Yesterday’s weather forecast, for heavy snow all morning from 5.00am or so and light snow for the rest of the day, proved correct, giving us 3″ by mid morning and a gradual increase since then. Tomorrow, although dry, will see negative temperatures all day culminating in minus 7°C overnight and warnings of ice, so the Golfer and I will be hunkering down in the house again. Despite bitterly cold temperatures for the latter part of the week I have at least managed a few hours of rose pruning, Madame Alfred Carriere needing considerable reigning in from her expeditions over the bus shelter. Even today, as it was dry in the greenhouse and a tad warmer than outside, I got round to adding bubblewrap to part of the interior – but that might be full the extent of my gardening activities for several days.
Anticipating the weather, I had a contingency plan in mind for IAVOM – three of early snowdrop Mrs Macnamara’s blooms, a sprig of hips from rose Parkdirektor Riggers and a snipped down piece of twisted hazel that had accompanied the hippeastrum a fortnight ago. Popped into a stoneware inkwell I misjudged its size when I placed it onto a snowy rock for a photograph and it nearly sank without trace! The snowdrops show up surprisingly well against the snow, but you can see the elements better when it was against the wall under the hedge at the sheltered side of the house. The brick behind it is stamped ‘Utopia’, and can be traced to the Aldridge Brick and Tile Company, originally based about 16 miles from here. We have a number of these ‘blue bricks’ which came in a batch of recycled bricks when I was building the wall behind the bold borders – some are stamped to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and we have made a feature of these bricks in this wall.
The snowdrops were firmly closed when I picked them but very soon opened up in the warmth of the house, their distinctive fragrance subtly detectable. The Golfer was aghast that I was picking them, but I shan’t be able to enjoy them outside for a little while so I was more than happy to bring them inside. I wonder how many UK bloggers will be able to create a vase for today, or any northern hemisphere bloggers for that matter? Where there is a will, there is a way, but in this week’s wintry weather any absences would be understandable. If you are able to post, please leave the usual links so we can share the pleasure your vase brings you – and in the meantime, KEEP WARM AND SAFE!
Rambling in the Garden 
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Wow! Snow! and Snowdrops! I love the picture of the vase in the snow, it’s so lovely with the rosehips. Meanwhile I am enjoying heat and all that goes with it including mosquito bites. Here is my vase: https://absentgardener.com/2017/12/11/crazy-pink-gladioli-in-a-vase-on-monday/
Thanks Cath – it is especially nice to be looking at this vase as I am spending so little time outside with the weather as it is (and rather this than mosquito bites, I think!)
Snow, snowdrops, and vintage bottles….love the post this week Cathy. Maybe you thought I would have bottled out this week..but I am in: vintage bottles rule OK: http://noellemace.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/in-vase-on-monday-codswallop.html
Hurrah for vintage bottles, Noelle! Glad you could make it today 😉
Love the codswallop
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How nice to have snowdrops already — even if they are temporarily buried. We had a inch or two of snow yesterday here in Stuttgart, but then a rain washed most of it away. Today, I have a couple of stems of store-bought amaryllis and some really pretty orange berries from the yard. https://enclosuretakerefuge.com/2017/12/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-amaryllis-and-berries/
I don’t think rain will be washing ours away for a little while, Cindy!
I love your snowdrops in the snow! We have snow, too, but no flowers in the garden.
I wonder how much snow you have? I still have some salvia in bloom in the greenhouse on cuttings taken earlier in the year which I would have used if we hadn’t had our snow, but perhaps they will be there next week…
We have over a foot of snow. It’s raiing now, but supposed to drop to -16 C tonight, so then we’ll have ice!
Ours has mostly gone, but there have been some icy mornings. Keep warm and safe yourself
Wow, impressive snowy vase. The snowdrops are pretty with the rose hips and the scene of your garden is picturesque. Wonderful your bricks tell such a story. Hope your enjoy the snow!
https://pbmgarden.blog/2017/12/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-ruby-slippers/
Thanks Susie – I hadn’t actually looked up the provenence of the bricks before, so was pleased to find they were fairly local, although in the nineteenth century there would probably still be small brickyards wherever a seam of claty was present
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Wow! That’s a lot of snow, but you still found us fresh flowers, well done Cathy. I have a snowdrop in flower in the garden and it isn’t even one of the special ones. Thanks for continuing to inspire us; here’s my contribution: https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2017/12/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-not-quite-cotehele/
Amazing that you have a snowdrop too – is it in a pot?
No, in the ground. It will be interesting to see if any of the others come back; not that there were a huge number, I just planted a few as an experiment.
Looks cold in your garden, the Rose Hips are so pretty (I rarely got any when growing roses) and I would have cut the Snow Drops as well. I like the inkwell arrangements, it is like a really good appetizer! Here is my vase http://theshrubqueen.com/2017/12/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-holiday-shrimp
This rose is the only one that always produces hips – and it’s the only one that I don’t dead head either as it just goes on and on flowering without any attention
Wonderful! more benign neglect with delightful results.
How lovely to have snowdrops! I won’t see any in my garden until March most likely. I am featuring the beginning of my holiday decorations which actually includes some greenery from my garden. But it’s very cold here and we’ve had a bit of snow overnight — though not as much as you! My post is here: http://www.lindabrazill.com/each_little_world/2017/11/ivom-seasonal-shift.html
Some parts of the UK (even 20 miles or so) have had much more
So cute.
Although I have to admit I still have a bit of resistance to seeing snowdrops before Christmas – there are daffodils in bud on our village green too – all too soon – it messes with my delight in the seasons.
There are sometimes one or two snowdrop specials flowering before Christmas, but they have never been as early as this. And daffodils…? that’s certainly not right!! 🙂
It seems Mother Nature is giving abundantly on both sides of the Atlantic these past few days. It does help burst the holiday spirit, I find. 🙂
I love your dear little ink pot with the snowdrops and bright rose hips. Festive!
My arrangement was made before the snow fell, though I could have managed it mid-storm if I desired, but like you, I like to hunker down inside next to the fire when the weather is inclement. 🙂
https://wp.me/p3O3z4-28q
Darn spell check – I meant the snow ‘boosts’ the holiday spirit, not bursts it – lol!
Tee hee – I thought you probably did!
🙂
Yes, I do appreciate the snow differently since I finished work, but I have had to miss some of my exercising activities today which I wouldn’t want to have to miss for too many days. I have tried to be as active as I can at home though!
An Advent wreath from way down south – where grey leaves must pretend to be snow
http://eefalsebay.blogspot.co.za/2017/12/rocher-pan-beached-seals-november-2013-advent.html
I am sure we all have to adapt our festive traditions, depending on where we are, Diana
Everything looks so magical blanketed with snow but it does make finding vase contents a bit daunting. Your inkwell arrangement is very sweet and I love the special brick! My vase this week is here: http://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2017/12/in-vase-on-monday.html
Thanks Peter – much of the snow in the garden still looks untouched although we have cleared some of the paths a little
How lovely to enjoy your snowdrops in the house. There’s not much use having them buried under the snow like mine. They look so pretty in the inkwell with the rose hips.
Mine is here; https://thebloominggarden.wordpress.com/2017/12/11/in-a-vase-on-mon…ghosts-of-summer/
Thanks Chloris – I love watching them open and close during the day
I thought you might include one or two of your early snowdrops. So lovely, I took your advice and shared my wreath today. https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
I am venturing out with my work colleagues tonight, us gardeners are a hardy bunch!
Thanks Dorris, and I am glad you decided to share your wreath. Stay safe tonight – both the Golfer and I have had our usual Monday night activities cancelled because of the weather, which is very wise in view of the icy conditions
Back home now after white knuckle ride with taxi driver in an automatic sharan with no clue how to drive!
Ooh – scarey! Glad you got home safely in the end
Now I am wondering about my snowdrops. I know they are a different species, but they are more different than I though. I do not remember their real name unfortunately. They have always been here. They have no fragrance! They wold be so much nicer if they did. That must be why everyone else enjoys their snowdrops so much! We also get those wild onions that bloom something like snowdrops. They are somewhat weedy, and they wilt rather quickly after getting picked.
I wonder what your ‘snowdrops’ are then, Tony? There is a bulb called Leucojum (L vernum and L aestivum) which we call spring/summer snowflake respectively and L vernum often flowers at the same time as Galanthus in the UK. It is taller and does not have the separate perianth segments that Galanthus does
That’s it! Leucojum aestivum. I remember that name from when my editor identified it! I did not like them when they were all over the place, but since I moved away, I miss them. They did not seem to have a season. They bloomed in spring or early in summer, just before everything dried up. I should have taken some of them with me.
No one would miss a few.
Their season seems to be equally moveable here too, Tony. Hope you manage to track some more down (if you feel so inclined)
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I would love to see snow here, really precipitation of any kind would be a blessing. While the availability of flowers isn’t a current problem in SoCal, I’m also limiting my time in the garden as our air quality has been bad. Here’s my post: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2017/12/in-vase-on-monday-faux-frost-bit-of.html
Stay warm, Cathy, and thanks as always for hosting regardless of weather conditions!
How often do you have problems with air quality, Ktis? Does it linger for many days at a time?
Smog is a perpetual problem in the Los Angeles area (too many cars!) but, in this case, the underlying problem is the proximity of the massive wildfires we’ve been dealing with for the past week. Those closest to us are contained or nearing containment so our local air quality is slowly improving. Sadly, the fires to the north (Ventura-Santa Barbara Counties) and the south (San Diego County) are still very active. I’d wish for wind to blow the smoke away but that just fuels the fires!
I do hope the situation imprioves for everyone soon, Kris
Snowdrops and rose hips are such a pretty combination Cathy! Well done for finding something after all that snow. We had some too, and my pickings are a little sparse this week, but I am happy to join in again! Here is my offering: https://wordsandherbs.com/2017/12/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-a-peace-offering/ Stay warm and safe too!
Thanks Cathy – I had already planned to use the snowdrops if we were pretty much ‘snowed under’ but the rose hips were an on the spur of the moment decision. I agree they worked well
Hope you are staying warm. That is a beautiful blanket of snow in your garden. Finding something for a vase for me as well is challenging. However, here is my offering.
https://johnsviccellio.com/2017/12/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-frost-evasion/
Much of the snow still looks perfect, John, except where we have cleared the paths. it won’t be thawing for at least a few days as the temperatures are so low
lovely snowdrops photo. No snow here in Devon but it’s cold and my begonia are still flowering!
Thanks Annabel – how amazing to still have begonias in flower! Will the cold see them off?
I’m hoping not but probably! They are in a protected sunny spot but I usually put them in the utility. However there isn’t room as my tomato plants are still going!
Yikes! We’ve managed to avoid weather at all like yours, thank goodness. I am not a fan of snow. That said however your photos are beautiful and your vase quite fitting. I hope you’ll forgive my cheating a bit, as the focus of my post today isn’t really IAVOM but rather my cactus Christmas tree. Still there are three vases on my mantle and one on a table next to the tree that all feature foliage from my garden along with a poinsettia stem.
http://www.thedangergarden.com/2017/12/danger-garden-christmas-2017-style.html
Snow is pretty of you don’t have to go anywhere and if it doesn’t last too long!
Beautiful! I also have a snowdrop that opened these days!
Thanks Anca
It looks as though you had more snow than us. That is a very sweet little vase and just right for the season. Here is my link http://ablogaboutcompost.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/chilli-weather-in-vase-on-monday.html
I hope you are warm and cosy.
Yes, the Midlands had a good share of the snow that was around, I think. Many schools were closed on Friday and probably all of them today, and various other things have been cancelled because of the potential for black ice and hazardous driving
Cathy a beautiful photo of the vase in the snow! And another photo with a lot of history of the vase with the background of bricks! The snow bells are wonderful and look great with the red rose hips and twisted hazel twig. It is a beautiful arrangement, including the vase. I like it very much Take care. To the heat of the fire in the fireplace. Greetings from Margarita.
Thanks Margarita; it is not as cold now and we had some rain yesterday which cleared away much of the snow
I find myself thinking of the word ‘lush’ when looking at your snow, Cathy! It’s such a pretty snowfall, but I’m sure it’s much better viewed from the warm inside of a window! Your ‘drops are delightful, as is Parkdirektor Riggers – just perfect together in the snow… Your brick is wonderful too, though Utopia doesn’t particularly spring to mind when I’m thinking of three inches of snow! 😉 So nice to have that extra bit of history in your garden!
I’m sure you can guess my ‘vase’ from the title: https://www.smallsunnygarden.com/2017/12/11/in-a-circle-on-monday/
The snow certainly emphasises the underlying structure, Amy
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I always appreciate the snowdrops most when I bring them inside. Their markings are so delicate and hard to see in the garden. Hope you enjoy a cozy time with the snow outside.
http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/5936
How wonderful to have snowdrops already. Such beautiful photos. Your garden is glorious. Well, I’ve got some hydrangeas and Paperwhites this week. But the foliage is still on the bushes! Missed my chance to cut them before the snow. Might go out today and put some in the potting shed to thaw out. Just trying to keep warm. Here’s my vase this week. Sorry it’s a day late. Couldn’t load any photos this time. Sigh xx https://bramblegarden.com/2017/12/12/in-a-vase-on-monday-almost/
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excellent vase 🙂 and v appropriate flowers – love the snow drops. No snow here in Salford but bitingly cold. Full of a cold but nipped outside and quickly picked flowers – been writing about affirmations and photo prompts too. Hope you Like it. Lots of love Bec xx
https://viewsfrommygardenbench.wordpress.com/2017/12/13/in-a-vase-on-monday-good-enough-though-not-in-the-pink/
Thanks Bec – I have been slow in catching up this last week
No vases for me until the New Year as I am taking a blog break….and I gathered lots of dried material for winter vases before the storm hit…we are buried in almost 2 feet of snow and it is cold. I was thrilled to see your amazing vase in the snow. Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas Cathy…and a Happy New Year!
Thank you Donna; hunker down safely and enjoy the festive period and your break from blogs – as well as those dried arrangements which I am sure will be lovely
how lovely. No snow down south worst luck.
You seem to have as much snow as we do here in S. Ontario, Cathy. I didn’t think that was possible!
We only had about 4″, Cynthia, but other parts of the Midlands had at least twice as much. It is a number of years since I saw anything more than we had this time
We got even more here today. Last winter was very easy, by comparison. But skiers and tobagonners are joyful, and it’s apparently good for the garden to get snow and cold weather.
Yes, the chilly weather should kill off a few unwelcome bugs