The creation of today’s vase was a transitional process, albeit a short one. Another batch of bargain hyacinths coming into flower was always going to produce the main focus, but my original plan was to add other white blooms from early spring bulbs like leucojum and narcissus with maybe just a hint of green foliage for contrast. A shiny dark green arum leaf outside the back door was snipped first and I liked the contrast with the purity of the hyacinth so much that the other bulbs were rejected for this week and a similarly dark sprig of ivy was cut, along with a slender stem of winter flowering honeysuckle Lonicera purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’ to produce a simple and unfussy vase.
The narrow neck of the white Caithness Glass vase that had been mentally allocated for today, however, proved to be challenging even for these four stems and did not allow for rearrangement into a pleasing form. In a dramatic change of plan, the Caithness Glass was summarily sidelined in favour of a shallow black glass dish, bought at the Age Concern shop on our recycling site this week to use as a potential ‘ikebana’ vase. I have been searching online for a UK supplier of ikebana vases, like the lovely pottery ones used frequently by blogging friend Susie, but without success; they are available on eBay, but always imported from the USA and I did not expect to be using my ‘make-do’ one quite so soon!
The 4 stems were held in position by a metal pin holder or frog, an irregularly shaped quartz crystal cluster was placed in front of them and the dish filled with glass beads before the water was added. Having intended to use a piece of quartz in the dish, the choice of this particular cluster proved to be serendipitous, with the unplanned bonus of mirroring the spikes of the stems, the points of the quartz pointing every which-way. Quartz is a cleansing and energising crystal, and a cluster like this can radiate energy into a room or bring harmony to a group situation.
Those of us who bring elements of our gardens inside every week, whether sharing them on IAVOM or not, appreciate at close quarters the harmony that they too can bring, so if you don’t already do so why not take the plunge today? Many regular contributors were loath to cut from their gardens in the past but have undergone Damascene conversions and will tell you it has ‘changed their lives’ – so give it a try, and then share the result with us if you like by leaving the usual links to and from this post.
ps the ‘specks’ were hail, announcing the end of a lovely sunny morning yesterday and turning later in the day to a light snow shower and a tentative covering of snow before nightfall
Rambling in the Garden 
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You are clever Cathy, I love your improvised Ikebana vase and I’m sure the Hyacinths must smell very strong. Here’s my link: https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/in-a-vase-on-monday-thin-pickings/
Thanks Christina – I am pleased with how well the dish functions. I also bought another vase there which is a shape I have dmired but hadn’t got so I am looking forward to using it, perthaps for my first tulips which are still some way off.
My first impression was that the flowers were sitting in a bowl of ice cubes! It really is a clever vase! I love hyacinths and it is so good to see that spring is coming to some parts of the world! We are still waiting here, and my post would be better titled “In a POT on Monday! 😀
http://heirloomcottagegarden.weebly.com/blog/in-a-vase-on-monday-waiting-for-spring
The hyacinths were grown inside though – the few outside (from previous indoor plantings) are only just poking their noses through
This is a treat Cathy to see your your new black glass dish. It makes a perfect Ikebana container. I noticed the arum leaf first, one of my favorite to use in designs for pattern and the shape of the leaf itself. Bet the lovely white hyacinth has a delicious fragrance. I like the quartz and the properties it embodies. My hellebores finally bloomed last week so guess what are in my vase? Thanks for hosting Cathy and for the nice mention!
https://pbmgarden.blog/2018/02/12/in-a-vase-on-monday-hellebores-2/
Thanks Susie – the dish has a registration number on it so it has some age (which I could look up, I suppose). You have done some wonderful things with arum leaves in the past so perhaps I could be more adventurous with them in the future! Thanks for all the examples of this style of vase that you have shared with us – it has opened our eyes, I believe, and encouraged us to give it a try
I also thought the stems were in ice….a very ‘cool’ effect! Sorry for the pun. But I loved the white and green….the color scheme of my garden in snow. And you had snow too! I have some dishes that might work nicely to try this in the future so thanks always for the inspiration…
Here is my link this week:
http://gardenseyeview.com/2018/02/12/flower-tales-torenia/
Not as much snow as you, though Donna, and we have got off very lightly compared to furtehr north. We all get inspiration from each other, Donna, Donna, and have learned so much from sharing on IAVOM
Hi Cathy, I’m with you this week. https://digwithdorris.com
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I’m sure your vase smells lovely (again). White and green is very appropriate for the season (we had hail and a sprinkling of snow yesterday, too). Here’s my IAVOM contribution: https://acoastalplot.com/2018/02/12/in-a-vase-on-monday-tiny-flower-love/
Thank you! Sam x
Thanks Sam – the dark green arum made an especially good contrast, I thought
I like it, the lines speak of Ikebana inspiration and the crystal stem holders reflect the sleety weather and then you can stop and smell the hyacinths. A good winter vase.Here is my total opposite winter vase http://theshrubqueen.com/2018/02/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-winter-wonderland
Thanks Amy – it was such a spontaneous production in the end so I was pleased that the end result wsas a success
Your little arrangement is sweett and such a surprise since the glass pebbles remind me of the ice that rained down on us yesterday. Brrrrrrrr. Makes me cold looking at it.
It does look icy, doesn’t it? Although it was sunny this morning which melted most of the snow it had been cold overnight and there was ice about, with overshadowed places staying that way all day
Lovely arrangement. The clear beads and crystal really make it shimmer. I always enjoy Susie’s Ikebana creations, so I applaud your inspiration and your version. I think you can really use any container and it is more a matter of floral restraint when it comes to Ikebana. And you have done that beautifully.
Thanks Linda – restraint is easier at this time of year when there is less material!
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That Arum leaf is beautiful and really eye-catching… the lovely Hyacinth has strong competition there! I like the use of the glass pebbles and crystal to hide the frog and I suppose add additional support too. I have never seen an ikebana ‘vase’ here either, and even had to order my frog online. I finally have enough snodrops to pick today, so I can join you again. 🙂
https://wordsandherbs.com/2018/02/12/in-a-vase-on-monday-the-fair-maids/
The arum leaves look gorgeous when they first come through but tend to look tatty before long
I like the turn of events that your vase took. Like the quartz crystal, this time of year can point in a variety of directions. After a mild winter and fairly warm temperatures, we were sure that spring was arriving early but then the forecast changed and it’s supposed to be 27 degrees (-2c) tomorrow morning. Not all last minute changes are as lovely as your arrangement which suggests to me spring bursting forth from the ice of winter.
http://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2018/02/in-vase-on-monday-treasures-from.html.
That’s a really interesting observation, Peter, thank you 🙂
The quartz and glass gave an icy touch. Good job.
Thank you – and in view of the weather it was quite appropriate in the end too!
Oh that’s a most stunning, elegant and effective arrangement Cathy. Good luck with your search of an ikebana vase. Years ago there was a Japanese shop in Birmingham which might be worth popping into if a) you are passing and b) if it’s still there 🙂 It was very near to New Street Station. A little believe it or not snowdropless vase from me this week : https://greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/in-vase-on-monday-if-today-had-been.html
Ah, I will Google and see if I can find out ny more info on that shop, Anna. Thanks – and abandoning snowdrops for your vase…? Tut! 🙂
I thought you’d used ice at the base of your arrangement at first, Cathy. Nicely done and so appropriate for a wintry day. There’s still little to indicate winter here but we’re holding out hope for a little rain this week, if Mother Nature doesn’t allow it to evaporate or get hijacked en route. Meanwhile, I jumped into a celebration of Valentine’s Day: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2018/02/in-vase-on-monday-valentines-day-pinks.html
We have had snow and hail the last few days so your icy base is just right. Well done on finding your Ikebana type bowl..How pretty it looks. Susie is going to get us all trying it. Mind you, I am not very good at the necessary restraint and discipline. I usually end up bunging in a few more flowers, as indeed I did today. https://thebloominggarden.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/in-a-vase-on-mon…-and-fat-flowers/
Oh well, restraint is good, bounty is good – in fact any vase brings joy, bunged or unbunged 😉
Cathy fooled me into thinking they were ice cubes. He has made a magnificent arrangement. The pure white hyacinth and that should have a heady perfume as it is beautiful with the deep green of the leaf of Arum and the branch of Ivy. The sprig of Madreselva is beautiful. The vase a black plate with glass pearls and a quartz crystal: I love them. Greetings from Margarita.
Thank you Margarita – I was pleased with how it all came together
Very impressive and a clever way to get your material to behave. Lovely fragrance again too. I found an arum like this growing recently. Do you find they are less invasive than the plain leafed ones. I don’t know whether to remove it while I still can. My link: http://ablogaboutcompost.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/green-and-white-in-vase-on-monday.html
I haven’t found this one invasive, Alison, but it is growing in quite a scrubby part of the garden. I didn’t know plain leaved ones could be invasive?
Yes they can be and are difficult to eradicate. They are one of those things which are quite deep rooted and break off at bulb when you try to dig them up. Also the berriesare poisonous.
Hmm, yes I I believe the berries are on this one too; I now feel relieved mine are not growing in a particularly fertile place!!
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I, too, am an admirer of Susie’s simple, elegant approach. It is especially appealing when there is a scarcity of vase material. Have been on the lookout for an appropriate vase to try my hand. Leave it to you to come up with an ingenious substitute.
http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/5964
Have you found such a search difficult too, rickii?
A striking arrangement, Cathy, and a very effective way of displaying materials when they are limited, as they are at this time of year. Like some of the others, I thought that was ice cubes keeping the stems in place. I have a small container suitable for Ikebana inspired arrangements but I have not had the courage yet to try it out. My much more modest attempt can be seen here: https://silverscrappers.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/in-vase-on-monday-spring-windowsill.html
Thanks Elizabeth, and do try an ikebana style vase one of these weeks. I would say it’s easier than you might think and essentially only tweaking a few stems until you are satisfied. Of course it can be hugely more sophisticated than that, but ‘in the style of’ need not be 😉
Very elegant and dignified today, Cathy! I too thought you had used ice for a moment. That arum leaf is really quite something, isn’t it.
Mine is here today: https://edinburghgardendiary.com/2018/02/12/simply-snowdrops/
I’ve just noticed what a cheesy title I gave it – I think I came up with it at 11pm last night. Sometimes blog post titles write themselves, but other times coming up with something – anything – decent is the hardest thing. This is definitely one of those latter occasions.
Ice might certainly have been appropriate with the temperatures we have had recently but the practicalities would be another matter! Cheesy or not, your title was nothing if not apt – but I know what you mean about post titles, which as you know are important for me. Sometimes I will start with one but find myself changing it by the time I have written the post – and there have been a few where inspiration was completely lacking and they have been (in my eyes) sub standard…hey ho!
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Great vase for ikebana will we be seeing it again I wonder. Hopefully the specks have gone now
They turned into flakes, Dorris, but rain since then has seem them all off 😉
Just incessant rain here. Yuck
Hi cathy – loved your Ikebana style vase – It all looks very elegant and I bet the hyacinth smells amazing. It’s been a rough few weeks but I’m back with a vase (and it’s my blog’s third birthday today). Here’s my link – hope you have a good week.
https://viewsfrommygardenbench.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/in-a-vase-on-monday-three-flowers-birthdays-some-third-hope-and-kindness/
Love bec xx
Thanks, and so sorry things have been rough for you, Bec – hope you are on the up again
Instantly recognisable as ikebana Cathy. You have achieved the style there, I do like it’s simplicity.
Thanks Brian, me too
A very seasonal arrangement Cathy..love the icy effects.
Thanks Noelle, even though it was unplanned!
I do love the simplicity of the Ikebana vase. It really shows off each item to be admired individually and as a group. Your use of the crystals and glass beads really do look like ice cubes too- a perfect nod to the season you are. I’m imagining how lovely the hyacinth smells. The only thing I keep bringing in from my garden is dust and thorns, but the rains have started and things are greening up. Hoping for blossoms soon! I’d like to try for one more vase from my African garden before I leave.
Good to hear from you – and I wonder where your next move will be to… Hope to see another vase from a garden that is so very different from those of most of us
The DC area is next so nothing exotic, I’m afraid. I hope to get one more vase in from Namibia at least before I go.
My favourite style of plant arrangement.