Unlike last week, when I used a miniature prop to accompany my Monday vase, both vase and prop are miniatures this week.
The vase is a tradesman’s sample of a Bretby Pottery jug, a mere 2½ inches or 6cms tall, filled with Cyclamen hederifolium, Salvia ‘Hot Lips’, Verbena bonariensis, a pink furry caterpillar (aka Sanguisorba hakusanensis) and foliage of pesky meadow rue, bringing the total height to a mere 4½ inches (less than 12cm). You may recall having seen the miniature embroidery before when it featured in a haiku post back in 2016: stitched from a photograph of a border at Packwood House in Warwickshire, the embroidery measures just 2 x 3inches (work the cms out yourselves, if you must), and was stitched in the early 1990s when I had time to sit and embroider.
We have found from experience that finding material from your garden to fill a vase, whether tiny, average or large, will undoubtedly bring pleasure to both you and those whom you choose to share it with – if you choose to share it with the wider IAVOM community, please leave links to and from this post.
garden tapestry
like heavens’ embroidered cloths
stitched with childlike dreams
Rambling in the Garden 
What a lovely embroidery, with a variety of different stitches. Packwood House is a wonderful garden, and we used to visit it several times a year. I can just picture the colourful borders. Your little miniature arrangement is a real darling. Have you posted a picture of the Sanguisorba in situ? Is it one that stands up to rain and wind? Here is my Simple Vase: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2020/08/in-vase-on-monday-simple.html
Thanks Noelle – I must look out the original photos and see what the plants were…it’s fun trying to work out from the embroidery! Packwood is of course one of the nearest NT properties to us (Calke Abbey is nearer) and I have been a few times. The sanguisorba is one of the things that have suddenly flowered this year after doing nothing for the few years since it was bought – it’s in a fairly sheltered position but does droop a little and would benefit from being further back in the border. I have a white one in a less sheltered border and it stands up nicely though
Such a pretty embroidery and sweet vase to go with it.
I can’t seem to like ‘Hot Lips’, it looks wrong somehow – artificial maybe. But I have taken some cuttings of similar salvias in just one colour, so maybe they will give me colour next summer. Here is my monochrome vase: https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2020/08/24/fennel-and-irises/
I know just what you mean about Hot Lip, Sandra, but mine has started producing all white blooms and ones with just a hint of pink lipstick (as in the vase) and these are much more acceptable, well, I think so anyway!
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Double delight this morning, gorgeous flowers and such a lovely tapestry!
Thank you – I had forgotten how effective these little embroideries were, as I no longer have them on display
They really are lovely!
Adorable! Love the embroidery and especially enjoying the cyclamen. Those swept back petals always remind me of some of the flower fairy illustrations – a whimsical fairy child, delicate and lovely! A completely charming miniature vase and accompaniment Cathy! I noticed this morning that a new IAVOM person has joined – on Instagram. @occasionalscotland Your idea has tendrils! I love tendrils! Amanda https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2020/08/travelling-hopefully-in-vase-on-monday.html
Aw thanks, Amanda 😊 Joanne of Edinburgh Garden Diaries who used to join us for IAVOM also posted on Instagram and said that there were several others that seem to have been spawned from the original, although not everybody credited to this blog. I don’t use Instagram, so haven’t seen them
Instagram is great fun! It can be a little too absorbing but it is yet another way of keeping in touch with like-minded people who love to take photos, enjoy beautiful things, wildlife, artwork, whatever! I love it! It seems to me that after a while the feed to oneself just focuses on people and things that interest you and filters out the vast majority of mindless nonsense that most of these social media platforms seem to spew out! Anyway, next time I put my vase on Instagram I will acknowledge your blog. I don’t always post a photo/s but if I become terminally unstuck with the blog I will be resorting entirely to Instagram. If you have time, check it would. There’s masses of really great stuff there! Have a good week! I will be blackberrying too this week. i’ve bought the Bramleys! A
that should read ‘check it out’ !! A
Don’t suppose I can have a look without signing up? Will look into it though, but certainly don’t have time to regularly check another internet feed 🙄 We had blackberry and apple pie yesterday, but with homegrown ingredients – a bumper year for both!
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A lovely little vase Cathy. I agree the Sanguisorba looks like a pink furry caterpillar! I am very impressed with the embroidery. The tiny size, and yet such detail. 😃 I think the Cyclamen suggests you are also moving towards autumn. Here is my vase for today. Thanks Cathy! https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2020/08/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-getting-carried-away/
Thanks Cathy. I agree that the cyclamen seems ‘unseasonably’ early!
No matter how large the garden or how tall the stems you may have to chose from, it’s often the smaller vases that invite one to look closer. I was especially intrigued by your caterpillar – so similar to the Sanguisorba caterpillars native over here! Mine don’t seem to last that long as a cut flower, sadly. A friend donated most of the flowers in my vase this week.
https://countygardening.wordpress.com/2020/08/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-my-neighbours-dahlias/
I agree, Chris – the dahlias and zinnias are both glorious, but I was drawn to th teeny tiny cyclamen instead. I have never had sanguisorba available to put in a vase before so will be intersted to see how long it lasts, particularly after your comment
Thanks for being here, Cathy, even as I took a break last week. The miniature theme is creative and challenging. I admire your stitchery and how you’ve interpreted it in flowers this week–Art In Bloom. Cyclamen are a favorite of mine and white ones in particular catch my imagination. I also rather like Hot Lips. Hope you have a fine week.
I have a catch-all basin of color to share:
https://pbmgarden.blog/2020/08/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-dahlia-bowl/
You are very welcome, Susie, as you know. I could almost be tempted to make time to stitch some more little floral embroideries again, after digging this one out again (no longer on display). It didn’t take long to stitch, I recall, because of its size
Hi Cathy, I’m back, still doing very little in the garden, but feeling well enough to start joining in again with a vase on Monday. I love your teeny tiny vase – it’s perfect for those small offerings from the garden. The stitched piece is beautiful too. Coincidentally, I’ve plumped for a tiny vase for my first week back too, here’s the link, https://silverscrappers.blogspot.com/2020/08/in-vase-on-monday-sweet-peas.html
Oh hello Elizabeth, how lovely to hear from you – you really have been knocked about, haven’t you? How is Mr W doing?
Mr W is still convalescing but doing well considering what he’s been through. However, it will be some time before he’s putting on his gardening gloves – he has to build up his strength first. In answer to your question about the inkwell, it’s, as you rightly spotted, quite large as inkwells go making it ideal for holding posies of sweet peas. .
Good to know that he is recovering too, albeit slowly, Elizabeth. Is he frustrated at not being able to garden, or too weak to even contemplate it?
The Sanguisorba reminds me of our native Sunshine Mimosa! I like both plants and your mini combo. I do not have the patience to embroider, it looks like you were quite good at it. Very pretty. My mother had a small jug like that, you made me wonder what ever happened to it. I like the Rue foliage, too bad it is such a bother, they host butterfly larva here. Not sure it is the same kind. Thank you for hosting, here is my vase. https://theshrubqueen.com/2020/08/24/in-a-vase-on-monday-foraging-for-flowers/
There are various cultivated thalictrums here, but the meadow rue slowly and insiduously spreads where it is not wanted. The fact that the roots are yellow at least makes it easier to pick them out of other plants!
People try to grow that here! apparently it is difficult.
Thalictrum generally?
Ruta the herb for hosting Swallowtails. the Thalictrum for nectar.
Can’t go wrong with anything small. Perfect.
Haha – as a shortie myself I am happy to agree with you, Beverley!! 😁
Lovely as you tiny arrangement is, I adore your little stitchery creation and the haiku. I’m also fond of Sanguisorba , another of the many plants that stubbornly refuses to grow in my climate. Although we’ve got a decent marine layer here this morning, it’s been uncomfortably hot and is expected to remain so, which means I’m cutting a lot of what’s blooming in my cutting garden almost as soon as it appears: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2020/08/in-vase-on-monday-bright-spots-within.html
Thanks Kris – when I reread the post where I used the embroidery before it reminded me of the pleasure gained from the challenge of writing a haiku with a photo subject prompt and two key word prompts.
It certainly pays to recognise your weather conditions, Kris, although it’s a shame you can’t always your blooms in situ for longer
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Sweet little miniature vase, Cathy, and your embroidery is particularly nice in its intricate details.
I’ve made a mini vase this week, too, as well as a big one: https://wp.me/p3O3z4-2yW
Have a good week ahead!
Thanks Eliza – I love miniature things, and I perhaps don’t make teeny arrangements often enough!
What a dinky and sweet vase Cathy. Small is indeed beautiful. Your embroidery is exquisite. You really should take it up again maybe in the winter months. I note the use of the word ‘pesky’ in relation to the thalictrum and am wondering what it has done to irritate you? 😂 My vase also has a sprig of thalictrum in it this week : https://greentapestry.blogspot.com/2020/08/iavom-calm-before-storm.html
Thank you Anna – I do feel tempted to take up embroidery again, although my winter months are just as busy as all the other months. just with different things! It is just the wild meadow rue I find pesky, having introduced it not knowing what it was – it spreads, albeit slowly, and entangles its roots with other plants making it hard to remove, but its foliage has proved useful for vases!
Small in size, large in beauty. It’s a fun touch that the dainty flowers of Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ come from a plant that (at least in my climate) can grow so large.
My contribution is an act of gratitude to Dahlias which have brought joy though out a long, very trying heat wave.
https://pieceofeden.blogspot.com/2020/08/iavom-because-dahlias.html
Thank you, Cathy, for this great meme!
. .
Thanks hb. Here, my Hot Lips has grown to a maximum of about 3ft – does yours get much bigger than this then?!
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Oh you clever girl! I never could embroider neatly. Love the miniature theme and parallel choices of colour and size. You have so nearly recreated the picture with your flowers, like a well-dressing. Hot-lips is looking most demure!
My vase is here: https://wp.me/pM8Y1-7V1. Do you remember Dolly mixtures?
Aw, thanks Allison 😊 It certainly would have been an interesting challenge, recreating the picture in flowers! Dolly mixtures were never a favourite, but yes, never forgotten…
Lovely to see your little cyclamen, but they are always a mixed pleasure as they signal the end of the summer. Love your embroidery too.
Thanks Chloris – it certainly seems odd to have the cyclamen appearing now
A beautiful combination.
Thanks Rupali
Such a sweet embroidery Cathy and the miniatures sit beautifully with it. Imagine having had the time to sew and now you don’t? Too much time blogging and gardening I should imagine? A good substitute!
That was a very different life back them, Dorris! This life is now filled with gardening and exercise, and a bit of blogging – and I don’t sit much either, which is necessary for embroidery and knitting too, which I used to always have on the go at one time. The garden is creative in its own way though, but I do still do the odd bit of creation which isn’t even loosely connected to the garden!
Gardening is certainly my creative outlet these days and I rarely paint anymore. Maybe this winter I shall start again.
A painter? 😊 Any particular style or theme? Perhaps set yourself a small challenge, something that can be achieved relatively quickly…? Definitely not one of my skills, although I do have an artistic daughter (who has not painted for a long time either, not being in the right headspace)
Amateur style watercolours!
Landscapes or still life, or portraits even? Sorry, I’m being nosey!
Tried them all
Without much success
Hmm, success is relative I guess…
Cyclamen hederifolium is pretty cool. I learned about it only about two years ago, and met it for the first time last year. A neighbor has some about their garden. I will be moving a bit of it into one of our landscapes. I sort of hope it naturalizes there.
It can take a bit of time to establish, but does produce a lot of seed which ants manage to spread around and makes naturalisation a possibility too. I have seen banks of it in the wild here in the UK, – most attractive
It showed up unexpectedly in a colleagues garden, and did exactly that. It stayed put for a long time, without doing much, and then showed up in other places. I will relocate the few that is unwanted there into our landscapes where I would like it to ‘naturalize’, even if it does not do much. Some of our landscapes are rather woodsy.