With The Wedding flowers and a wild flower vase at my Mum’s it seems some time since I have put together a ‘proper’ vase so was delighted to have the opportunity again this Monday.
The tulips I showed yesterday are past their peak and were unlikely to last long in a vase, but I couldn’t resist including a single ‘Irene Parrot’ and a clutch of ‘National Velvet’, all part of Peter Nyssen’s Harlequin Mixture. Other fiery contributors were Tulip batalini 
‘Bronze Charm’, Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’, Cheiranthus allionii and a red/orange aquilegia (grown from seed), Anemone ‘Hollandia’ and foliage of Persicaria ‘Red Dragon’ and fresh bronze leaves of Epimedium. They were placed in a dull grey Prinknash Pottery jug and accompanied by a large piece of locally mined coal and a hand polished carnelian. That parrot tulip is really something, isn’t it?
What box of delights will you share be sharing with us today? Just pick from your garden or forage locally and pop it in a vase or other container and provide links to and from your blog post. See you soon!
Rambling in the Garden 
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Exotic colours and a fabulous tulip = a beautiful vase. Lovely Cathy, here’s my link: https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/may-16th-2016-in-a-vase-on-monday/
Thanks Christina – I shall have to look at more parrot ones for next year I think
Phowar! Fiery indeed. Wonderful mix, hot summery colours.
Did I mention I am going to Chelsea next week – very excited! I went about 30 years ago and since have enjoyed catching every minute on the BBC, but it will be fun to go again.
Whoohoo again! More like 40 years since the only time I went… 😉 I shall be watching it on television during much needed breaks from test marking!
Ilove the fiery colour scheme of your vase this week Cathy. That Parrot tulip is sumptuous. I have contributed my vase bright and early this week, to be honest, I cheated and did it yesterday. https://thebloominggarden.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/in-a-vase-on-mon…uds-while-ye-may/
Is doing it on Sunday cheating? If so then I am the biggest cheat of all as I always do it on Sunday these days – with swimming and Pilates on Monday morning it would otherwise be lunchtime when I posted and everyone would be champing at the bit waiting to add their links!! The parrot tulip had been open for several days and therfore past its best but it made a perfect basis for the vase
A gorgeous combination of colours here Cathy. Like Liz, I also did mine yesterday 🙂 I should be hard at work at this very minute! Here’s my link: https://acoastalplot.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-distracted/
Thank you x
Thanks Sam – increasingly people seem to be putting their vases together on a Sunday, but why not as it is a sensible option for those who are busy elsewhere than their gardens on a Monday
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That Peter Nyssen Harlequin mix looks lovely! A great vase, beautifully presented, Cathy. Especially loved that touch of epimedium foliage. I’ve actually managed to do one myself this week, and here’s my link: https://gardendreamingatchatillon.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-3/
Thanks Cathy – it’s the first time I have bought a bulb collection from PN and meant to plant it in a pot/s but forgot, so will dig these up and pot them on for next year. Any progress with comments?
No commenting available still – just a blank where the boxes ought to be!
Hopefully they will pick up on what you say in your post
The parrot tulip is amazing and suggests a great color palette for your arrangement. I love the beautiful reds throughout the vase. Red found its way into my vase today also. Thanks for hosting Cathy.
https://pbmgarden.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-cherished-red/
Thanks Susie, and where the vase is now the sun is shining through them and making them look even more fiery!
Exotic bright colors, Cathy, I would love to be able to grow parrot tulips, perhaps I should try in a pot. The red and orange Aquilegias I started were all too demure and don’t show themselves, or quietly faded away. I like all the intense Red Dragon foliage, and the black jug brings out all the bright colors.
My link today has some seasonable and unseasonable elements-
http://weedingonthewildside.blogspot.com/2016/05/perks-of-procrastination-may-16-2016.html
Thanks Hannah. The aquilegia are meant (I thought) to have bigger flowers than they seem to do, but I suppose that is the unknown thrill of growing from seed…
I love the bold colors of your vase today. A great start for the week.
Thanks Lisa – and it is cheery to look at as I write this!
What jolly colours, just lovely Cathy.
Thanks Kate. With wedding things and being away I thought I might miss most of the tulips – although the T batalini have only just come into flower
I agree that parrot tulip is gorgeous. I also have a tulip surprise this week. I can tell you had fun picking all those fiery colors Cathy. And I liked the pale peachy colors that offset the reds and oranges too. Great black jug as if fire were rising from coals.
Here is my link this week:
http://gardenseyeview.com/2016/05/16/simply-the-best-natives-dutchmans-breeches/
Thanks Donna – and ironically I had chosen the jug as a suitable size/shape before I made the connection with the ‘coal’ effect. Serendipity yet again!!
That’s a lovely vibrant vase today Cathy. I’ve gone for chalky pale pastels for a change!
https://countrygardenuk.com/2016/05/16/may-delights/
Thanks Gillian – I suspect I shall be moving into pastels soon, with all the aquilegia coming into flower!
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I just adore that parrot tulip Cathy! In fact those colours are all lovely, especially with the tangerine Geum. I have just opened an account at Peter Nyssens (I hadn’t realised they have a German website too) and put the Harlequin mix on my wish list, so thanks for telling us which collection it was. Here is my own collection for today: https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-the-can-can-girls/
Thanks Cathy – I checked back on the website before I posted to see if it listed which varieties were in there, which it did. When I ordered, I think I was dithering about what to choose but liked the look of everything in that collection so had that (plus others!!). I am pleased you are able to order from PN – I have always been very pleased with what they sell
That Harlequin mixture is wonderful, especially with your additions. So velvety. My contribution is here: http://eachlittleworld.typepad.com/each_little_world/2016/05/in-vases-on-monday-the-lusty-month-of-may.html
Thanks Linda – it was a joy to put this combination together
A beautiful wash of color, beautifully put together.
https://johnsviccellio.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-anthony-waterer/
Thanks John – it is a joy to look at
I love Parrot Tulips and the colors and contrast with the grey vase is wonderful. Here is my vase this Monday. https://theshrubqueen.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-frangipani-and-fennel-failure
Thank you for hosting, Cathy. This is such fun.
Thanks Amy, I shall certainly be ordering more parrot tulips for next year
Please do, I enjoy seeing them! I just got the Portmerion Botanic Garden Parrot Tulip plate.
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Beautiful Cathy! I think it’s actually Tuesday morning here – but this is my effort from Monday afternoon! https://blog.petalandpins.com/2016/05/17/berries-birdcages/
Thanks – and what’s a time difference between friends?!
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This arrangement may flame out quickly, but in the meantime, what a show! Here’s mine: http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/5436
Thanks rickii – hopefully I will get at least a few days of heat from it!
Well Cathy I have got something similar to join you today. I love your parrots! https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
Thanks Dorris – look forward to seeing yours too. Don’t forget to email me your address for the ferns!
Thank you so much Cathy a parcel of ferns arrived safely, contents looking very healthy. Wonderful. Such a generous gift x
You are very welcome Dorris – I did say they readily seeded around! And it’s good to share with fellow gardeners/bloggers
Well they must love it in your garden. Are you going to Chelsea flower show?
Just watching Chelsea at home – and you?
Going tomorrow. A real treat. Tv coverage is always good and without the crowds, perfect.
And for me a break from marking tests! Enjoy your day
A great combination of colours, as if created by a painter!
My vase is also with tulips, the last ones: http://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2016/05/in-vase-on-mnday-good-bye-tulips.html
Thanks Anca – I think we will all be sorry to see our tulips go… 😦
Oh that is just gorgeous! Beautiful elements that come together to create a fabulous whole. Today I’m showcasing the beauty of Peonies…
http://www.thedangergarden.com/2016/05/in-vase-on-monday-power-of-peonies.html
Thanks Loree – look forward to seeing your peonies…
Tulips in general make me sigh but parrot tulips make me green with envy. You picked a perfect set of companions for your ‘Irene’ too. While, sadly, I have no tulips to share, I do have a few exotic choices of my own this week: http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2016/05/in-vase-on-monday-more-renga-lilies.html
Thanks for hosting!
Sorry about your ‘green-ness’, Kris… 😉
Very painterly – I love it!
Thank you 🙂
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Oh, what great colours. The reds are lovely, but I love the tangerine geum. You always find interesting foliage to set your arrangements apart. (It made me go out and check whether my Red Dragon is still alive – yeay, it is).
My vase is completely naturalistic this week, picked from a meadow on the morning walk: https://frogenddweller.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-the-meadow/
Thanks – I love the way Red Dragon reappears when it feels the time is right (and disappears when it has had enough!)
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You got to my post before I had chance to add a link here – sorry for the delay but I wanted to watch the Great British Sewing Bee! It is so sad to see all the tulips going over isn’t it – we wait so long for the season and it is over so quickly! Well done for making the most of them and t is good to see the wedding flowers are still in use. It is good to have you back from your travels Cathy – enjoy the delights of your May garden!
My vase is at::http://peoniesandposies.com/2016/05/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-sweet-pea-success-a-winner/
Because there are so many comments and other vases on a Monday I try to keep on top of them and noticed you had posted so had a look there and then – I am saving GBSB for Tuesday! Thanks for your kind comments
I love parrot tulips and yours is like swirled marble – gorgeous! Love the apricot geum, too.
I’m wondering why my pingbacks aren’t working? Are you receiving them?
Here’s my vase this week in any case: http://wp.me/p3O3z4-14U
Thanks Eliza – and it stuck me how similar it was to the carnelian too, although I didn’t mention it at the time. As far as I know your pingbacks are working – I can click on your link and get to your post. Should it be doing more than that?
It doesn’t show up in your comments like others’ do, so I was wondering why and if you had to do something on your end? I’m not all that IT savvy. 😉 As I am 6 hours behind you, by the time I get to comment with my link, it is at the end of your day.
I shall look into further as I am not sure what the difference is between ‘pingbacks’ and ordinary links. It is possible that I didn’t allow pingbacks because I didn’t think they were necessary – but I take your point about the time difference
Thank you!
Stunning combination of blooms in your vase today and the black vase is the perfect container. I love the parrot tulip, it is so exotic looking. You’ll find my vase couldn’t be more of a contrast – http://silverscrappers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/in-vase-on-monday-wildflowers-and-apple.html
Thanks Elizabeth – it still surprises me how effective something so quickly put together can be!
That’s a most cheerful assembly Cathy. The markings on your Parrot tulip are rather special. I came across black as well as blue Parrots at our local garden centre this weekend. I was rather smitten by them especially the blue which of course isn’t blue but mauve. No vase from me today as I didn’t have the energy to walk round the garden and snip after a seven hour allotment stint. I was ok until I sat down. I will enjoy other folk’s vases instead 🙂
Thanks Anna – I wonder if your allotment is fit for purpose again after your 7 hour stint… I have Victoria’s Secret which is a dark purple parrot, but I suppose the single colours are not as obviously striking as these straeked ones
Hi Cathy,
Lovely vase, so colourful and almost reminiscent of late summer with its hot colours. This year I tried my first parrot tulips and I’m undecided; they’re beautiful but also… Odd. I’m not sure. But I do think I’ll have them again next year.
Nice to see totally tangerine; I lost both of mine this winter oddly enough, but not to worry I’ve already replaced them. There was no way I was going without them.
I recall you being the first blogger who mentioned TT… hope your new ones establish more quickly than mine has 😉 Are you not blogging yourself these days, Liz?
Hi, Cathy, You have so much more in bloom than we do, but I do have parrot tulips. This is my first visit (sent here by Loree’s post), and while I haven’t posted on my bouquet – having just blogged about tulips – I do have an Instagram shot of the bouquet I made before reading about your meme. Let’s see if I can share it: https://www.instagram.com/p/BFe4ylHxKtm/
Oh welcome Helen – you certainly have more extremes of weather in Canada than the UK does. It is always interesting to hear about the weather and seasonal differences on other garden blogs! I am off to look at your Instagram shot now…
Sunny spring colors are such a delight and you’ve used them artfully in your arrangement! I cheated a bit with my contribution this week: http://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2016/05/in-vase-on-monday-foliage-follow-up.html
Thanks Peter – I am sure ‘cheating’ will be stretching the truth at least a little…
The parrot tulip is fabulous – such a luscious blend of colous; it looks edible 😉 Which could also be said of the geum! Having seen so many lovely pictures of Totally Tangerine last summer and now, I would certainly have added it to my to-grow list if it grew here (it doesn’t; I checked X) Love the effect of the fiery hues with the dark pitcher…
My vase this week comes from the nooks and crannies of the garden: https://smallsunnygarden.blogspot.com/2016/05/garden-bloom-in-may.html
Ooops! Here is the vase link: https://smallsunnygarden.blogspot.com/2016/05/in-vase-interlude-in-light-and-dark.html
Thanks Amy – and isn’t it fun to find things in nooks and crannies?!
Gosh, this certainly made my blood pressure go up. Pure gorgeous, love the colours and delicate flowers. Couldn’t join in this time as I had lots to prepare for our open garden day…several vases were put in place though 😉
Thanks Annette, and even though the tulips are now over the rest is still looking pretty. I am pleased you were still able to find the time to display some vases for your special day – always makes a nice touch – and I am glad it went well