There was no way of knowing three years ago just how much of an institution IAVOM would become, starting as it did as an incentive just for myself to pick material for a vase 
on a regular basis, with the invitation to join me just an informal suggestion. A handful of regular readers joined in right from the start and over the years the number of contributors has steadily risen, with 20 to 30 people posting vases each week and many others enjoying our contributions even if they don’t create their own vase.
It has been humbling to read the comments about how the meme has ‘changed’ people’s lives, changing their attitudes to picking and growing flowers, changing how they perceive their gardens. I can vouch for that myself, as Mondays have never been the same since the meme’s inception and the pleasure of picking and bringing blooms inside is now wholly engrained in my psyche, extending beyond my own pleasure by gifting blooms to others at every opportunity. I am more observant in the garden, seeking out foliage or less showy blooms to accompany the lead players and becoming more resourceful in the leaner months. An extra twist is the search for suitable props – and you all know I like a good title too!
I know it takes time to reply to all the comments and to view and comment on all contributors’ vases, but this is important to me, extending the hand of friendship and support in the same way I have received friendship and support from other bloggers. So thank you to everyone who has joined in over the years, whether at the forefront or on the sidelines – it is you who have made the meme what it is.
As always, I look forward to seeing your vases today, whether on the proposed ‘Three’ theme or not and, as promised, there were will be a draw for all vase contributors – the winner will receive this folding PVC vase (to pack in your case so you can create a vase on holiday perhaps..?).
In the meantime, look back at these trios of seasonal blooms, my nominal favourites for each month since last November:
Rambling in the Garden 
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Many congratulations on IAVOM’s 3rd anniversary! Your meme is a marvellous celebration of the bounty of gardens far and wide.
Thanks Kate – it seems to be a rewarding experience for all involved
Congratulations Cathy! And thank you for hosting this fabulous meme so warmly and generously. I love it! and I always learn such a lot. Here is my offering for the theme of 3: https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/vase-on-monday-three/
Thanks Sandra and you are most welcome of course – I am looking forward to seeing how the theme has been interpreted 🙂
😀
Hi Cathy
Such a lovely message – and what wonderful vases too. I’d already written my ‘breathing’ comment before reading this, so rest assured I’m properly hooked! Thanks as ever for hosting.and here’s mine for this week:
https://duverdiary.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-this-could-be-the-last-time/
Thanks Jen – it’s always a pleasurable experience to look back at previous vases but overall it’s the bounty that stands out
Oh, and sorry, hadn’t really twigged the 3 theme, but does 2 x 3 count?
The theme wasn’t obligatory – but we can manage simple arithmetic like this 😉
Three years worth of flowers, vases, beauty, and inspirational blooms and gardening. Congratulations Cathy. We are packed and ready to go…looking at this site and vases from other gardeners will keep me going over the next few weeks. Thank you everyone.
Oh Noelle, thank you and best wishes for the move
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Congratulations Cathy, it is true that you have changed lives with this meme. A big thank you for always posting and keeping us on our toes when the season becomes less bountiful. It would be so easy to slip out of the habit of creating a vase but I have one at least each week for Monday. My contribution is one of the largest arrangements I’ve done as a tribute to you. https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-three-years-old/
A tribute to me – how kind – and large arrangement at that…definitely a humbling experience. Thank you Christina for your support from the start – I knew posting weekly would be an incentive for me and I am pleased it has worked for other people too. I had to smile when the friend who picks me up for our barbershop singing missed the flowers I usually give her as a thank you because we were away – and her mother commented on it too!
You’re right being able to give others a bunch of flowers has been a bonus.
Happy birthday, IAVOAM! Can’t get over it’s been 3 years already, Cathy, wow. You’ve been an inspiration to us all, no doubt, and although I don’t join in that often I always enjoy it immensely when I do. Same for today when it just helps me to relax and focus on something else during quite stressful times (book deadline approaching ;)). I love that “extending the hand of friendship” – something we should all do more often! Here’s my vase: https://personaleden.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/in-a-vase-on-a-monday-autumns-bounty/
Oh thanks for your kind words and for finding the time to post a vase at such a stressful time. Will there be an English version this time?
Don’t know yet, Cathy, but hopefully it will as the subject should be interesting for a lot of countries.
I shall look out for it
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Congratulations and thank you once again for hosting this! It’s been a frantic week and I totally forgot the theme this week, but I did make some vases. https://absentgardener.com/2016/11/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-lily-sweet-surrender/
Thank you – and don’t worry about the theme, it was just a suggestion.
Happy Anniversary. I just found your meme not too long ago. It is all you say and I look forward to it every Monday even if I don’t participate.
Thanks Lisa – it is always good to hear from you
Congrats on your anniversary! I don’t often have an offering from my shady garden, but it’s great fun to see what others are doing.
Thank you – remember, it doesn’t have to be blooms though …
Thanks for all you do Cathy. Appreciate your generosity and friendship in hosting our Monday vases. This third year has gone by quickly and it’s great fun to see all your vases for the year. They look amazing. Here’s my take on three: https://pbmgarden.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-iris-three-tuple/
Thanks Susie, you are most welcome – and I knew I could rely on you for having a go at the ‘three’ theme!
Happy Anniversary and thank you for hosting. As a result of IAVOM I now have Cactus Zinnia flowering in my garden, hopefully followed by Asters and Italian Sunflowers! I would have never looked for seeds without seeing them here.
Enjoyed the retrospective as well.
A lovely 3 arrangement and the roses, Oh my. Here is mine for the week:https://theshrubqueen.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-triple-bubbly
Aw thanks Amy – learning from each other is such a valuable thing and I am glad you have been motivated to try out new seeds because of the meme. I know I have too. My own arrangement was more of a token one today – and the test tubes were going to have dahlias in but they were far too big when I came to try and put it together!
It such a wonderful surprise to see new plants in the vases and then discover them nearby. I found some Leonotis in a garden and was very excited that it would grow here.
Yes, it has really widened our horizons, hasn’t it?
Absolutely!
I love starting my weeks with flowers. Thank you for this lovely meme.
You are welcome – so many of us feel the same way now
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Congratulations! Thank you again Cathy, for hosting and inspiring, and making Mondays so much more cheerful than they once were! I have even put some candles on a little cake for you this week! Here is my celebratory contribution:
https://wordsandherbs.com/2016/11/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-three/
Here’s to the next twelve months! 😀
It is a pleasure, Cathy, and thank you for your regular and enthusiastic contributions. But a little cake for ME – how lovely! You are so kind 🙂
Happy 3rd IAVOM anniversary! It has been a great meme and it has elevated the joy I get out of my garden every summer. Thanks for hosting, Cathy!
My simple vase this week: http://wp.me/p3O3z4-1zf
Thanka Eliza – I think we are all duly elevated!
Joining in the congratulatory chorus! Thank you so much for thinking of this meme which has given so much. I do look at my garden differently now and find that I enjoy bringing something inside to enjoy during the week. Here’s to many more years of IAVOM!
P.S. My vase this week is here: http://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2016/11/in-vase-on-monday-happy-third.html
And amen to that Peter! Thanks for your kind words
Many thanks to you for hosting this meme, come rain or shine, regardless of travel or other plans, Cathy! It has added joy to Monday, not usually known as the most joyous day of the week. Seeing all those vases from weeks past is a testimony to the beauty you’ve shared. Congratulations and here’s my post: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2016/11/in-vase-on-monday-three-for-cathy.html
Thank you for kind words Kris – it has been an absolute privilege to host this meme
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Congratulations on arriving at year number three Cathy! You are quite right, IAVOM is life-changing as well as a wonderful, fun challenge. I never fail to be impressed that you just never skip a beat with your vases, and that you reply to every comment, and that you have inspired so many people to join in with you. I completely failed to post a vase last week, and now I’ve completely failed to remember about the ‘three’ challenge this week. What a loser! But I hope you enjoy my vase all the same. https://edinburghgardendiary.com/2016/11/07/autumns-last-hurrah/
No, not a loser at all, Joanna – IAVOM is a win-win situation for all involved! Thanks for your kind words about the meme, both in person and in your comments
Lovely post, Cathy. Three years – congratulations! What you say about your meme is so true. You have encouraged me to go searching in my garden to fill a vase for Mondays. I’ve even taken to foraging on walks whenever the opportunity arises. And my collection of containers has grown – there is no charity shop save from my acquisitive eye! Thank you so much for hosting your meme – Mondays are so much more enjoyable now. Your gallery of favourite arrangements is lovely. Here’s my post for this week:
http://silverscrappers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/in-vase-on-monday-purple-phase.html
Thanks Elizabeth – and yes, I forgot to mention the life changing vase collection too! It is always an eye-opener to look back on previous vases as some are unbelievably pretty 🙂
Happy 3rd Anniversary! You’ve brought the Slow Flowers movement even closer to home, what a wonderful gift you’ve given to garden bloggers everywhere! Here’s my celebration of 3:
http://www.thedangergarden.com/2016/11/in-vase-on-monday3s-company-3-x-3-is.html
Oh thanks Loree – it is a gift we have all generously shared really
Happy anniversary, Cathy!And thanks again for bringing such a special weekly joy into our lives! Today I have arranged my 121st vase: http://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2016/11/in-vase-on-monday-last-white-anemones.html
Thanks Anca – you are very welcome
It has always been so much fun joining in and even on the busiest Monday it has been lovely to pop in and see what you have posted. It is an amazing achievement to post every week, even when you are on holiday and thank you for all your support and keeping this happy band of bloggers focussed on bringing the outside in. Happy Anniversary Cathy. I couldn’t not find something for today so here it is (contained within a rambling post): https://homeslip.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/in-a-vase-on-Monday-pure-gold/
Thank you Sarah, especially on your busy Monday! It has been an absolute pleasure keeping the happy band of bloggers focussed on bringing the outside in 🙂
Congrats on three years and all those hundreds of vases. Even though I did not do a vase this week, I look forward to Mondays because of this meme. It’s always such a positive beginning to the week to see all the arrangements everyone creates. Thanks for all your efforts.
Thanks Linda , and it’s good to hear that you find it a positive start. It’s so nice to have even a tiny posy to start the week with
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So many thanks for hosting this fun activity Cathy. Congratulations on three years at the helm. I’d only been a sporadic flower gatherer until I was inspired by your meme. So thanks for that.
Here is my ‘Three’ Salvia vase: http://wp.me/pM8Y1-3wp
You are very welcome Allison – it has proved to be a very worthwhile habit to get into!
I enjoy the Monday vase Cathy, very much and although I haven’t been contributing for three years I have managed three flowers on one stem today at https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
There you go, you did it – a Three themed vase!! It’s always good to have a vase from you Dorris whenever you can make it but there is no pressure for a weekly one (except for the hostess that is!!)
Wow, Cathy. Three years. I can’t begin to tell you how much you have inspired me to create a vase each week. It has become an important weekly project for my Arranger and me. Thank you so much.
https://johnsviccellio.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-cheer/
Thank you John – I am so glad that you and The Arranger have been inspired by the meme. It has become an institution for many of us!
Just wanted to pop in on the day itself to say many congratulations Cathy on three years of IAVOM!
It’s such a civilised way to mark Monday whenever it’s possible to participate and even if not it’s most pleasurable vase browsing. You have been most generous with your inspiration, knowledge and time and deserve a ginormous virtual bouquet. I hope to put a little belated vase together come daylight.
Hello Anna – glad you have still been able to pop in on this auspicious occasion and thank you for your kind words. Look forward to seeing what the daylight brings – which will be a very chilly start down here!!
A little late in the day Cathy but here’s my vase :
https://greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/in-vase-on-monday-three-is-magic-number.html
It was absolutely freezing here last night but we escaped the frost I was expecting this morning which was just as well 🙂
Glad you made it – but how did you manage no frost?! Dr Death certainly visited my dahlias last night 😦
Hi Anna, I don’t seem to be able to leave a comment on your blog at present. Here’s what I wanted to say about your post “I feel the same way about the IAVOM post; In the summer when I lose interest in a garden that looks like its dying, making a vase has kept me and the blog going. Love that Scabious, I’ll have to look for seeds! Take care of yourself which can be hard when you’re caring for others.”
Congratulations on your anniversary – and thank you for extending the hand of friendship my way. I’m fascinated seeing what everyone grows and how they use it in gardens all around the world. Truly inspiring- and enjoyable to be a part of the fun.
Thank you -it has been a valuable learning experience for all of us, hasn’t it?
Oops forgot my link to my contribution http://karengimson.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/in-a-vase-on-monday
It’s been such a lovely meme to join in; I was certainly one of those gardeners who couldn’t bear to cut any flowers and was too embarrassed to try to arrange them anyway! Many thanks for all the reassurances and encouragement, Cathy; the flowers have become such a special part of Mondays 🙂 as also the chance to see what others have done!
Here is my anniversary contribution based on threes: http://www.smallsunnygarden.com/2016/11/08/in-a-vase-three-times-three/
Thank you Amy – the meme seems to have gone over and beyond the original goal in ways we couldn’t have envisaged
Here’s to many more years of wonderful vases on Mondays, Cathy. I’m so sorry I didn’t join you yesterday. Life is a little overwhelming at the moment with a lot going on here and I didn’t have time. It was also the most revolting weather – not conducive to popping outside to gather material! Thank you so much, though, for hosting this lovely weekly gathering. You have inspired me to grow more flowers for cutting and to see what’s going on in the garden at all times of the year. I love the faffing with flowers – doing IaVoM has shown me how much I enjoy it – and it’s lovely to visit other bloggers to see what they’ve put together. I look forward to joining in again on Monday soon. Sam x
Hope life settles down a bit for you soon (and hope all is OK) and so glad to hear how much you enjoy the meme and ‘faffing about with flowers’!
So happy to have found your meme, Cathy! Here is my offering posted yesterday.
https://lindylecoq.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/porcelain-berries-in-a-vase-on-monday/
And I am glad it makes you happy, Lindy 🙂
Three years! Congratulations! And what a popular meme it has proved to be. Even when I don’t post a vase myself I always enjoy seeing what everyone else has done. I love your collage of previous vases.
Thanks Chloris – I have learned such a lot from it and I know others have too. It was hard picking ‘favourites’ although some just jumped out at me 😉
Well done. I can’t quite believe three years have gone by so quickly. Hearty congratulations.
Thanks Jessica – and I can hardly believe there hae been 156 vases since then!! It as been such an enjoyable meme to host
Happy Anniversary♥
Thank you
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I am so impressed, not only that you continue to post a wonderful arrangement every single Monday, but also with the imagination you unfailingly bring to the task. Here’s my Tuesday vase: http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/5641
Thanks rickii – I do like a personal challenge and to be honest this has got easier the longer the meme has been going
I’m rather late to the party and I didn’t bring a vase this week! I just came across your lovely blog while hopping. I’ve been growing flowers to cut for several years and this year has been my best ever. For several months I’ve had a house full of flowers. The frosts arrived last week but some dahlias are still struggling on so I’ve been out picking whatever they offered. I currently have a vase of dahias and rudbeckias but sadly no photo. Maybe next week…
Oh welcome, Alison – glad to hear you have been enjoying your garden both inside and out for months, and lucky you still having dahlias in bloom. It will be harder to find bloooms for my next Monday vase, but as always there will be something! Please do join us for IAVOM – you would be most welcome
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Hi Cathy,
Happy 3rd birthday to In a vase on Monday – what a lovely post and photos. Your words really resonate with me – especially all your thoughtful words last year. Thank you so much. You’ve definitely helped me on my path getting back to where I want to be. All the beautiful flowers (and words) you and the other bloggers helped me such alot when I didn’t have any energy to pick anything from my garden, let alone photograph it.
Life is very hectic at the moment, new job takes alot of time and energy and it’s dark by the time I get home.
And as usual I’m very late with my contribution – finished it at 11.50pm but I so wanted to pick flowers, write and post something to celebrate
Here’s my contribution 🙂 and some news about RHS Bridgewater Garden which will be v near me 🙂
https://viewsfrommygardenbench.wordpress.com/2016/11/14/in-a-vase-on-monday-friends-flowers-and-the-future-its-never-too-late/
I’ve got fuschia’s for this week’s vase 🙂 much love Bec xx
I am so pleased you have found the meme and the blogging community helpful in your healing process, Bec – and working with plants is now recognised as beneficial to both physical and mental health. Hope the new job is working out well for you and that your other Plans are progressing well too
I am so pleased I found you and the vase bloggers 🙂 yes even looking outside at the greenery/trees (and even better mountains or the sea) helps me but I know how much gardening has helped me – it’s been a rollercoaster but I’m much better than I was – yes I’ll write more about our wedding venue soon (just got to finish inviting people 🙂 – have a lovely week and I’m going to better at posting my vase on time (and answering comments)… big hug love bec xx
Well done you 🙂
Catching up as I have been away from blogging and healing up….wanted to say congrats on 3 yrs. I am still making vases even though I haven’t shared them….thanks for the continued inspiration!
So good to hear from you Donna – I have thought of you often on Mondays and hope the healing is helping you through. Glad to know you are still making your vases
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