Averting my eyes from the tulips which were shouting “Pick me! Pick me!” as I walked past, I headed towards the bottom end of the garden to pick some of the marauding Spanish bluebells that have sneaked their way in under/over/round the fence. The impact of bluebells in the garden has really registered in recent days, with the uninvited guests and the more local residents joining forces to provide by far and away the biggest splash of blue in the garden out of all the seasons. There may be little patches of blue from spring bulbs and isolated spots in the summer months, but bluebell season is something else and the splashes will only get larger and more widespread as time goes on, with even the English bluebells popping up in other parts of the garden than the woodland. By picking the Spanish bluebells, however, I can at least try and restrict their desire for dominance!
Joining the bluebells and chosen for the same spring freshness that their companions display are three fern fronds, their croziers unfurling beautifully in the way that only fern croziers can. I was intrigued to see that each of the individual pinnae on the frond are also curled – who 
knew? Joining the ferns and bluebells in my favourite 1980s blue-grey ribbed vase is a curl of Elder Daughter’s hair, not baby hair as she was all but hairless for her first three years, but from her first haircut. In truth though, it is only a curl because it has been curled up in this teeny box (which has a lid with a peacock design), made from coloured straw and lined with red silk, for nearly 40 years!
If you have material to pick from your garden or forage nearby, whatever its colour, please consider sharing it with us today on IAVOM by leaving the usual links to and from this post.
Rambling in the Garden 
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Gorgeous! There is nothing quite like bluebells, whether Spanish or English. That colour is magical. 😃 Also, seeing the ferns up close is interesting. That is another advantage of cutting things for a vase, seeing them from a different perspective and in detail. Here is my vase today. Spring is back! https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2024/04/29/in-a-vase-on-monday-the-return-of-spring/
Thanks Cathy – sadly all the bluebells flopped within a few hours, which really surprised me as I am sure I have used them in a vase before…perhaps it was the English ones then?
I remember picking them in bluebell woods in my childhood and they never even survived the short drive home. 😕 The car smelt lovely though!
Aw, what a lovely memory (apart from the flopping bit!!) Strangely, some I picked on the same day and took to my place of voluntary work did not flop at all! It is very much warmer in our kitchen than it would be there, but apart from that the only difference is that the stems were cut much shorter…
That’s interesting….
Bluebells are beautiful in all varieties, although I didn’t realise until recently how aggressively they can spread! Beautiful and a little fierce!
Well, the spreading can be a good thing, if its the native bluebells, which is why we get ‘bluebell woods’, but the Spanish variety can quickly dominate and weaken the native strain
The bluebells are charming! I have blue salvia blooming now, but my vase contains many colors. I am not on WordPress anymore, so I can’t share on that platform.
Jayne
Thanks Jayne – bluebells are just so BLUE! Are you not on any blog at all? People can link to other blogs from here – but if not, if you would still like to share a vase then feel free to add link to wherever it is, which some may be able to access. I don’t ‘do’ any of the Instagram/Facebook, etc channels myself.
What a coincidence, my vase also features blue! I love the blue bells, and the ferns you’ve added really bring a touch of something almost magical, don’t they?
Yes, lots of frern croziers in our garden and I love to see them – whch I can, because I have dutifully trimmed off the old leaves from them!
A beautiful presentation, Cathy. The bluebells are delightful. I’ve missed you and the other participants. Will be back when I can.
https://pbmgarden.blog/2024/04/29/in-a-vase-on-monday-wisdom-of-earth/
Thanks Susie – surprisingly, the bluebells quickly flopped so I need to investigate what I can do to stop that next time. It’s good to have you with us tday, as I know it isn’t easy 👍
Another new word from you today, crozier. I love it, a Fern word. I had blue bells like that in another garden and they refused to spread. They are so pretty, I would have a hard time getting rid of them. The vase is a perfect display for them. I found a similar lock of my own hair recently in some of my mother’s things, I was surprised it was strawberry blonde as I was brunette most of my life. Thank you for hosting https://theshrubqueen.com/2024/04/29/in-a-vase-on-monday-dillicious/
I suppose bluebells prefer certain conditions, the English ones anyway, like woodlands – I don’t think the Spanish ones are quite as choosy as they are growing in full sun here!! Elder Daughter’s hair is still the same colour although with some assistance, I believe!
My hair is certainly not the same color!!
🤣 nor mine!
Ahh, but what a beautiful blue!
Yes indeed!!
Love the blue Spanish bells. I wish we had the English bluebells. I tried growing them in my old garden but they did not take but Spanish ones did in all 3 colors. These are stunning along with your variety of curls especially your daughters. https://gardenseyeview.com/2024/04/29/in-a-vase-on-monday-coming-to-life/
The Spanish ones look much less delicate and are probably less fussy about conditions too – no other colours here though
Oh so blue Cathy! A good idea to pick them and hopefully restrain them! We inherited English bluebells and fortunately so far the Spanish invaders have not arrived here 🤞 I love the combination with the fern croziers which I would have never thought of picking. A lovely little curly lock to cherish. Does Elder Daughter read your blog? My offering this week is here :
https://greentapestry.blogspot.com/2024/04/iavom-dancing-in-moonlight.html
I imagine English bluebells might do well in your garden, form the rare photos you have shared with us 😉 ED has occasionally looked at the blog, and I did wonder whether to alert her to today’s post – and the existence of her hair too…
I find it hard to fault any plant that produces blue flowers no matter how pushy it may be. I tried Spanish bluebells here but, like other hyacinths, they don’t much care for my climate, although I did see one pop up in my back garden border this year after years of being MIA. Two years of good rain may have prompted that. I can already feel the season changing here as we get drier and warmer but there are still plenty of flowers: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2024/04/in-vase-on-monday-opposites.html
Interesting about your Spanish bluebell attempt – I have no idea if they originated in Spain, which woud suggest they needed less rain than the English variety. I don’t have enough blue in my garden, Kris, and even my blue & white borders are in danger of being predominantly white, other than in spring!
Bluebells have a lovely flower, but I understand the battle to maintain the integrity of the native bluebell population. Cutting the Spanish with abandon allows for indoor enjoyment, but also reducing the rampant foreign invasion. I do the same with our invasive plants, a Sisyphean task!
My vase to share this week: https://wp.me/p3O3z4-3dL
Yes, it’s a win-win with these bluebells, I think!!
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Gorgeous Bluebells! I love all shades of blue.
Oh yes, and trying to amass enough blue plants in the garden is not always easy!
Phloral – IAVOM Lilacs, Wisteria, Periwinkle Vinca Vine, and Iris Buds – MINDING MY P’S WITH Q (threepsandq.com)
Here is mine for this week.
Beautiful bluebells Cathy, I don’t think Spanish ones are much of a problem unless they are likely to escape into a woodland. Blue flowers are to be cherished no matter what they are.
They have certainly cross pollinated some of my English ones in my little woodland, so I can see how easily it does happen – as you say, on balance I think I too am just grateful for the blue blooms
Lovely to see your Bluebells. Our bluebells here in the Rockies of B.C are Mertensia, the short variety. We are little behind you with our blooms but they are quickly coming to the party.
https://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2024/04/29/whats-in-bloom-for-the-week-of-april-29th/
I have just found your comment in my Spam box and am just off to check out your vase now – sorry for the delay!
Oh, that’s really special! That reminds me (thank you) that I have locks of my kids’ hair in little containers, too. Such special memories. And the Spanish Bluebells are beautiful, too. 🙂
I don’t have any of Younger Daughter’s though – a second child doesn’t have the same novelty value as the first!! 🤣
How lovely! And how fascinating that each part of the fern crozier curls. I agree with Cathy’s remark that IaVoM really does encourage us to notice all sorts of things that we wouldn’t see even watching plants out in the garden.
All that blue makes for quite a dreamy bouquet. The bluebells of choice here are the annual Phacelia campanularia–California bluebells. I hope to eventually get a planting of them established and let them self-seed, along with the equally blue arroyo lupines (Lupinus succulentus). Eventually!
Here is my rather late post for today, but it has a few roses to redeem it ;) : From the Wild and the Garden.
Yes, particularly in the leaner months perhaps – and making us look at alternatives to blooms too. You have reminded me that I bought phacelia seeds last year after seeing the blooms on IAVOM – but haven’t sown them! Probably too late for this year, but I will check
Your bluebells are stunning. I almost missed the fern fronds, as their colors are incredibly vibrant.
Such fresh blues and greens, aren’t they?
How delightful. Are these the sort that naturalize, or can both naturalize. Is there a variety that blooms pink. I believe that I have seen it bloom white.
Both naturalise, Tony, and yes, the Englsih blubells at least sometimes throw up pink or white blooms although we have not had any here – not sure if the Spanish type do too though