In a Vase on Monday: By the Hedge

It could have been roses, it could have been aquilegia, it could have been sweet peas (but these were shown yesterday) … it could have been any number of things, but today I decided to showcase the pink hawthorn, which is not really as red as its name, Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’, suggests. I adore the tiny pink frou frou blooms and it is such a delight to finally have this tree flowering as it makes such a statement – you might have seen in a picture in this post. The hedgerows around our village are currently full of hawthorn in bloom – both white and varying shades of pink – unlike last year when presumably ill-timed trimming removed any likelihood of blooms. Together with cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) on the roadside verges it makes a stunning contribution to the landscape.

In keeping with the hedgerow theme I kept the vase informal and native, using both fly-by-night and introduced wild species. The dog rose (Rosa canina) is planted in the woodland edge border and is showing the first pale pink papery blooms amongst the hundreds of buds, and is joined by red campion (Silene dioica) which pops up here and there in the garden, as does the white dead nettle (Lamium album) – do you think campion will become as fashionable as ‘ragged robin’ is bound to be after featuring in many Chelsea gardens last week? Three unfurling fern fronds (all ferns were introduced in the early 2000s, mostly from named plants from Morrison’s supermarket, and clearly like it as they happily distribute their spores around the garden) were also included, but I must be winning my recent battle against ‘Jack-by-the-hedge’ (Alliaria petiolata) as I struggled to find any specimens to justify my planned title. With none in bloom, the stems with ripening seedpods indicated exactly why it does spread so prolifically!

Having collected the proposed contents in a galvanised bucket I decided this overall effect was pleasing in itself  so after conditioning the hawthorn and rose I popped everything in a smaller galvanised container that came from IKEA, via a car boot sale. The above photo was taken ‘by the hedge’, the only prop, but the photo below against the brick wall perhaps shows the contents more clearly, albeit inadvertently showing the reverse of most of the dog rose foliage.

What will you find in your garden or by the hedge or nearby that you could pick and pop in a vase to bring inside and brighten up your week? Do share what you find with us by leaving links to and from this post.