I was cajoling various allium into becoming more upright citizens yesterday when I had a little accident, changing the course of my Vase on Monday. Instead of the blooms already in mind, the shortened stem of Allium christophii became the focus of today’s vase, joined simply by a clutch of Astrantia ‘Buckland’ and a froth of thalictrum foliage. I suspect the thalictrum is actually native and persistent meadow rue, accidentally introduced in my ignorance from a friend’s garden. The vase is one of many from my Caithness Glass ‘collection’ and, upright citizen that I am, today’s prop is my passport (now expired).
Bringing blooms or foliage in from the garden to pop into a vase or jamjar brings so much pleasure. If you are new to this meme and would like to join us every week or even just occasionally you would be most welcome; just leave links to and from this post and join the friendly and supportive IAVOM blogging community.
Rambling in the Garden 
A. christophii is difficult in a vase but looks good in yours. I’m not at home today so I’m not sure this link will work. In a vase on Monday – Airily white
Thanks Christina. The link did not work, but I have added it in
Thank you
thanks again for adding the link. All the images are there now; I’m not sure what happened, probably something to do with trying to add the link later, but maybe not. First day at the sea this year, but the water was freezing and there was a coldish wind, but still a nice thing to do.
Good here you have been to the seaside; hope you had a lovely day despite the coldish wind. Your post was showing partial links, but there were bits missing from the text of them.
I’ve worked on it, so you should be able to see it all now
Loving this airy vase, and I adore allium in a vase….lovely accompanying foliage too! No vase for me this week as I have a garden blogger interview up today on my blog. And I just returned from a family visit in California so just getting my bearings in the garden as I return. Will have vases next week for sure. Enjoy your week Cathy!
Thanks Donna, I have tried to eradicate the meadow rue so could happily use it in every vase till it is all gone! Have fun with your intervoew and I am glad you are making time to see your family too
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What a clever combination – you always have such brilliant ideas! This is my short post, not a floral design but lovely peonies. https://hurtledto60.com/2018/06/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-perfect-peonies/
Thanks Ronnie. Like today, the contents of my Monday vases often just suggest themselves 🙂
They make a lovely vase.
Thanks!
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Hi Cathy, I love the combination of the allium head with the tumbling thalictrum foliage and the astrantia flowers – the little flowerlets inside the astrantia reflect the purple stars of Christophii.
Here is my very brief IAVOM for this week. Thanks as ever for hosting.
https://carrotsandcalendula.co.uk/2018/06/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-cutting-patch-cornflowers/
Oh now that IS a good observation – thanks for that Ciar… I am off to inspect the vase again!
Lovely. Admiring your allium very much. It’s elusive in my little garden, but you inspire me to try again (please don’t tell the voles). Your vase is nicely staged and photographed. Wishing you a great week ahead.
Thanks Susie – and I promise I won’t say a word to the voles!
My alliums must be a later variety as none are blooming yet. Nothing more dramatic than A. Christophii. I grow Astrantial ‘Buckland’ and it will be opening today or in the next day or so. What a great plant! My offering is here: http://www.lindabrazill.com/each_little_world/2018/06/in-a-vase-on-monday-and-everyday.html
I always forget how the alliums open at different times here, as the Purple Sensation are over, the christophii just beginning and the drumsticks will be later still. I especially like Buckand too, which is such a good do-er
That is very pretty and I really like the foliage! I don’t have alliums in my garden, but I’ve seen them in bloom in other gardens around here lately.
I guess my post this week could be titled “In a Cream Pitcher on Monday”! 😀
http://heirloomcottagegarden.weebly.com/blog/in-a-vase-on-monday-a-jug-of-pansies
Thanks Joanna – it is always interesting to see and hear about blooms we don’t have ourslves
Pretty and clever!
Wish the Allium could use the passport to come to my garden. I love those and have never had any success with them. Rue is hightly sought after here for butterfly larval food. Here is my vase this Monday. Happy Monday, Cathy http://theshrubqueen.com/2018/06/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-brain-prunings/
Crikey! That’s interesting about the butterfly larval food, assuming it is the same in the UK. The allium seem to come back each year but do peter out after a while – and some self seed more prolifically than others!
I will have to look up the type of Rue, they sell it here potted!
I love everything about Allium except their tendency to lean, flop, fall over. A splendid use of your seed head. It’s always a good idea to let the others know that if they don’t become upright citizens, you’ll behead them. One example usually keeps the others in line. 🙂
Oops, forgot the link again – https://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2018/06/in-vase-on-monday-bamboozled.html
Hmm yes, Peter, a lot of stakes have been employed on bringing them to heel! The christophii head was only just opening so ebven more reason to save it
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Hi Cathy, love your upright citizen and wish I’d be as upright…or perhaps I don’t! 😉 Such a lovely posy and I like the flow added by the thalictrum. Less is definitely more. Believe it or not: today I’m cheeky and join in with a vase: https://personaleden.wordpress.com/2018/06/11/in-a-vase-on-a-monday-in-love-montagsvase-verliebt/ I do hope you and the golfer are well. Love to you both and happy summer days 🙂
Yes thanks, Annette, we are both well and Busy Busy getting ready for garden opening!
I love the way the thalictrum foliage arches gracefully over the the purple headed allium. AS usual you choice of props and story has brought a smile to my face. Can’t believe it is so hot here….well that the true reason for my post:
http://noellemace.blogspot.com/2018/06/in-vase-on-monday-better-late-than-never.html
Although I tried to find some longer stems of thalictrum they all seemed to be growing evry which-way but in the end I was pleased with the effcet it had. Our kitchen occasionally gets over-hot with the Aga at this time of year but today it has been much hotter outside than in, and although the skies clouded over an hour ago they have now gone again, so no rain on the horizon… 😦
Hi Noelle, tried to leave a comment about your lovely white centaurea but got an error message.
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You have chosen the ideal background colour to highlight the Allium and the tinge of purple in the Astrantia. I adore Astrantias! The thalictrum foliage looks so fresh. I am off to dip my feet in the nearby stream now to cool down. But before I go, here is my vase: https://wordsandherbs.com/2018/06/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-classic/
Thanks Cathy!
Thanks Cathy, I wasn’t sure whether the vase would blend into the background so I am pleased to read that you think it is effective. Cooling your feet in a stream sounds a great idea as it has been hot here again too!!
Whether the meadow rue is an interloper or not, it makes a nice accent and Astrantia is yet another of the plants I covet. I’ve tried growing it 2x, most recently adding the same ‘Buckland’ you used in today’s vase to my raised planter in the hope that the extra water the plants there receive would make a difference. Sadly, thus far, there are no signs of bloom activity whatsoever. But I have other flowers of course: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2018/06/in-vase-on-monday-experiments.html
Shame about astrantia – someone else has mentioned dryness as being a problem for them. They take a bit to get established here in my garden
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Ah, astrantia… I’ve loved this plant for years and years but have singularly failed to grow any in any garden we’ve had. According to a specialist grower I spoke to recently, it’s too dry in our soil for them, sadly. Oh well. I’ll just have to enjoy yours instead. Here’s my offering this week: https://acoastalplot.com/2018/06/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-kitchen-flowers/
S x
Oh that’s a shame, Sam. They seem to take a bit to establish here but are very reliable once they do
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I feel like we’re on the same wavelength today with simple and rustic! I’m posting from North Georgia today! https://tssoutherngarden.com/2018/06/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-north-georgia-mountains/
How far is North Georgia from home for you, and in what direction?
Cathy the Allium christophii I love how it combines with the Astrantia “Buckland”. It looks wonderful. The foliage is an ornament. It is a magnificent, divine bouquet. Your passport is a nice detail. I really like the background you have chosen to photograph the vase. Have a good week. Greetings from Margarita.
Thanks Margarita – it was very simple and quick to do
I can never bear to cut Alliums out of the garden-or lilies ! I guess I need to plant more of both !https://gardenbook-ks.blogspot.com/2018/06/in-vase-on-monday.html
Ah yes, lilies would be a different matter, as I only have a few! Allium bulbs are cheap to buy and reliable in the UK so I can keep adding to their number if I wish
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Your vase turned out quite lovely and unique! My vase submission for this week has a wilder sassy side too. https://nomadsbynature.wordpress.com/2018/06/11/in-a-vase-on-monday-welcome-to-the-jungle/
Thank you and sorry to be later in replying than usual
You’ve got quite a bit going on, so please no worries at all. I find it very sweet that you take time to reply regardless. Your dedication to your garden and blog and hosting this IAVOM invitation, plus responding to each commenter with real life deadlines all going on is truly commendable!
Well that was a most fortunate accident then Cathy 🙂 Beautiful flowers and the thalictrum foliage gives a most pleasing sense of flow and movement to the vase. That passport will become a collector’s item in the future 🙂 I thought that I might not get the chance today but I got there eventually : https://greentapestry.blogspot.com/2018/06/in-vase-on-monday-little-large.html
Sorry to be late in replying Anna – Busy Busy as you know!
Lovely. The allium is perfect as a foil for these other things and makes a very pleasing frame. I like the meadow rue trailing about. I always like to see how you tie your post together with the props, always inventive and I always forget or am in a rush.
https://ablogaboutcompost.blogspot.com/2018/06/foxgloves-in-vase-on-monday.html
My garden is clearly too big or I am blind. I just found Allium christophiii flowering today and I thought it had disappeared!
It comes into flower several weeks after Purple Sensation and I usually forget this, so I think you can be forgiven Alison! 😀
Thanks Alison – I feel I have to set an example every week by including a prop, which I din’t have in the very early days!
Alliums seem to to me to be the sort of flowers that stay out in the garden like lily-of-the-Nile; yet I have seen lily-of-the-Nile cut and brought it. I did just for bragging rights, and it was cool. I think they work nicely in modern interiors, and with modern style, which I lack, but it was cool anyway. The more I see alliums the more I want to try them, although they are so expensive that I would probably leave them out int he garden anyway, maybe grow them outside a window. I saw a picture of ‘Mount Everest’, which I am thinking might be my first.
Most of the allium bulbs in the UK are very reasonably priced, Tony. I have Mount Everest which is a bit dearer than the others
They are not available in nurseries here (although they were available last year). I only see them in mail order catalogues. If I knew that they would be perennial, I would be more likely to invest in a few bulbs. However, they work more like gladiolus; blooming well the first year only. Only about a quarter bloom the second year, and even fewer, if any, the following years. I have seen only one group personally, and they did not look very good, even in their first year. This is an excellent climate, but is not perfect for everything.
Always interesting to read of your experiences, Tony
That makes a nice impromptu arrangement, especially the Thalictrum foliage. I’m a day late with my post — http://bonneylassie.blogspot.com/2018/06/in-vase-on-monday-on-tuesday.html
Thanks Alison – and please don’t fret about being ‘late’