This vase of tulips may not be quite as graceful as I would have liked but as they are the first tulips I have been able to pick this year they are a tribute to the amazing gracefulness of tulips at every stage of their flowering – from bud, through partially open, fully open and then their gradual decay.
These are Tulip ‘Sake’, in their second year of flowering so I am happy to have them return, and their ‘iridescent rich rose, deeper inside’ seemed to reflect the ornamental quince Chaenomeles that was growing nearby, so a sprig of this was cut too. The quince was bought as coral pink ‘Madame Butterfly’ but may have been grafted onto a more common variety as most of the shrub is now throwing up these pinky red blooms instead. The skinny vase was picked up a few months ago from the charity shop that now operates on our local recycling site and I have been keeping it specifically to use, in the first instance, for tulips which I visualised arching gracefully towards their elegant death. I have no vases anything like this one so was thrilled with the bargain purchase.
Being anything BUT graceful is my tiny one-armed articulated person who is propped up against the vase, no doubt sulking because I also decided to include a more elegant additional prop of a rolled up tulip leaf (as demonstrated by Susie in several vases on Monday). The rolled leaf was discretely secured with a broken cocktail stick.
It has been a busy week in the garden, with work on The Project coming to a conclusion, and the planting out of autumn sown annuals completed. Sowing is up to date and with warmer temperatures seedlings are growing quickly. October sown ‘Winter Sunshine’ sweet peas are now around 3 feet high and in bud, so we should be seeing sweet peas In a Vase on Monday in a few weeks time. The forecast dry and mild week ahead will see me on my knees, systematically weeding each area of the garden in turn – at least that is the plan! I really have been too busy to blog this last week, but watch out for the Big Reveal coming soon…
In the meantime, though, I will happily take time out of the garden to read and reply to all your comments on this post and to check out what you have found in your own gardens to pop in your vases this Monday. See you soon!
Rambling in the Garden 
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I used to have a vase just like that – I’ve no idea what happened to it. yours is perfect for your first tulips. Like you I have been unbelievably busy in the garden; with no time for anything else. Here’s my vase: https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2018/04/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-elegant-irises/
I knew I had seen something similar on IAVOM but wasn’t quite sure who it was – hope yours turns up. This one would probably look better with more than just 5 tulips but Sake was in the shrub border and I didn’t want to overpick them. There are buds on lots of the varieties in pots though, so I expect you will be seeing lots more tulips from me in the next few weeks!
I don’t actually think I’ve ever used the vase for IAVOM, Cathy; I may have left it in the UK when we moved here.
Oh, it must have been someone else then – haven’t you used a really thin vase before, albeit not exactly the same?
no, not as thin as that.
Nothing says spring like a tulip and this one delivers the message with a pop!
Oh thanks Marian – it has seemed like a long wait for some tulips!!
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What a find at your local recycling centre charity shop! This vase is perfect for your wide open coral pink tulips and I love the way you have combined it with the quince, a very different flower in a similar colour.
Hope The Project is coming along well. I know what you mean about being too busy to blog now the warmer weather is here. But after a couple of weeks off, it is nice to be joining you again. Here is my “jar of Spring”:
https://carrotsandcalendula.co.uk/2018/04/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-a-jar-of-spring/
Thanks Ciar – ideally I would like the tulips to have been less open but they weren’t ready last week and I was determined to pick them this time round
‘Sake’ is beautiful! I may have to investigate that one, as I’ve developed a bit of a thing for the species tulips! Lovely combination with the quince.
Thanks Ali – although it is a Darwin tulip and not a species one, so the scale of the vase is perhaps misleading and rather bigger than you thought. This is the first year the quince has flowered anything remotely like profusely, but already I can see I will have to keep its growth in check!
The new vase is very cool–perfect for displaying the lovely tulips. Cathy, the first thing I noticed was the manipulated tulip leaf! How fun! Thanks so much for hosting our Monday floral gathering place. Have fun in the garden.
Thanks Susie – glad you noticed the leaf! I really was thrilled to find this vase even though I don’t really need any more (and it only cost £1)!!
Oh that’s a most delightful tulip Cathy. I’m slightly puzzled by your reference to a skinny vase as it looks quite roomy. I like your little man and his spring roll. Looking forward to the formal opening of the Project – can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to. Having been away this weekend I’m chomping at the bit to get out this afternoon! Have snipped flowers for a little vase here : https://greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/in-vase-on-monday-petit-four.html
I took a pictures face on, Anna, and at a slight angle too but used the latter as I thought it showed how narrow the opning was…just measured it and it is a mere 1.5cms, so essentially a very ‘flat’ vase. Have you been to open up the caravan? Hope you get a lot done today 🙂
Can’t wait until I have something like yours from the garden to share. Lovely. My offering, such as it is, is here: http://www.lindabrazill.com/each_little_world/2018/04/ivom-winter-whites.html
Thanks Linda – I sense that in a few weeks time I might be lost for choice. I wonder what treat you have in store for us today….
Your new vase of tulips is charming. Can’t wait to see the big reveal… Happy IAVOM.
Thanks Lisa – and it won’t be long now… 😉
Very graceful and amazing. I love the tulip leaf and the Quince adds to the graceful lines. The charity shops are my favorite hunting grounds for vases. My vase is not a vase at all.http://theshrubqueen.com/2018/04/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-fire-bolt-and-disney
Thanks Amy – this shop at the recycling centre is such a good idea as it makes sure nothing saleable is thrown away
I adore tulips and these are lovely in your vase. I too love their gracefulness in all their stages. Your garden projects and progress sound wonderful. Here we are still in winter/spring mix with nary a bloom in the garden due to the cold and snow and now freezing rain. We have not warmed so the garden is still on hold for the most part. I am looking forward to your reveal soon.
I was able to salvage a few brave blooms from the frozen garden. I too have loads of winter sown annuals waiting to be planted, but I am not sure when spring will arrive on warm breezes….
Thanks Donna – I have been champing at the bit to get some tulips into a vase, but I think I might be inundated with them in a couple of weeks! You, though, are still having to contend with your winter/spring mix which must seem interminable sometimes…
I have been reading up about quinces..they are so elegant as are your tulips. Lots of inspiration for plants for my new garden. A few snippets from the front garden this week: http://noellemace.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/in-vase-on-monday-spring-posy.html
I guess you read the article in the RHS magazine, Noelle? The bushes are not quite as elegant as the flowers, unless trained – they would especially lovely against a wall… Glad you are finding new inspiration
Your tulips are graceful indeed. What a cute articulated figure. Looking forward to the big reveal of The Project. My offering is here: https://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2018/04/in-vase-on-monday-in-memory-of-jeff.html
Thanks Peter – I have been watching the buds emerging for ages and then all of a sudden they were fully out and not really at their best for picking!
The color of the tulips and the quince are wonderful and I enjoyed the tiny figure, one-armed though he may be. I look forward to the big reveal of The Project too! Here’s my post, an example of a spring explosion: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2018/04/in-vase-on-monday-not-at-all-what-id.html
Thanks Kris – seeing the quince when I picked the tulips was serendipitious as the colour match was perfect
Oh! I do love a Big Reveal! My IAVOM includes tulips as well, it is the season…
http://www.thedangergarden.com/2018/04/bloomday-day-late-but-with-vase.html
Yes, it is definitely the start of tulip season here and there may be tulips in my vases for several weeks now…!
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The drama of tulips in any stage of their display is greatly welcome and gorgeous!! There is just something about them that demands the standing ovation of anyone’s gaze. The sprig of quince is a perfect accompaniment too and set off beautifully in that narrow vase. I love seeing what you come up with from your garden and am looking forward to your big reveal soon. I can appreciate all the work you are putting into everything right now. I’m in the starting stages of discovery and organizing with my new place. There is so much to do, so much I want to do, and so much I am learning about. I guess it’s fitting that my contribution this week is all about discovery and the state flower and tree of where I am now calling home: https://nomadsbynature.wordpress.com/2018/04/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-discoveries/
Thank you. I am always pleased when tulips return for another year as they don’t reliably do so in the UK – I am chuffed this year to see some parrot tulips popping up again (Victoria’s Secret perhaps?) It must be an exciting time investigating your new place and assessing its potential. As you know, I love devising schemes from vague opportunities 😉
And the opportunities are vague! It’s a bit daunting, but exciting! I will have to try to put some more tulips in as I shuffle things around – they really are gorgeous if I can get them picked before the deer go on a munch raid.
Cathy her thin vase is beautiful. The Tulips “Sake” are divine. The twig of the ornamental quince Chaenomeles with its full buds is very beautiful. The vase is magnificent, accompanied by the tulip leaf rolled on the floor and above his little person articulated with a single naked arm: poor thing will catch cold and constipated. Cathy, your Secret Project is already finished? I really want to see it. Greetings from Margarita.
Thank you Margarita for your kind comments, and yes, The Project is almost ready to be revealed…
Amazing and graceful! Thanks for this lovely post, Cathy! My vase: https://timpingradina.blogspot.ro/2018/04/in-vase-on-monday-old-style.html
Thanks Anca
Looking forward to your big reveal! I love your Sisyphean vase. My IaVoM is here: http://bonneylassie.blogspot.com/2018/04/in-vase-on-monday_16.html
Had to remind myself of the definition of Sisyphean!!
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This is a lovely graceful tulip, Cathy. Very pretty and it goes beautifully with the quince. I couldn’t resist cutting a few tulips for my Monday vase, too. It’s here: https://acoastalplot.com/2018/04/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-flower-power/
Have a lovely week (and I look forward to your big reveal…). Sam x
Thanks Sam; in hindsight I think the colour of Sake is bit wishy washy 😉 Look forward to seeing what variety you have today
Beautiful composition–each and every component! I am taking a break from IAVOM this week, but I will be back next week 🙂
Thanks Terri – I think we could stick a single tulip in a vase and it would still look good!
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Your vase is really lovely Cathy. Tulips always look good, whatever stage they are at… I even like them once the petals have all dropped and lie under the vase! I have had a busy day too, so am rather late, but managed to cut some flowers late afternoon while the dinner was cooking! (These light evenings are wonderful. ;-). ) https://wordsandherbs.com/2018/04/16/in-a-vase-on-monday-growth/
Have a good week!
Thanks Cathy: I like the naked stems too. It’s not a regular habit yet this year, but there have been a couple of times when I have gone out and done a bit more after we have eaten – good to have that option with the lighter evenings
Looks like we both had tulips to show today. Your’s are beautiful – mine are generic – still lovely though. I’m so looking forward to the end of our rains and cold – so much to do but can’t get going with muddy garden beds!
Thanks Lindy – there is so much promise in the buds of the other tulips but I shall have to wait a little longer for those. Hope your weather picks up soon – this week I aim to blitz weeding with the hope that I can then stay on top of it by doing it little and often
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Such a beautiful colour. I love those tulips and quince. I struggle to get quince shrubs going here. I’ve got that madam butterfly somewhere, but it is not conspicuous. I must search it out to see if it is still alive. Looking forward to the big reveal. Always curious to see what new projects you have there. Here’s my vases this week. Sorry it’s late. Blooming internet….! https://bramblegarden.com/2018/04/17/in-a-vase-on-monday-spring-flowers-for-mum/ Love karen x
This has struggled here, Karen, but has a lot of blooms this year for the first time – but is such a scruffy and unattractive plant!
Very pretty colours. I know what you mean about being too busy gardening to blog, I’m out there all hours, it’s the best time of the year. Looking forward to the big unveiling.
Can’t manage ‘all hours’ here, Chloris, because of other things, but it’s good to at least have the option of morning, noon or night now 😀