Tea and two sugars: Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ and Lonicera standishii ‘Budapest’, both sweetly smelling and perfectly at home in this little teacup. I am grateful to both Julie and Dorris for demonstrating that buds of the former will open up in the warmth of the house although sadly the only flowering stems I have are very short. Their small stature, however, suggested an equally small vase for which the teacup was ideal, especially as the lonicera was similarly challenged. The teapot and milk jug were of course necessary additions to the occasion and a little square of fabric was cut with pinking shears to complete the place setting. The black felt used as a background for the photograph somehow gives the impression that the arrangement is floating on a magic carpet but hey! does that matter?
I am delighted with the effect of this tiny Monday vase and despite its size I am also enjoying the perfume. What will be delighting you in your Monday vases, I wonder? Do see what you can find in your garden or foraged locally to bring you pleasure during the week and share it with us by leaving the links in the usual way.
Rambling in the Garden 
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I’m glad to be back! We are thinking on similar lines today: https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2017/01/23/in-a-vase-on-monday-2/
And we are glad to have you, Sandra!
🙂
A fragrant cuppa – what a lovely way to display these flowers Cathy! I also didn’t realise just how small the cup was until seeing your hand next to it. I have a lovely Amaryllis to share this week: https://wordsandherbs.com/2017/01/23/in-a-vase-on-monday-whats-in-a-name/
Have a good week!
Thanks Cathy – it definitely needed some idea of scale, didn’t it?
Charming and delicate. Just love this Cathy. Busy time here so I scheduled ahead for today’s vase. http://wp.me/p1hk5P-2V1
Thanks Susie – this has certainly got be my recent favourite 🙂
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I can almost smell the perfume from here, how lovely. Here’s the link to my post today: https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2017/01/23/in-a-vase-on-monday-a-little-summer-colour/
The fragrance of flowers that bloom in winter seems so much stronger, another of Nature’s little tricks!
Hi Cathy, what a lovely wee vase this week, the scent will be gorgeous too. No flowers here so it’s all about bright foliage in my vase http://ronaquirkybirdgardener.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/in-vase-on-monday.html
Thanks Quirky Bird – the scent is indeed gorgeous!
If I had those tiny blooms in my garden my heart would soar. I can almost smell them. Happy Monday.
It would be even nicer if their parent plants were covered in open blooms, which neither of them are yet!
Tea on a magic carpet? Nothing better for a Monday morning greeting. The delicate Viburnums are just lovely and I can almost catch the scent of the Lonicera.
I tried for years to force Forsythia and Plum branches, alas, to no avail. Here is mine, as usual different vase, http://theshrubqueen.com/2017/01/23/make-america-garden-again
Thanks, and it’s strange how some things can be forced, but others can’t – I was reluctant to try the viburnum as there are not huge numbers of blooms
Gardening is a constant experiment! I think that was worthwhile.
So glad you put your hand in there for scale! Love it and it looks so spring-like. I fudged a little but do have an offering: http://eachlittleworld.typepad.com/each_little_world/2017/01/in-a-vase-on-monday-pink-.html
Thanks Linda, and yes, definitely a delicate hint of spring!
It is very effective Cathy, it does look as if it’s floating.
It wasn’t intended though!
Very perky for January!
Yes, certainly not what you might expect!
What a dear little arrangement, Cathy, it’s absolutely charming!
My post this week: http://wp.me/p3O3z4-1EN
Thanks Eliza – I felt it was charming too. What is it about miniature things that makes them charming…?
Everyone loves babies, right? 😉
Yep! 😉
Although babies get better and more intersting as they get bigger surely…? (in my opinion anyway!)
Quite a surprise for this time of the year! My vase:http://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2017/01/in-vase-on-monday-etain.html
They are winter flowering blooms Anca, although almost look too delicate to be so
How pretty is your miniature still life – makes me want to join you for tea and stick my nose into the flowers! I’ve Viburnum and Chimonanthus in flower but by far not enough to pick some for the house, so my vase is a rather monochrome affaire, Im afraid 😉 : https://personaleden.wordpress.com/2017/01/23/in-a-vase-on-a-monday-till-death-do-us-part/
Oh do come, Annette – you would be most welcome! You can see I have been very parsimonius with my blooms, hence the size of the arrangement 😉
It’s surprising how fragrant these little flowers are. You’ve put together an arrangement that, like a cup of tea, warms from the inside. My vase is here: http://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2017/01/in-vase-on-monday_23.html
Thanks Peter, definitely heartwarming to have it here inside the house to look at at all times
Darling post. So glad you included your hand for scale.
Thanks – one of my favourites, I think!
Your tiny arrangement has presence, Cathy! Your hand provided a good measure of the actual size of the arrangement – based on that first photo, I’d have judged it to be much bigger. I admire Viburnum every winter and wish I had some in my own garden. Influenced by external factors, I went pink this week. Here’s my post: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2017/01/in-vase-on-monday-it-had-to-be-pink.html
Thanks Kris – I don’t think we could have any idea of scale without something external 🙂
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Great minds think alike. We are both thinking scent this week Cathy. I love your Tea and Two Sugars. Mine is https://thebloominggarden.wordpress.com/2017/01/23/in-a-vase-on-monday-scentsation/ ‎
Thanks Chloris – tea with two sugars would normally be a bit sweet for me, but I can cope with this cup!
This is so sweet Cathy, surely the sugar pink flower heads of VBD were just made to be displayed in a tiny teaset. Mine is doing exceptionally well this year enjoying the extra air and space after I removed an over-powering laurel last year. I would also love to have the space for a winter-flowering lonicera – but for now I have to satisfy that sensory pleasure when I visit the winter garden at Polesden Lacey. Looking at all the lovely vases this week I feel I should have made more effort but here is my contribution nonetheless.
https://homeslip.wordpress.com/2017/01/23/in-a-vase-on-Monday-the-less-travelled-path/
Thanks Sarah – it’s surprising what you can find space for when you put your mind to it…
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I am so pleased to have prompted you to bring some stems of viburnum inside – and you have remained me to bring in some lonicera. I really like the magic carpet effect of your photo today – it feels like afternoon tea is winging its way over to me through my computer screen.
My contribution is at :http://peoniesandposies.com/2017/01/23/winter-accents/ this week – a little late in the day but never mind.
I don’t have many buds but your success made my mind up to go for it, so thank you!
Very nice implementation of a “short” one. I’ve had some success in the past bringing in buds in January, but have not tried in a few years. You have inspired me.
https://johnsviccellio.com/2017/01/23/in-a-vase-on-monday-happy-returns/
And if you can afford to be generous with the branches then so much the better – that would be wonderful!
Tiny, fragrant flowers… what could be better?! I love the little tea set too and am glad you included your hand for scale as I had just decided the set must be full size! 😉
Here is/are my vases…: https://www.smallsunnygarden.com/2017/01/24/in-a-vase-or-two/
I have several tiny tea sets, some of which are smaller than this; one of the joys of this vase is the element of surprise in the scale of it
Enchanting and fragile. Simply cherish this Cathy. Occupied time here so I booked ahead for now’s vase…I can nearly notice the aroma from here, how exquisite…
Thank you. Sometimes the simplest and smallest things bring an unexpected degree of pleasure
How clever, you are so inventive with your ‘vases’. I was surprised at how quickly snowdrops opened once indoors, so much so that I had to retake my photo only some 30 minutes after taking the first one. I forgot to post my link on Monday, I thought I had, but I think I only got as far as thinking I must do that! https://patientgardener.wordpress.com/2017/01/23/in-a-vase-on-monday-snowdrops/
That is adorable. I shall be raiding the Small Girl’s china presently.
Having a mniature ‘vase’ of some sort makes you look at things in your garden in a different way, downsizing your ideas
That’s true. Given the slim picking in my garden at the moment, it would certainly be wise to downsize my expectations!
🙂
Just so petite and pleasing…perfect.
Thanks Noelle – it has certainly pleased me