In a Vase on Monday: a Habit of Decades

The freshness and prettiness of this vase still takes me by surprise as I observe it whilst writing – there is something about the pink of the sweet peas offset by the white and greens that gives the impression of a new and youthful innocence; odd really, as half of the vase is recycled from last week.

The ornithogalum just seemed to get better and better, almost usurping the tulip as the star of the vase, and within a few days I had vowed to buy more of these bulbs as they looked most attractive and almost orchid-like in their appearance – not that I bought this one, which just appeared from nowhere one year, pehaps hitching a ride with the nearby crocus bulbs. Not recognising it at first, it was suggested by some that ornithogalum can become invasive and I briefly considered removing it but am glad now that I didn’t. Saved with it from last week’s vase is Astrantia ‘Buckland’, also still fresh as a daisy; joining these survivors is a small bunch of Winter Sunshine sweet pea ‘Pink’ (such an original name!), Armeria ‘Ballerina White’ (more like Ballerina Hint of Pink), a’Lilliput Lovely’ aquilegia from Touchwood seeds (sadly not of the anticipated Lilliputian proportions) in the most delectable ‘coconut ice’ shades and delicate looking grass Luzula nivea, all tucked up together in pale pink car boot vase purchase.

Scrunched up foil may be an odd prop for a Monday vase, but recycling has been an inbuilt habit of mine for many decades (work it out…), ever since we were encouraged at school to collect used foil ‘for the guide dogs’ in the 60s. The concept of recycling was unknown back then and it didn’t occur to us at the time to question what the guide dogs needed the foil for, but we worked out that it somehow meant the school could provide new guide dogs for blind people and I think over the years we supplied two of them, thanks to our milk bottle tops and a teacher who lived next door to a fish and chip shop. The habit has stuck with me though, and even the smallest scrap of foil is saved or tucked into a pocket if acquired when not at home, and the recent wider recycling opportunities have been welcomed with open arms and embraced wholeheartedly.

Each week brings greater choice of blooms in our UK gardens and those North American gardens emerging from winter, whilst southern hemisphere offerings are becoming more autumnal. Wherever you are, please consider finding something in your garden to plonk in a vase or jar today to bring you pleasure during the week – and to bring the rest of us pleasure as well if you share it with us by leaving the usual links.

Next week when you are posting your Monday vases I shall be in London meeting up with Christina (My Hesperides Garden) and Sandra (Wild Daffodil) so will have to defer the pleasure of reading and replying to comments and seeing your vases – the pleasure of meeting up with these blogging friends for the first time, however, is equally anticipated! If anybody else is able to join us please do get in touch and we can pass on details.