It feels a bit like the ‘morning after the night before’ (or what I imagine that might feel like…!) as I write this on Sunday evening, with the dishwasher full of empty mugs, cake stands sticky and covered in crumbs and the detritus of the day’s garden opening in various stages of dismantlement. But at least we have raised over £260 for my charity, a good result from the minimal publicity I chose to give it, limited to groups I am involved with – and I can recycle all the little posies that decorated the tables to make Monday’s ‘vase’!
Fitting the picking and plonking of blooms into the morning amidst all the other last minute tasks ensured no great thought went into choosing and preparing, but that made the simple task all the more pleasurable as it only required a few snip-snip-snips and a large bunch of sweet peas and a handful of Sweet William were ready to be divided and plonked into two small pots for inside and five little crocus vases for outside. A sprig or two of Astrantia ‘Buckland’ and a few pieces of shiny green sarcococca foliage were also included for added structure. The little vases were given two sweet peas and one Sweet William each – so simple, but a pretty addition for any table or shelf or windowsill which is where these will be distributed now their job is over. The two slightly larger pots will take the usual Monday vase location in the kitchen where I can enjoy their fragrance for several days – and not surprisingly the sweet peas were a real hit with visitors too.
Excuse me while I now go and put my feet up and look forward to all your Monday vases in due course…
Rambling in the Garden 
Pingback: In a Vase on Monday – Intense – Creating my own garden of the Hesperides
Well done for your charity; I’m sure all the visitors had a lovely time and saw how a few flowers can make a table really special. Sweet peas are only of my favourite flowers so I can almost imagine the perfume you are enjoying. Here’s my link: https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/in-a-vase-on-monday-intense/
Thanks Christina – yesterday’s posies were a bit of a cop out but I certainly wouldn’t have had time for a new one for today ☺ The sweet peas in the greenhouse, being a more enclosed space, emit a wonderful fragrance as I pass. They have been so worth it – but the tomatoes could do with a bit more space now!
Hurrah for the sweet peas Cathy! Yours look simply delightful with the astrantia. I hope you enjoy both your vases and the chance to put your feet up. And very well done indeed with the amount you managed to raise for your charity.
My Monday vase is here, with apologies to those whose vases I never visited last week. https://gardendreamingatchatillon.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/in-a-vase-on-monday-8/
Thanks Cathy even though they were the pickiest & plonkiest vases I have shown for a long time on a Monday! Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we do have lives outside blogging and I am sure that all our blogging friends realise this and will forgive us for paucity of comments sometimes – hope so anyway!
Oh yes – lives outside blogging! Your picky plonkies are always lovely, Cathy! And I particularly like the way your vases vary so much. Sometimes I feel mine are all the same.
Thanks Cathy – perhaps it isn’t as easy to admire our own…? Do try…
Congratulations! I’m sure it was a wonderful day – wish I was closer. Beautiful vase of summer.
Thanks, Sandra – if I hadn’t been preparing for opening I would have added cosmos as well, another flower of the summer
Oh Cathy, you must have such a wonderful of satisfaction!
I take my hat off to you. That is quite an undertaking – not least because of the adrenalin rising before the event. So glad they were appreciative of your efforts.
My vase is more modest and I do not have the lathyrus to sweeten my bouquet.
joanna
Please insert “feeling of ” satisfaction
Sorry.
Thanks Joanna, it was a relatively low-key opening, but I feel braver about a bigger opening now! Seems strange not to have all those little tweaking jobs to do now!
Great colours! http://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2016/06/in-vase-on-monday-summer.html
Thanks Anca – you can’t lose with sweet peas!
Congratulations, Cathy. Your guests must have been thrilled with the garden complete with such welcoming touches of hospitality.
Thanks Kate – I will write a little more about it in a day or two and look forward to hearing about yours, although of course you are dab hands at opening yours on a far grander scale!
I am looking forward to hearing more about it! It’s still only our fourth year, so we still feel excited in the run up to it and then learn a bit more every time we do it. Golden rule being ‘never run out of cake’.
That’s good advice – and I had cake left to put back in the freezer so have started well in that respect!!
Oh, you already sound like a ‘dab hand’!
Just like baking cakes really … 🙂
Well done indeed, Cathy, I’m so pleased all went well and I bet people were delighted to be able to enjoy your garden rather exclusively. Wish I could have been there! I understand how you feel as I was also flat out ‘the day after’. So much work goes into it but isn’t it a joy when it all turns out well AND you can give money to charity. Enjoy your well deserved rest, my dear 🙂
Thanks Annette, such kind words 🙂
PS: My own vase: https://personaleden.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/in-a-vase-on-a-monday-in-love-with-clems/ In a hurry as always! 😉
Pingback: In a Vase on Monday: Midsummer Delights | Words and Herbs
Congratulations on your open house. Oh these are lovely Cathy gathered back up and displayed for your Monday vase–a perfect reuse as it gives us a chance to be part of your open house. I love the charming Sweet Williams and the sweet peas are beautiful colors. My contribution today is https://pbmgarden.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/in-a-vase-on-monday-sweet-pea-reduction/
Thanks Susie, and these Sweet William which were sown in autumn 2014 are flowering even better this year
Very pretty and sweet-smelling too. Glad it was such a successful day for you. You deserve a day off I should think! Here is my vase for this week. Thank you Cathy! https://wordsandherbs.com/2016/06/27/in-a-vase-on-monday-midsummer-delights/
Thank you Cathy – Monday is always a busy-ish day for me (and not just responding to vase comments) but at least I am not out in the garden tweaking or inside making cakes!
Pingback: In a vase on Monday – and now one for a lady | Duver Diary
Well done you – definitely time to put your feet up!
Here’s mine this week, and I too am still loving my greenhouse sweet peas – and have now put the tomatoes in around them as I couldn’t bear to pull them out!
Thnaks Jen – I have potted my tomatoes on into their final pots but I usually sink them into the greenhouse bed to allow them more height clearance so that will have to wait. At least next year I won’t have my red/white/blue wedding ones as well as the original ones I was growing – still might grow them in big pots though, which would help in picking as some are right up against the glass
Well done Cathy…Like you I feel that a Garden Party is just the right occasion for gathering like minded friends together to come and share the garden, and with cake and tea, and a contribution to a charity, as good as any party. Ah Sweet Peas..so very pretty. Roses are blooming here as can be seen in my post this week: http://noellemace.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/in-vase-on-monday-roses.html
Thanks Noelle – and it was indeed good to have space for groups of people to sit together and chat over the tea and cakes too. Definitely an asset
What an exuberant vase. It tells the tale of the good time had by all in your garden.
Thanks Lisa – and it was a joy to have enough blooms to quickly gather together a bundle of them like this
Congratulations for your charity success! Sweet Peas are a favourite of mine, too. Do you know the name of your dark purple ones? Here is my contribution, also featuring Sweet Peas https://sweetpeasandsavory.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/in-a-vase-on-monday-deep-red-and-bright-blue/
Thanks – and yes, the sweet peas were all Winter Sunshine varieties from Owl’s Acre Seeds. The dark purple one is actually called ‘Navy’!
Lovely reuse vase, very sustainable?! I love the little purple vases as well. Love the colors and you always make me wish I could grow Sweet Peas here. Interestingly enough, a Dianthus has been developed here for use as a summer annual. Most all annuals perish in the summer heat. Here is my vase, I am guessing I have the largest prop ever used? https://theshrubqueen.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/in-a-vase-on-monday-brown-greyhounds
Thanks Amy. I can imagine how desirable annuals that can withstand the heat must be for those of you in your part of the world…
Somehow I just couldn’t buy Dianthus for South Florida. Hopefully someone else did.
Wonderful news about the charity and that it went well….I adore the little vases with the perfect flowers, some of my favorites that I should remember to use as well in some vases…and how splendid they all look together there on the table. I have been eyeing some perennial sweet peas to cut. They are lovely but do not have a fragrance. My annual fragrant ones are still slowly growing and I hope they do produce something this year.
Here’s my link this week:
Thanks Donna – and it was so good to have people here to share the pleasure I get from the garden. These little crocus vases are so useful – I tend to always have one on the kitchen window sill for trimmings and things that have lasted longer than a week in a Monday vase. And great for tiny posies too
Well Cathy I have made my vase multi task this week. Not enough hours in the week loast week. Hot colours but no lovely smelling sweet peas like your entry. https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
Never enough hours in the week!!
So true, especially when you had your garden open!
What a lovely garden event, and such a blessing to your charity as well. Your posies are so colorful, and the pretty sweet peas must smell wonderful. I was inspired by IAVOM to grow some this year, and while I enjoy sniffing them in the garden, I can’t bring myself to cut the flowers since I want to save lots of seed for next year, though it woud be great to have the fragrance indoors. I thought I posted earlier but my link is not there? I didn’t get the date right. My link is-
http://weedingonthewildside.blogspot.com/2016/06/on-trail-again-june-26-2016.html
Hi Hannah – rescued this from spam; your first one was there too. Thank you, the open garden went well and although it was relatively low key compared to some it was definitely worth doing. With sweet peas I always remind myself that if I keep on picking they will keep on flowering and I try to only leave blooms right at the end of the season to collect seed from
Thanks, I’m glad you rescued me. I haven’t grown sweet peas much, so far just 2 have bloomed and one quit already, the next one that blooms I will have to try picking them and see how it goes. The scent is divine!
Oh Hannah, I do hope you have more than a single one though… 😉
I love your sweet pea/william collection – they must smell heavenly. So glad your fundraiser went well – most impressive! Here’s my vase this week: http://wp.me/p3O3z4-18W
I have really neglected these Sweet William so was delighted that they have been flowering again this year, and so well too – the sweet peas have been a delight and trouble free right from the start
Well Cathy I have made my vase multi task this week. Not enough hours in the week last week. Hot colours but no lovely smelling sweet peas like your entry. well done on the fundraising. https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
Congratulations on your successful garden open! What a nice touch to use sweet peas and sweet william. Your guests must have loved them as much as your readers do! Here’s my vase:
http://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2016/06/in-vase-on-monday-giving-up.html
Thanks Peter, and yes, there were a lot of comments about the sweet peas and especially those in the greeenhouse
Congratulations on your successful event, Cathy! I’m sure you thought through every angle, as you did in the case of your daughter’s wedding, so success was practically preordained but it’s nonetheless wonderful when the hard work is fully realized. You’ve every right to put your feet up! Here’s my post: http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2016/06/in-vase-on-monday-heat-hardy-survivors.html
Thanks Kris and yes, you are probably right although not success was not necessarily pre-ordained 🙂
Congrats! Opening your garden is a lot of work, but with it comes a lot of rewards. Now relax!
http://www.thedangergarden.com/2016/06/in-vase-on-monday-love-those-eryngium.html
Thanks Loree – it is hard to look at the garden objectively so it was interesting to hear what people noticed most. But I have learned to look at it objectively in terms of accessa round the garden as I am a lot shorter than most…!
Pingback: Pink Roses for June | Country Garden UK
Well done Cathy. A successful garden opening is something to be proud of especially as you raised lots of money for charity. Just a simple jug of roses from my garden today.
http://countrygardenuk.com/2016/06/27/pink-roses-for-june/
Thanks Gillian – it was worth all the preparation I think
Well done, Cathy! So sorry I missed your open day! Would you do it again? If so, I’d love to come and visit.
Your vase is lovely – as always! Sweet peas take some beating for indoor summer vases. Haven’t managed to grow any this year but I’m determined to next year.
I have managed to join in this week, first time in ages!
http://thelonggardenpath.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/in-a-vase-on-monday- a-new-rosebowl/
Yes, hopefully will be opening again in future years and will write more about it later in the week – you are welcome at any time of course. Only a few years ago I was not having any success with sweet peas – definitely cracked that one now I think! Good to have you with us this week
Hmm! Not working – sorry! Trying again.
Oh well done on your fund raising efforts Cathy which no doubt will be much appreciated. Wish that we could have lingered at those delightfully decorated tables with cake and a cuppa, but I had forgotten that himself had a long standing engagement in the shape of an annual day out at Uttoxeter Races. Another time hopefully. My late in the day vase is here :
http://greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/in-vase-on-monday-feeling-blue.html
Thanks Anna – and Uttoxter is more than half way here as well…! You are of course welcome to linger at a table in the garden with cake and cuppa any time, Anna 🙂
You certainly deserve to put your feet up Cathy!! Congratulations on your takings for the day – I am sure your chosen charity will be delighted. Having visitors to the garden is such a delight but also hard work – bot in preparation and on the day so enjoy your time off – i am sure it will be short lived!
Mt contribution this week is also slightly different to a normal vase but I hope you find it interesting: http://peoniesandposies.com/2016/06/27/the-green-gorgeous-flower-farm/
Thanks Julie – overall, it was undoubtedly a worthwhile experience
Pingback: In a Vase on Monday: Simplicity | Cosmos and Cleome
Good job to you, Cathy, and I hope you’re enjoying a nice respite. It’s no easy feat getting gardens ready for public viewing! And what nice,colorful, fragrant bouquets you have left to enjoy this week! I have a real pick and plonk bouquet myself this week! https://cosmosandcleome.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/in-a-vase-on-monday-simplicity/
Thanks Kimberley – and I actually sat in the garden and read a magazine today, a very rare occurrence!
You have certainly put your posies to good use.
https://johnsviccellio.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/in-a-vase-on-monday-new-blooms-2/
Thanks John and yes, ready made Vases on Monday!
Pingback: Photo Challenge Round Up: Heat | Wild Daffodil
Sweet peas are supposed to be easy but I struggle with them. All the more reason to enjoy yours as you bask in the glow of a job well done. Here’s my vase, plus some other stuff: http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/5492
Thanks rickii – since I started sowing mine in the autumn I have been far more successful
How wonderful and I hope you are getting plenty of relaxation and leftover cake 🙂 I love your use of the little crocus vases!
I definitely hope to grow more sweet peas next winter, but I’m finding it’s a little more difficult than I expected to find a wide range of single-color packets here!
The main flower for my yesterday’s vase came home with me last night, so I had to wait till this morning to post…: https://smallsunnygarden.blogspot.com/2016/06/in-vase-small-but-elegant.html
Thanks, and yes, I have even taken time to sit in the garden today, Amy – and enjoyed cake! Are you not able to buy seeds from the UK – can they be imported?
I don’t know, generally speaking, whether they can be imported; I do know that T&M have a separate — and different — seed list here than they do in Britain. I can’t remember just what seeds I wanted and couldn’t get because I was on the “wrong” side of the pond, but there was something… 😉 I need to look further afield for suppliers; I’ve had one or two that I’d come to rely on, but my seed choices are changing lately…!
Good luck with sourcing them – but don’t forget you have blogging friends over here who could send you some…
🙂