In the dim and distant pre-lockdown past, when Thursdays were Grannie Days and I looked after Younger Daughter’s two children, our afternoon routine was sleep (them), walk, refreshment (“cake..!” went the plaintive cry) and then play till hometime accompanied by silly songs from the CD shown. I learned very quickly not to play the CD more than once otherwise the songs* would go round and round in my head all week. As I picked blooms for today’s vase I found myself singing ‘Purple People Eater’, one of the tracks, and as it is once more firmly embedded in my mind you are stuck with it in the title of the vase too!
The purple vase was based around three dahlias – Thomas Edison, the big blowsy one at the front, Top Totty on either side, and the lollipop-on-sticks pompon dahlia Willo’s Violet at the back. Supporting the dahlias are Clematis ‘Kingfisher’, a stem of Zinnia ‘Purple Prince’, useful statice Limonium ‘Purple Attraction’ and spent stems of one of my new favourite salvias, S verticillata ‘Purple Rain’ (when I deadheaded the latter recently, it shed several seeds so I collected a batch and will try sowing them). The purple shade of the vase is not obvious but it is another of my extensive Caithness Glass ones, in the original 60s ‘heather’ colourway, another absolute bargain snapped up at a car boot sale in Inverness (always worth looking out for such sales wherever you are in the UK, although sadly not at the present time). The stems were held in place with tiny pebbles.
It was, as expected, much easier finding purple blooms than it was the yellow ones on Saturday. Your vases do not need to be colour-themed though – rules are flexible, and we are encouraged to think out of the box (or even the vase). The idea is to find material from your garden or nearby to bring inside and give you pleasure during the week – then pop them in a vase or jam jar or other receptacle, or not, as the case might be. Share them with us if you like too, by leaving links to and from this post. Easy peasy! Now, let’s all do the Hokey Cokey!*
*How many other tracks do you recognise?
(with apologies for any resultant earworms)
Rambling in the Garden 
The three types of dahlias are divine, I love them: I don’t know which one I like best. The Clematis, Zinnia and statice are the ideal company. The flowers have a purple color that I really like. The vase is magnificent, I love it! As for the CD of children’s songs, in the end after time you have started to sing one of the songs yourself, how nice! Cathy thank you very much for your kind words and your encouragement to my dear Mother and her eyes. On July 28 her Ophthalmologist and Surgeon told us that the operation of her eye could not have gone better, but that the malignant glaucoma was already very advanced. Now another specialist ophthalmologist is going to see her, Strabismus and also a Surgeon, to see what she can do so that my Mother does not see double. On the other hand, I am not feeling well either because I am reliving everything that happened with my dear Father at this time last year: on August 1 we came from the country house to go to the Hospital in Madrid where 11 days later he passed away ; and we only stayed 4 days in the country house because my father wanted to go at all costs. And every day I relive it, I can’t help it. Cathy hope you and the golfer are in good health and safe. Have a very good week. Very affectionate greetings from Margarita.
We are very well, thank you Margarita. I do hope the surgeon can do something to help your Mother so she does not see double, but I also hope you are receiving support for your own depression and grief
Top Totty now would that name stick in your grand-children’s head, and they shout out my Grandma has Top Totty? I daren’t listen to Purple People Eater, would I be hiding behind the sofa, with my hands cupped over my ears? It is quite sad not to have that regular contact, there are many grandchildren around the country feeling this loss, as well as the grandmas. Enjoy your week. Here is my contribution: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2020/08/in-vase-on-monday-singular-beauty.html
I suspect the name has been Top Totty’s downfall as she is no longer generally available – but I love her and always intend to have a spare cutting to ensure her survival. She came from the ‘dahlia man’ near my Mum’s. The version of the PPE on the CD does not seem to have the same lyrics as the one I found on Google – but it questions whether the PPE is a people eater that is purple, or if he just eats purple people, in which case the sofa would not be needed! These grandchildren are already very different from how they were in March – and one will start her free hours at Nursery in Sept! I am perfectly happy having had my Thursdays back for the time being though… 😉
Oh what great fun your Grannie days sound Cathy – I wonder just who enjoyed themselves the most. I recognise quite a few song titles but perhaps there are just as many that I have not come across including the ‘Purple People Eater’. A wise decision to limit playing time. Some great pops of purple in your vase. A clematis name that I don’t recognise. Is it a newcomer? Isn’t ‘Thomas Eddison’ just fabulous! I grew it a few years ago but had forgotten all about it until now.Thanks for jogging my memory. My vase is here: https://greentapestry.blogspot.com/2020/08/iavom-summer-breeze.html
The Tinker has quite a good sense of rhythm and enjoys playing the ‘instruments’ (Aldi’s of course!) we have. There are a lot I didn’t know either – but I do now!! TE was new to me last year but in a pot then, so I am able to appreciate him more this year – what a glorious colour he is!
The names of your three dahlias are just brilliant, as are the flowers too! And I especially love your purple zinnia! It’s really rather lovely and she holds her own amidst those other handsome purples! And yes, I am happy to do a hokey pokey! Probably on my own though – my husband is deaf so the music would pass him by, and the dogs have got too many legs! Have a good week! A https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2020/08/in-herby-vase-on-monday.html
Haha! I am trying to visualise dogs doing the Hokey Cokey 😁 My zinnias have done so well this year and I hope that you too eventually have success with them
The dahlias really are gorgeous – so much purple! There must be a song about purple flowers (that don’t eat people!) I have a few purply blooms as well…
And if there isn’t perhaps someone should write one!! The dahlias seem to look all the more dramatic because of the limited colour palette, don’t they?
Resounding applause for your dahlias, lovingly arranged with that fabulous clematis. Wish I had all your purples. I’m seriously fighting an earworm after scanning the song titles!
Aw, thanks Susie – and sorry about the earworms 😉
Wow, the deep purples are so rich in color. I had Purple Prince Zinnias and loved them, another idea for my winter garden! Just found some Nasturtium seeds in my purse from somewhere. And I do love that glass, especially a bargain! I did not look at the song list to avoid the earworm, having a vague recollection of Purple Peopleeater…my vase is hot today https://theshrubqueen.com/2020/08/03/in-a-vase-on-monday-braving-isaias/
I am amazed at just how rich a purple TE is – it was the last dahlia to flower, and this is its first bloom. Don’t know why it took so long other than it was new last year
Love the color, tapestry colors my mother used to call them..mysteries of the plant world, yes? I think they have a mind of their own.
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Your dahlias are lovely. Especially the front one. 😃 I only recognize a couple of the songs on the left-hand list. How sad that your Grannie days are not able to take place. Hopefully soon. Here is my link for today. Have a great week Cathy. xx https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2020/08/03/in-a-vase-on-monday-standing-out-in-the-crowd/
Thanks Cathy – Younger Daughter is still furloughed and thinks that may be the case till the scheme ends
I love the deep purples! My own purple ‘Einstein’ keeps getting taller but I’ve yet to see a bud. I’ve heard of the “purple people eater” but didn’t recall the song so I made the mistake of playing it on YouTube this morning 😉 FYI, there’s a Mangave (intergeneric succulent) called ‘Purple People Eater’ too – I have two in my garden – but it’s not nearly as purple as your dahlias. Here’s my post: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2020/08/in-vase-on-monday-do-you-prefer-pastel.html
Oh how intriguing that there is a plant with that name, although I rather hope there is no truth in the naming of it!
Very pretty purple theme, Cathy. I like the clematis, which look a bit like purple butterflies hovering above. 🙂 The song titles bring me back to my boys’ toddlerhood. Where did the time go?
Coincidentally, I created a red theme this week: https://wp.me/p3O3z4-2xT )
Thanks Eliza – sadly the clematis (picked yesterday) has not lasted in the vase 🙄
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I averted my eyes from the list of songs – too many earworms of old there! But how lovely to have that happy memory of time with your grandchildren. Do you see much of them these days? Lovely flowers, as always, Cathy. I have a contribution this week: https://wp.me/p5Pz00-2hq
Thank you for hosting and have a lovely week. Sam x
Haha, very wise Sam! 😁 These grandchildren are just a couple of miles away so we have seen them off and on, albeit on the doorstep for many of those weeks. My daughter is still furloughed
Ah Grannie Days sound wonderful. Such a beautiful bouquet, too.
The earlier GDs were tough, when No1 wouldn’t sleep and then No 2 came sooner than planned – but things got better! They will both be very different when GDs resume though..
You have brought back memories for me of having the little ones over on a regular basis. So many people missing out on those precious times. My lot are older now and I was out walking with them (at distance) yesterday, and forgot to link my post to yours. I am still enjoying your pink dandelions ove on Wild Daffodil: https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2020/08/03/in-a-vase-on-monday-altered-art/
Yes, I remember when you were homeschooling Miss E – how old is she now? These two will have changed so much by the time Grannie Days are back, depending on their Mum’s furlough
Miss E has recently turned 13 and is as tall as me! It will be wonderful when things get back to normal, but for now we see each other, but only outside and we keep 1.5m apart – doing the Corona Dance.
Gosh – how time flies! 😁
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These purples are gorgeous. The list of songs evoked many memories and chuckles just thinking about the lyrics of some of them. One song I am not familiar with is ‘I am a Weed’. I really should look up this one. Happy IAVOM.
Glad the song list made you chuckle – fortunately my head has moved on from the Purple People Eater now!
Wow, that certainly is purple!
I recognize only six of those tracks.