I don’t know when ‘it would be rude not to’ first entered common parlance, but it now seems to be in many people’s vocabulary, just like the ‘been there, done that, got the T shirt’ phrase. No T shirts were involved in today’s vase, but it would have been rude not to have picked the last stems of Rudbeckia ‘Irish Eyes’ which seem to have gone on forever. Today they are smiling in my vase, yet another Caithness Glass example, along with three stems of Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’, with a copy of a guide to Ireland which we used on a whistlestop trip in the campervan two years ago used as a prop.
Are there scraps still flowering in your garden? If so, perhaps you could share them with us in a Vase on Monday – although it needn’t even be blooms, nor a vase, just something from your garden or foraged locally and popped in any sort of receptacle to bring you pleasure during the week. Just leave links to and from this post if you would like to share your findings with us.
Rambling in the Garden 
She is smiling Cathy! Probably very glad to come into the warmth of your home after a chilly time in the garden! I do have the vestiges of a few remaining flowers in the garden – a couple of very modest rudbeckia, some small soggy pink cosmos and in what I call the outer garden – i.e. on our driveway some lovely roses! They will last longer out there, in the cool, so I have resisted the temptation to bring them in. They are so beautiful! I have posted on Instagram this morning a couple of photos of a beautiful head of hogweed which I passed on a walk the other today. I am still trying with WordPress but could really do with some guidance in setting up the blog. I don’t find their guide very user friendly. I am fine with these things once I get going – it’s the getting going that I struggle with. I am not very techy! Have a good week. Amanda
I think the warmth might have been too much for her, Amanda, as she had completely drooped by this morning – but the open bloom had been open for two or three weeks at least. The 2 buds are still fine and should open though. It is lovely having some roses, still – I know the few I have would probably disintegrate if I cut them so I a enjoying mine as they are…but have my sights on the blooms on a dwarf polyantha one which has several flourishing blooms still. Do you do Zoom at all? I am wondering whether to suggest we could try and do something over Zoom to get you started on WordPress…
Yes I do Zoom! That is such a kind thought Cathy, thank you. I have two laptops so could Zoom on one and deal with WordPress on the other – or are you thinking about screen sharing? Not quite sure about how to do that but could probably work it out!! If you have time one day we could give it a go! Thank you! A
Will try and work out how best to do it
Thank you very much! A
‘Irish Eyes’ is a new flower to me and she is definitely smiling. 🙂
Did you notice that the centre of the open flower looks like a delicate green brooch? Very lovely indeed.
In the UK it is an annual, Joanna, but could possibly overwinter in a milder year – perhaps I will leave it and see if it survives, but they are so easy to grow from seed anyway. I see what you mean about a brooch 😃
Your feisty rudbeckia deserves applause. Beautiful and a survivor. Thanks for hosting Cathy!
I repurposed my vase from last week, taking out the camellias, for a quick makeover. Hope you and other vasers have a great week.
https://pbmgarden.blog/2020/12/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-reduction/
Thanks Susie – I meant to say that last week’s little vase looks exactly the same as it did a week ago, clearly still going strong.
Irish Eyes are so very cheerful – it is a grey, rainy day in Florida. I like the Cornus in there as well. A few sticks are always a good thing. Happy Holidays and thank you for hosting, Cathy. https://theshrubqueen.com/2020/12/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-biscuit-bus-again/
After a week of grey days it has been brighter here today – not sunny, but the cloud cover is not as low and it makes such a difference. There are plenty of sticks on my 3 different cornus over winter, and I am sure they will be appearing regularly in my vases!
Love some good sticks in arrangements, will have to find some grapevine..
It’s a lovely flower. I wish my own Rudbeckia were as long-lasting. I cut a lot of my faithful Grevilleas this week for a special vase, albeit one to mark a profoundly sad event: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2020/12/in-vase-on-monday-true-love.html
These are annual rudbeckias, Kris, which are invariably great performers inthe UK (with me, anyway!) Sorry to hear you have experienced recent sadness and am off to check it out
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A flower in December is a rare treasure Cathy, and that Rudbeckia is a wonderful golden colour too.
So cheerful! 😃 Here is my ‘vase’… well, a wreath actually but from local trees! 😉 https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2020/12/07/not-in-a-vase-on-monday-advent-wreath/
Thank you as always Cathy. xx
I intend to grow even more rudbeckias next year, Cathy! I am off to check out your wreath now…well done for cracking on with it!
I love the hangers-on in the garden – they’re so tough! This one seems to have flecks of orange fall color, too. It is nice to see a flower shining so brightly this time of year.
Well that’s a brave little face and lovely to see it on a chilly December day. I have been out grubbing in the fog all day and I have just thawed out enough to come up with a quick In a Vase on Monday offering. https://thebloominggarden.wordpress.com/2020/12/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-purple-blobs/
Indeed it is. We were promised fog but didn’t get any
I’ve still got a few brave rudbeckias flowering in the veg patch, and a row of very late comsos which have produced tiny flowers, almost miniatures. Here’s my post for today. Late as ever. http://bramblegarden.com/2020/12/07/in-a-vase-on-monday-virtual-flowers-for-joan/
I am trying to visualise the miniature cosmos blooms…! These rudbeckia were from a later second sowing, which is perhaps why they have stuck it out for so long, apart from the relatively mild weather of course
They were like bonsai cosmos. Very cute 👍
I didn’t know ‘Irish Eyes’, it’s a beauty indeed. Your post is bringing back some memories from our life in Ireland…seems like ages ago and it is, oh dear. 🙈 Horrible weather here these days but I shall share a vase next week, promise xx
It is easy to forget just how much time has passed in our lives sometimes…
Cathy having that Rudbeckia “Irish Eyes” in December in the garden is a blessing. In the vase it is divine because it is divine, cheerful with its golden yellow color and its shape, I love it. The three branches of cornus are very good as an accompaniment. The Ireland guide must be precious and more so if it has been used on a trip, because it keeps many good memories. Take good care of yourself and the golfer and keep yourself safe. Very affectionate greetings from Margarita.
There are parts of Ireland we would still like to visit, so I expect we will use the guide book again sometime!
Cathy hope that very soon you will use the Ireland guide again and discover magical places while traveling. Very affectionate greetings from Margarita.
Certainly no plans for travelling at the moment, Margarita!
And what a twinkle it has in its eye! Looks like a stalwart sort of rudbeckia to grow. I find myself getting ever more indecisive over which to grow next year. 😉
I like Cherry Brandy (the rudbeckia, not the drink!) too but it does not germinate or perform as well. Marmalade and Rustic Dwarf were OK but nothing special and I have Sahara which I forgot to sow this year!
I just have a sneaking suspicion that Sahara is going to be underwhelming compared to those sunshine yellow/black/rust variants. I know what you mean about CB germination rates though!
A fine looking rudbeckia so it would have certainly not done to have overlooked her Cathy. There are so many rudbeckias that have that grow me pull when you look in the seed catalogues. All my flowering scraps are most soggy now indeed so I think that I’m between vases for a while 😄
Personal recommendation helps – which is why I am looking forward to Sahara next year!
You know I think yours lasted longer than ours. (Ours started fading early because of the weird weather during the fire,and then shriveled with the chill of the slightest frost.)