know if WordPress has changed how you can view pictures but I know I havenn’t been able to enlarge other people’s pictures either. What a shame about the vase toppling (no wind here) – off to see your rescue job now…
https://lindylecoq.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/english-wood-hyacinth-in-a-vase-on-monday/
This is such a nice way to start the day!
Thank you – and I certainly love Mondays all the more because it is vase day!
Delicious, especially that lime green hellebore foetidus which for some strange reason is making me think of one of my favourite sweet when I was young – lime opal fruits. I’m just home (and starving) with pear blossom and daffodils so may post a vase later… Your home is like a tardis Cathy – full of surprises!
Thanks Sarah – and isn’t it odd how we can associate things from our past with completely different things in the here and now? I don’ think I have had an Opal Fruit since I was about 12 when I went to the cinema with my siblings and the only thing we could afford was 2 big bags of Opal Fruits, and having gorged on them never wanted to eat them again… 😉 Hope you managed to get something to eat and didn’t find yourself gnawing on the daffodils and pear blossom before they found their way into a vase…
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Licorice is one treat that is safe with me, but it makes a perfect prop for your gathering of luscious blooms for this week’s vase. Here’s mine: http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/5385
Thanks rickii – the Golfer is very partial to Liquorice Allsorts so I had to make sure he didn’t dispose of this before I could use it as a prop
One of my favourites that I’ve seen this season. Mine is a motley crew. https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
Thank you – and my original title was possibly going to be ‘Motley Crew’, so I am glad I changed my mind!
It is indeed a romantic bunch Cathy!
My efforts can be seen here
http a//:blog.petalandpins.com/2016/04/18/autumn-ikebana/
Thanks – and sorry to be ‘late’ getting back to you!
Definitely what one would call eye candy, Cathy! It really is a lovely mix, and the hellebore is exquisite among those tulips. Mine was a rather sweet one also today, with more sweet peas… I am so pleased that I went ahead and tried them as they are invaluable for the vases! I’m already planning for next autumn’s seed order… 😉 http://smallsunnygarden.blogspot.com/2016/04/in-vase-delicate-flowers-rich-fragrance.html
Thanks Amy – certainly a confectionary likeness! Look forward to seeing more of your sweet peas