Again I dithered; it would be so easy to cut tulips again, but then there was the cow parsley and that white lilac garden escapee I had been admiring on our walks – and the many other contenders in the garden too, small and humble maybe, but I did so want to give them the chance to shine…
…so, after extolling their virtues yesterday, I went down the small and humble line and started with a sprig of Astrantia ‘Star of Beauty’ and some stems of an anemone flowered aquilegia – the latter does not have spurs and may not be instantly recognisable as such. Plucking a nearby heuchera leaf, probably the ubiquitous ‘Palace Purple’, things began to take on a slightly sultry appearance and a spent stem of Hellebore ericsmithii ‘Pirouette’ was also cut to emphasise this. An anonymous pulmonaria crept out of the shadows to join the gathering, along with Geranium phaeum ‘Raven’ and 
some innocent-looking Galium odoratum. A solitary spike of Persicaria ‘Superbum’ (or whatever its new name is) makes its presence felt and three seedheads from Fritillaria meliagris add a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’. The final touch is courtesy of the blooming tendrils of Hardenbergia violacea plucked from inside the Coop.
In the absence of inspiration for any kind of sultry prop, a chevron amethyst palmstone was brought into service, linking the purplish tones of the Caithness Glass vase with the slightly sultry contents. A combination of amethyst and quartz, mixed together in a chevron pattern, this kind of amethyst is believed to combine the strengthening and enhancing qualities of quartz with the stress relieving qualities of amethyst.
Sometimes it has been difficult during lockdown to remember what day of the week it is, but a Monday vase acts as a reminder and brings an element of normality to our lives. If you would like to do the same, just find something from your garden or foraged nearby and share it with us, in or out of a vase or other receptacle, and leave links to and from this post.
Sometimes the contents of a vase will outlive the week, as did some of last week’s glitzy contribution, shown below alongside a posy of Winter Sunshine sweet peas.
Rambling in the Garden 
I love everything in your vase today, Cathy, especially the Geranium phaeum. I picked my flowers and wrote my post on Saturday (because I’m working today) but it is scheduled to post today: https://wp.me/p5Pz00-2gq. Thank you, as always x
I began scheduling mine because of Monday morning exercise activities, and I knew people would be waiting to link with it – so mine is done on Sunday and scheduled to post at 9.00
I was just thinking about my opening line in this comment and I see that Sam has used my exact words! I love everything in your vase today Cathy, especially the Geranium phaeum! Word for word! So, by that, I think you can assume that you have a truly lovely vase today, with some gentle and beautiful flowers in it! Tulips and other flamboyant spring bulbs can rather overshadow the more humble flowers at the moment, but for me they are the ones that really shine and steal my heart! A lovely vase – thank you! I have an unusual offering, for me, today! Not really my style but it presented itself so I just took its lead! Amanda https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2020/05/in-vase-on-monday.html
Thanks Amanda, and as opportunities frequently offer themselves to me too I am curious about your vase today!
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I love the colours at this time of year, your vase captures them so well. I have done a post – amazing I know https://patientgardener.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/in-a-vase-on-monday-late-spring/
I’ll try again next week but I’m not very good at doing memes but I’ll try
Thanks Helen – and I am pleasantly surprised, rather than amazed!
And because we are not able to comment on your posts, rest assured that it’s definitely not about ‘arranging’ here, and the vast majority of us do just pick and plonk, albeit with an occasional tweak perhaps – so I hope you will choose to come back another week (I don’t mind replying to yet another comment, hard work or not!). I love your airy jug of blooms – what are the white ones? I nearly have enough l of the v for a vase now because it has been slow to settle in here!!
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Very pretty Cathy even if humble. Sometimes small is sweet and best and just what one needs. But since we don’t have cow parsley here, I’d sure love to see your arrangement of that with white lilacs. In my mind’s eye, it must be stunning.
https://customcomforts.blog
Thanks Cindy – if the lilac is still OK next week I may well use it then, unless I get distracted by something else!
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Individually they make me want to look closer and closer. (What is the red balloon-like flower?) As a collection it’s quite inviting and heartwarming.
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Thanks Chris – not sure which you mean, as it may be the angle of the photo that makes it look that way…
The astrantia and that little twirly bit of stem (from the Hardenbergia, id I’ve understood correctly?) with the heuchera leaf are a very pretty accent in a lovely vase. Had to laugh at your persicaria comment! I’ve given up, and am now forgetting the names I used to know, never mind learning new ones! Here is my vase today: https://gardendreamingatchatillon.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/in-a-vase-on-monday-4-may-2020/
I am very fond of astrantia (and look forward in due course to explaining to a certain granddaughter that it is commonly called Hattie’s pincushion…!). Yes the twirly bit is the hardenbergie which is a climber – but a tender one which is why it is in the Coop
Enjoyed it thoroughly!
Hardenbergia that was meant to say
So much choice! I like these sultry colours though. I always like tendrils and this is a new plant to me so I will have to look it up. Which is one of the many joys of IAVOM. You are obviously further ahead than us as we don’t have astrantia yet. Buds I think but no flowers. We are quite exposed. Here is my link, something a bit different. https://ablogaboutcompost.blogspot.com/2020/05/flower-crown-on-monday.html
Indeed yes – vases get harder to nmake a decision on the more blooms we have! This is the only astrantia (which I have incorrectly named and will go back and amend!) that is full open, the others are just on the point of it – it also seems to flower the longest too
Love all of that purple and pink. Happy IAVOM.
Purple and pink are the majority colours at the moment, Lisa!
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I love the hellebore and Persicaria accenting the rest of your gentle giants. The astrantia is lovely especially. The characteristics attributed to the amethyst stone certainly are fitting. Have a wonderful week.
https://pbmgarden.blog/2020/05/04/in-a-vase-on-monday-purple-smoke/
Thanks Susie, I am glad I chose this combination for today
The acquilegia are lovely, but I could say that about each and every of the blooms in the vase. The stone too is smooth, soothing and interesting all rolled into one. My little jug today is pretending it is a vase: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2020/05/in-vase-on-monday-jug-of-kitchen-herbs.html
Thanks Noelle. I would suggest that anything holding blooms or plant material is a vase, be it jug or jar or whatever…
A very pretty combination of spring flowers. I have not seen an Aquilegia like that before, my favorite is the Hellebore, I think sometimes the spent colors are especially wonderful and almost antiqued, well, they are antiqued! Thank you for hosting and keeping our Mondays on track. http://theshrubqueen.com/2020/05/04/in-a-vase-on-monday-white-shoulders/
Thanks Amelia. The ericsmithii hellebores often seem to age this way
I love your sultry combination. I just ordered ‘Raven’ and am excited to have another G .phaeum to add to my collection. I think you are completely right about forgetting what day of the week it is. Very confusing times to say the least. My offering is here: https://www.lindabrazill.com/each_little_world/2020/05/ivom-clippings.html
Thanks Linda – I have heard there is a white G phaeum which I plan to start seeking out…
Oh I do like your vases of smokey and shimmery pinks and purples Cathy and the beautiful stone too. The identity of the astrantia intrigues me. I’ve not come across the name before and I wonder whether you might be thinking of the peony with that name? If not I’ve got a new astrantia to add to my wish list. No complaints there – it’s a beauty 😂 I’m working hard today so it’s just a simple pick and plonk from me here : https://greentapestry.blogspot.com/2020/05/iavom-hi-lili.html
Thanks Anna and you are right – I was careless with the astrantia name and it is Star of Beauty, one I know you have asked me about before. I have changed it in the post so tanks for picking me up on it – your pennies are safe!
I wouldn’t describe either Astrantia or that unusual Aquilegia as humble, Cathy. Both are plants I’d be thrilled to see in my garden. I love the color combination too. Your garden is firmly in spring mode while mine is all too quickly turning to summer. I went into pre-heatwave rescue mode this week to catch beauty where I could before it’s, well, incinerated. Here’s my post: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2020/05/in-vase-on-monday-decisions-decisions.html
Yes, no signs of summer here yet except the roses in bud – but the aquilegia and astrantia are so typical of this time of year here, along with allium
Pretty!
Thank you 🙂
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Sultry indeed and lovely colours. My vase today is made up of self-seeders, all of them very welcome. https://wp.me/p3dx4o-3JH
Hurrah for welcome self-seeders (and booh to the less welcome…)!
So pretty! Love the colors.
Thank you, Correen
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Your vase is very much my kind of thing today! 😃 I love Pulmonaria, dark red Heuchera, Aquilegia, and Geranium phaeum all of which I also have in my vase today! And you know I always love seeing your Persicarias. I am also very envious of your Astrantia. I had one in my old garden but there is not enough shade in my new garden yet. To top it all, Amethyst is my favourite stone so your special amethyst and quartz stone is lovely too.😃 Thanks for lifting my spirits Cathy. 🤗
https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/in-a-vase-on-monday-winky-pinky-whatever/
Aw thanks Cathy, it sounds as if it really hit the spot for you today. This persicaria is actually my least favourite of the ones I have, because it flowers now and then that’s it, unlike the others which flower later and just go on and on. None of my astrantias are in shade, but I guess you will have it much hotter in summer than we would
Lovely, lovely, lovely. The color tones are among my favorites–especially for this time of year. I need to get my act together and join in the meme again, soon. 🙂
Thanks Beth – I forgot to mention there was cerinthe in there too, which fitted well with those colour tones. Look forward to seeing a vase from you sometime soonish, perhaps…?
A gorgeous combination of plants and colours – making a note to see what will grow at mine. Beautiful vase too, it’s always lovely to see one of your Caithness collection. I missed last week – I photographed but the words won’t come. It was five years since my ex died. But feeling more chipper this week. I’m late as usual but here’s my vase – have a good week in these strange times.
https://viewsfrommygardenbench.com/2020/05/04/may-the-4th-be-with-you-in-a-vase-on-monday/
Thanks Bec. These vases are so easy to pick up from car boots and charity shops, and unless it’s a stall with just glassware they will usually be very cheap. Sorry to hear about your low period last week – anniversaries of these things don’t always get easier with time
Gee, I think my favorite is actually the sweet pea that is not in the main vase.
Hopefully I will have more sweet peas to share in their own Monday vase soon, Tony
That is one that I would like to grow better here. Their season is so brief that I do not bother with them. I will grow them again someday.