No prizes for guessing what some of the contents of today’s vase will be – blooms from my gifted rescue plant, Salvia ‘Mystic Spires’! With so many blooms and autumn closing in around the garden, it is not surprising I chose to grab them while I could. Having already taken some with me to the voluntary work I do, I added them to the remains of the previous posy I had taken there, stems of Chrysanthemum ‘Emperor of China’. They made a surprisingly pleasing combination, so I decided to replicate this at home, adding foliage of Persicaria ‘Red Dragon’ and stems of Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’. My cornus, unlike those of Cathy at Words and Herbs in Bavaria, still retain their foliage, so I snipped all the leaves from the stems apart from the topmost pair.
The vase is a heavy studio pottery vase purchased from a car boot sale on the Isle of Wight, chosen today for its slightly autumnal appearance. There is hint of magic and mystique around some of today’s elements, with mystical spires, dragons and colour-changing midwinter fires, so I have added a quartz crystal sphere as a prop – perhaps the Emperor will be able to look into the future and tell us what he sees… The sphere stands on a curious beach find from Skegness, two oyster shells apparently fused together.
Next Monday sees the 10th anniversary of In a Vase on Monday, and once again I will throw down an anniversary challenge for contributors – when is a vase not a vase? We have had a similar challenge before, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to pop your contribution into something that isn’t actually a vase – the wackier the better! You can of course do this any week, but let’s all try to really think out of the box (in the box perhaps?!) for this one – and perhaps I will even cough up a prize for a draw amongst those who comment. Watch out too for a plan of another virtual get-together in the near future. See you next week…
Rambling in the Garden 
a very striking presentation, Cathy…
Pingback: In a Vase on Monday: the Emperor and his Mystical New Clothes | Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes
I read with amusement your acquiring of the Salvia on your Saturday post, and now you have continued the ‘thread’ with this one and its arrangement and props. I do like The Emperor and quite rightly he is central to the arrangement. Here is my post this week: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2023/11/in-vase-on-monday.html
Thanks Noelle – I still feel really chuffed with my gift horse! 😉
The flowers are pretty, especially the frothy pink Chrysanthemums, but I love the Cornus stems – the leaves you left at the tips being to mind those images you see of marching ants holding aloft leaves…striking!
Haha – I see exactly what you mean about ants, Chris! The cornus stems will provide colour for vases right the way through till I cut the plants right back in March or April next year
The salvia has great color but my eyes are drawn to that rich, red cornus. Looking forward to another virtual meetup and wow! Tenth Anniversary! Time is a funny thing. You and other vasers have been a huge part of my life for ten years. I have deep appreciation for that. https://pbmgarden.blog/2023/11/06/in-a-vase-on-monday-fall-refresh/
Those years have whizzed by, Susie, and I had to check back to 2013 just to make sure it was 10! I remember the early days, and those still with us but others who have sadly dropped off the radar for various reasons. At the moment, I certainly can’t imagine not making a vase each Monday, but there might come a time, I suppose, that I felt I should hand the reins of hosting on to someone else.
I am already thinking of a wacky vase! Your Mystic Spires look different from mine. I like the combination and the props, what does the Emperor have in store for us?? I just realized that the 10th anniversary means over 500 vases! Congratulations on your creativity and thank you for hosting. https://theshrubqueen.com/2023/11/06/in-a-vase-on-monday-tropinative/
I was thinking about your spires, Amelia, and wondering if you had a search facility so I could see yours in bloom – in what way is it different? You areright about the vases – next week will be the 521st!!!
521! wow, that is an accomplishment. I am not sure when I started making vases, though I have enjoyed it immensely. I have your email, I will send you a picture of the Mystic Spires.
You have certainly been part of IAVOM for quite a few years, Amelia. Thanks for the promise of the picture – perhaps the team got the name wrong!
Pingback: In a Vase on Monday: Rusty | Words and Herbs
Oh, the Chrysanthemum is lovely Cathy and the vase is the perfect shape for those flowers! The cornus looks really pretty with your Mystical Spires. I love that image of ants holding up leaves that Chris mentioned!
Here is my vase for today, and I shall look forward to the challenge next week. 😃
The chrysanthemum has fairly dishevelled looking blooms, a little bigger than Grandchild, and the petals are slightly quill-shaped. It is a bit taller (a metre) than I would have liked, but I have now planted it out at the back of a border
Oh boy….I am not that creative for a non-vase entry especially given the slim pickings here. I likely will have a vase but we shall see how creative I can be. Lovely vase and display all around. The oyster shells are fascinating. This past week we were a tad warmer so a few blooms still going. https://gardenseyeview.com/2023/11/06/fairies-in-the-garden/
Hmmm…might need to think about this challenge..sounds like fun. But the real challenge here would be finding something to put in the “vase”.You really can’t imagine how bare and dry things are here.
Haha, yes, from what you have said I can see that it would be, Beverly!
Beautiful color combination. I think I am going to go with some pink colors this week too. Who would think such a gentle shade would be one of my longest lasting colors.
Thanks. Here too, I have several pale pinks as well 👍
Pingback: Phloral Arrangement – IAVOM Fairy Roses – MINDING MY P'S WITH Q
Oh that is a most attractive combination Cathy and the perfect props to go with the vase. I wonder what you can see in that crystal ball 😂 It’s hard to believe that IAVOM is approaching a tenth anniversary! Looking forward to news of another virtual get-together. A slightly lazy almost ready made vase from me this week :
https://greentapestry.blogspot.com/2023/11/iavom-edited.html
I should’ve guessed you’d use some of the abundant blooms of your new ‘Mystic Spires’ plant this week. Much as I love that plant, your chrysanthemum has a delicate beauty about it I appreciate. The pickings are slim here at present but I managed 2 arrangements anyway. After years of participation in IAVOM, I find it hard to leave the usual spots inside the house unadorned 😉 Here’s my post: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2023/11/in-vase-on-monday-seasonal-support.html
I wasn’t sure about the Emperor when he first started opening, but since picking it I have begun to really appreciate the blooms
10th Anniversary–wow! I will try to join in, if the schedule allows. Your combination of elements is lovely and fascinating. Happy IVOM!
Thansk Beth – and yes, please do try to join us 👍
Every year I admire ‘Emperor of China’ and tell myself I need to get one for my garden, but another year slips by! Glad the ‘Mystic Spires’ are coming into good use, saved from the compost heap in the nick of time.
Kudos for hosting 10 years of IAVOM, an admirable contribution to garden bloggers the world over!
I am only gradually coming to chrysanthemums, Eliza, but only as as far as the smaller bloomed hardy varieties (although I do almost reluctantly have a couple of fantasy ones in the Coop). I tend to begrudge them the space in the garden – until this time of year, I suppose, when they bloom! This variety is ‘meant’ to bloom from August though…
Well, I could not guess them anyway. I can only get as far as their genuses, . . . and the Persicaria was a stretch. They are certainly delightful though.
The light pink is so pretty there, and the cornus dramatic!
Thank you – the cornus is great for winter colour and this chrysanthemum has definitely grown on me since it first started flowering. I shall be interested to see how much longer it flowers for