It had to be you, it had to be you
I wandered around and finally found, that somebody who…
I didn’t need to wander around to choose the blooms for today’s vase because as soon as the first one opened on Thursday, encouraged by those lovely sunny February days we have been having, I knew that it just had to be them. Surprisingly, these Tête-à-Tête narcissi were not the first of the cheery daffs to open, beaten by a whisker by some random full size daffodils that came to me in a pot as a Mothers’ Day gift some years ago before being planted out in the garden.
I had forgotten just how petite these perky little beauties are and must have downsized through about six different receptacles before I found something small enough to suit them, a simple stoneware inkwell. I will readily admit that I am not a huge fan of yellow daffodils, but am not immune to the instant effect that these have when they come into bloom – not just on the garden but in the hearts of those who see them, a sure sign that spring is coming. For that reason they appear on their own, just as they are and with no bells and whistles.
There are certainly no bells and whistles as far as the Golfer and I are concerned, we are what we are, like the proverbial Chalk and Cheese. We may seem an unlikely couple to some but nevertheless we make a good team, achieving more together than we would do apart and tolerating each other’s very different interests, like Golf and Gardens. I don’t show personal faces on this blog, but it seemed appropriate to include this small homage as my prop for today…the Golfer won’t know as he never reads the blog!*
* but he does of course see the vase (and the prop)!
Rambling in the Garden 
you are quite right these little beauties need nothing else to enhance their beauty. What a lovely tribute to your Golfer. I always thought that the Pianist never reads my blog, but I was surprised to find that he was most put out when I suggested on my last post that he mows the lawn with his eyes shut.
My offering is here: https://thebloominggarden.wordpress.com/2019/02/25/in-a-vase-on-monday-floating-flowers/
You will have to continue throwing in these tongue-in-check comments to see if he is reading it regularly 😉 The Golfer looked at the photo next to the vase and said ‘That could be me…’!!
Such stalwart cheery little flowers aren’t they! I have a pot of bulbs I was given last year and they are blooming away as though there is no tomorrow – just like yours! My vase this week is the result of yesterday’s walk in the sunshine. A glorious day and the post before today’s shows you a bit of the route I took. I hope you and all the other bloggers visiting you today enjoy it! Amanda
https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-light-and-gentle-vase-on-monday.html
Yes, they are thrilled with all the recent sunshine of course (but perhaps it has not reached you…?)
Oh yes! We’ve had lots of lovely gentle warm sunny days over the past week or so! Unseasonably warm. I keep having to remind myself that it is still February!! A
We certainly can’t get complacent and assume winter is behind us, can we?!
I am one of those who love yellow daffodils and I was thrilled to see some planted in a garden when I passed in the car yesterday! Here’s my link for today: https://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2019/02/25/in-a-vase-on-monday-parrots/
I do prefer the white ones but tolerate the yellow miniatures 😉 Do you not have any in your garden (yet)? And parrots?! Ah…tulips!
I have shoots of Thalia and another but daffodils come late here usually that is why I was so surprised to see them yesterday but it was a bit higher than here.
My Thalia have buds too but they still have a lot of growing to do before they flower. It’s intriguing that yours are later in Italy
Most bulbs need that cold spell to start them into growth, they just get it later here
Yes of course, that makes sense
Had to be…glad you found your Golfer Cathy. Love those little Tête-à-Têtes. Daffodils bring such promise.
https://pbmgarden.blog/2019/02/25/in-a-vase-on-monday-february-exuberance/
Thanks Susie (and we met through a common interest, so we do share some!). Yes, they are real harbingers, aren’t they?
Your little ink jar with tete a tete narcissi just about sums up the joys of planting bulbs in the garden. I could not bring myself to cut them, not least as I love to admiring them out in the garden. https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2019/02/in-vase-on-monday-to-twig.html
I know what you mean, but I could spare some, and these ones at the front of the house have multiplied nicely, despite benign neglect!
Hi Cathy, tête-à-tête are brilliant and I always forget quite how brilliant. As you say they pack a punch. I thought you and the Golfer were a great team helping me on my NGS open day and not chalky or cheesy at all. 😉anyway to business, https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
And I had really forgotten how tiny their little trumpets were. Thanks for your kind comments, Bec – we do rub along very well!
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I am so glad you shared these Cathy – temperatures are rising today but there are still no bulbs flowering here so I am very happy to see some spring colour. The shoots of my dwarf daffodils are no larger than a week ago, but greener. 🙂 I have a few hellebores to share today: https://wordsandherbs.com/2019/02/25/a-taste-of-spring-and-a-vase-on-monday/
Have a great week!
Perhaps your bulbs will all appear in a rush – are they all ones you have planted at the new property? Good that you at least have hellebores 🙂
I think that is why I am so smitten with my hellebores this year – beacuse there is nothing else yet! Yes, I am patiently waiting to see if the bulbs planted last autumn have survived the mice…
Perfectly understandable, and intriguing that the hellebores are up and about first – is that what you woud have expected?
Yes, usually they are flowering with the first crocuses, but these were new plants put in last autumn and were both flowering when planted. I am hoping they will flower all through next winter too.
A lovely tribute to the Golfer. Having met you both, Mum and I thought you made a lovely couple, supporting one another and making everyone welcome. My Mr Bramble is a sailor, which is not easy to follow from the shore. I get the sails muddled up and have no idea who’s winning. He often sails with his brother, which is nice. I go out with my Mum to visit gardens instead. A perfect compromise. Here’s my spring flowers today. Tete-a-tete feature in my photos too. I think you’d like Snow Baby too. https://bramblegarden.com/2019/02/25/in-a-vase-on-monday-10/
Aw, thanks Karen 🙂 Life is full of compromises and I am glad you don’t feel you have to accompany Mr Bramble on his sailing excursions! Does he sail on that lake that’s this side of Leicester.
He sails mostly at Nottingham County sailing club near Southall. It’s a lovely spot and I sometimes just go and have a walk around the shore. Every time I look up I get a glimpse of sails going by and I’ve no idea what order they are in. It’s really not a spectator sport (for me anyway). But as we work together all week, it’s good to have a break at the weekends and he has something to talk to me about, and I talk about my garden visits too. xx
Sounds a good balance, Karen
Love the Daffodils, nothing quite like them to announce spring. Chalk and Cheese? must be and English thing. I am not certain my husband actually reads my blog, though he does like it on Facebook and you probably have never met someone less interested in gardening or golf. Here is my link http://theshrubqueen.com/2019/02/25/in-a-vase-on-monday-shell-loopy/
Haha, yes probably. It means two very differentr people/things – I am sure you got the gist 😉 The Golfer does take some interest in the garden and is quite proud of being able to recognise some of the plants, even when he sees them elsewhere – and he knows much pleasure I get from gardens so that’s good enough for him 😉
Sounds like a perfect match, Golfer and Gardener or Chalk and Cheese! My husband recognizes palms, bromeliads and trees. And that is as specific as it gets. I think he knows what the Papaya tree is now.
It’s nice that they at least try to remember the names of some plants, though 😉
There is nothing as cheerful after the dark days of winter and I do love the tiny Tete a tete. Mine have just started in the last few days. It sounds as though you are a great team, judging by all the projects you complete. That tells it all. Here is my link:
https://ablogaboutcompost.blogspot.com/2019/02/daphne-odora-in-vase-on-monday.html
Yes, the first ones opened on Thursday and now they are all rushing to get in on the act. I added some more under the apple tree in the autumn so I wonder if they will be earlier or later than the others
Re the Hellebore trick. I think it’s more of a score than a slice to just cut the outer stem. I’ll experiment.
I shall pick one today and do just that 🙂 Thank you
I love the early daffs. Not because they are yellow, not my fav. color, but because they call out Spring is on the way. They also have a lovely green begining which is my fav. color.
I certainly agree with you Beverly, and what a shame yellow is such an unfavourable colour for many of us 😉
Cheerful golden daffodils are always a welcome sight in the winter garden and even more so in this delightful vase. Such a sweet sentiment about you and the golfer. How fortunate that you found each other! My offering is here: https://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2019/02/in-vase-on-monday-slowly-slowly.html
Indeed Peter, thank you 🙂
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Those little narcissi are such a joy at this time of year, and thanks for sharing a glimpse of the golfer.
It’s daffodils all over here too… https://doingtheplan.com/2019/02/25/daffodils-in-a-vase-on-monday/
And I had forotten just how miniature their blooms are, Jen
Ha! I had the very same thoughts about my gold-toned Freesias this week – they’re loud blooms but can’t be denied once they appear. Your daffodils are ahead of mine this year, which is a big surprise (at least to me). As to your Golfer, my scientist and I make a similar chalk and cheese comparison but still fit one another just perfectly. (He doesn’t read my blog either, or so he says.)
That’s all good to know, Kris 🙂
Cathy sincere and charming words for your golfer: how beautiful. The Tête-à-Tête Daffodils make you happy with their yellow color as the sun and its beautiful shape, I love them. The stoneware inkwell is a wonderful vase for these special daffodils. Greetings from Margarita.
Thank you Margarita – shame he won’t read them though 😉 The vase is simple today bit it is certainly cheerful, isn’t it? Best wishes for a good week
Hi Cathy, I’m so enjoying the daffodils we’re seeing everywhere at the moment – they are so sunny and cheerful. And that is a lovely tribute to the Golfer too. My hubby never reads my blog either – but then he doesn’t read emails either … we’re another chalk and cheese partnership too. Daffodils feature in my vase today – here’s the link: https://silverscrappers.blogspot.com/2019/02/in-vase-on-monday-all-yellows.html
Good to know there are plenty more chalk and cheese partners around, Elizabeth! 😉 And good to know you are enjoying daffs too, so much further north – my Mum said she had got buds on hers and she is much further north than you
I’m yellow with envy, Cathy. Daffodils in February! How pretty.
We have fierce winds which allegedly will be followed by snow – again! Thanks for the picker-upper.
I must look back on my blog to see when they have flowered in previous years – I think it gives everyone a lift when they see the first ones blooming
I planted bowls of tête-à-tête for this spring to have in the front courtyard where we get no sun, I normally have tulips but I wanted something a little earlier and they do brighten up the area no end. Had to move the crocuses as I think they need sun to open up properly, but hyacinths seems OK. So nice to arrive home and see some colour. My OH and I are opposites too – he is a musician and I am the gardener so we spend lots of time apart often to meet over a meal 😀
I am glad you are getting some colour in your courtyard. Where have you moved the crocus too? You are probably right about needing a sunnier position as they will open fully when sunbathing. Here, even when in the house I tend to frequent the back of the house with the big kitchen table whereas he sits in the front (with the televison!) 😉
Moved the crocus to the patio where it received late afternoon sun.
Is that at the back of the house?
My garden is at the back – south-west facing. The courtyard is simply a gravelled area with parking for all the houses. I have steps up to the door and a granite stone ledge which runs under the bedroom windows. North facing it rarely receives any direct sunlight, but it is fairly light shade. My aim is to have lots of containers on there with shade loving plants.
Do you have any pictures of it on your blog? I have to confess to not having looked at your blog very often – there are just too many to follow 😦
I know what you mean about blogs! I try to keep my list down to 100 (fortunately they don’t all post too often) as I like to engage and comment on their posts. Others I just pop into now and then to say hello! This post shows you the whole of my garden.
https://cornwallincolours.wordpress.com/2018/05/19/six-on-saturday-my-garden/
100 – Good Grief Jude! How on earth do you do it? I suppose if you accept that sometimes you will just pop in and not necessarily leave a comment it would be easier. I had a quick look on my phone at your link and will go back and have a proper look later, but I am so glad I have seen it and I know you always say it is small but it is at least bigger than I thought it was going to be. Thank you you for pointing toward this post – it will help me understand the constraints that you often seem to come up against
As I said, they don’t all post regularly. And many are photo blogs, so nothing to read 😀
Actually it is only 61 – I just had a look. I stopped following some blogs when they haven’t posted for a long time, or they have changed direction. My self imposed limit was 50, but sometimes a blog comes along that I enjoy too much!
Oh such cheerful little daffies which can’t help but make you smile. I prefer the cream and white varieties but these are just as endearing. The Golfer looks in a most pensive pose – where was he? It looks familiar. From what I’ve seen of the two of you together you have chosen a good ‘un and vice versa 🙂 Thanks for the earworm. My vase also has a yellow theme this week :
https://greentapestry.blogspot.com/2019/02/in-vase-on-monday-tassels.html
I certainly woudn’t choose taller yellow ones for the garden, but miniatures are different as I have a fondness for all things small, despite their colour! It took me ages to find this pictures as I could visualise it but couldn’t remember where it was taken. It wasn’t even on this laptop but on an external hard drive but fortunately filed in a Places folder so I just kept looking at possible folders till I found it – it was at Wollerton Old Hall, which was not at all where I thought it probably was!
Oh no wonder it looked familiar 🙂 I think that I’ve stood in the very same spot.
😀
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We were supposed to have our first “powow” at work today but the snow is snowing so we put it off. My iavom today was written and photographed a couple of days ago when the sun was shining…lucky thing: http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/6068.
We are all now intrigued as to what your ‘powow’ might have involved rickii…!
I love those beginning of the end of winter flowers making their appearance – still enjoying summer temperatures here in Tasmania.
My Monday vase –
https://blog.petalandpins.com/2019/02/25/ripples-on-water/
It’s been nearly summer temperatures here too – up to 17 degrees today and yesterday was the warmest ever Feb day in the UK at 20 degrees (not here) – can you believe it?!
They do not look so little in the picture. in catalogs, Tete-a-Tete seems to bloom with tiny flowers.
I agree
Love tete a tetes 🙂 differences in a marriage are good thing 🙂
I’m late as usual but here’s my contribution – daffs, rosemary and hellebores but mostly I wrote about my Dad. lots love Bec xx
https://viewsfrommygardenbench.com/2019/02/25/my-dad-loved-delia-smith-cookbooks-and-cooking-in-a-vase-on-monday/
Always good to have you, Bec, whenever you arrive!