In a Vase on Monday - a Trio and Angel Number 333

Looking out the window I noticed this morning that the Amelanchier buds had that swollen look a sure portent that the sap is rising and soon there will be a flurry of blossom. Looking back this is not particularly early. However I love this narrow few days and given that we have had some warmer temperatures arriving there may be a noticeable daily change.

After lunch I wanted to mark this brief period, and found a few of the later flowering snowdrops under the Amelanchier trees and thought they would make good companions, as these are probably the last of the snowdrops. However I have very few daffodils; they just don't last well from one year to another and I have no more than ten or so blooms from all the bulbs I have planted since moving to this year.

The little set of three vases are just right...and this is probably their first appearance as a trio. For more delightful arrangements, why not go over to Cathy's post where you will be able to find links from others such as me for this 'In a Vase on Monday' topic. I do enjoy posting these arrangements from plants from my garden, and have realised that my last post was Number 333 which is considered to be an Angel Number. 

I know many of us have stretched the boundaries regarding different considerations such as What is a Vase? No water required as in dried flowers or a wreath, and even for those friends snowbound bought flowers have sometimes had to creep in, but at least the arrangement carried the guarantee 'arranged with my own hands'.  I therefore knew I had to present something like the above trio, even if I felt you would love to see the following composition.  None of it is of my making but could well be a start point for future arrangements especially for those which are intended to be left outside. These would also making a charming decoration for a ledge or porch on a church or old building.

Nest form of Snowdrops

I went on my pilgrimage on Friday to the Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival.  There were workshops for Snowdrop Kokedama and lots of lovely special snowdrops for sale.  However on a stand I spied  Snowdrops in a bird nest inspired arrangement of twisted hazel twigs.  I believe these had been made  to raise funds for the festival. Later when the ovaries start to swell, I shall place these snowdrops into the garden, and may use the twiggy arrangement for another plant.

The reply asking for more information from the Snowdrop Festival organisers:   "We are all volunteers and Simon , one of our committee team made the nests from his own twisted willow and  clumps of snowdrops. All the proceeds go towards our snowdrop plantings and enhancing the economic well being of our lovely town. Do enjoy its beauty."

From the Garden for Six on Saturday - 21 February 2026

 For more gardening, plants and tales from gardeners the place to go to, which we and maybe you congregate is over at Jim's, where this post is linked to.

Did I say I wasn't going to get more plants: well that didn't last long!  I went up to visit Jackie at Tryffids Nursery a little later than I have done in previous years.  I had received her snowdrop list a few weeks ago, and I was delighted to pay her a pre arranged visit.  I came away with some pots and have already planted these around the beds.

1. More Eranthis for the garden, as I love that little bit of 'sunshine'.  Although labelled as Eranthis hyemalis I do believe they may be Eranthis Cilicica, I'll be able to tell which when the leaves are fully out. 

Eranthis hyemalis?

2.It has also continued to rain almost continually except for maybe only a couple of spells ofsunshine long enough for the crocus to open. It will certainly go down as the wettest January and February that I have experienced! During the few moments of sunshine Iit is also lovely to see the second wave oof crocus being the Crocus chrysanthus such as this lovely Crocus 'Advance' open up. This is their fourth season in flower and have really proved themselves coming back each year. I lifted them last year to seperate them, which has meant a less congested arrangement, don't you think?

Crocus chrysanthus 'Advance'

There are several other crocus varieties around the garden, but this little slope along the path near the Ginkgo tree seems to suit them well.

3. This is where I planted up three new pots of crocus this week, again with labels that I believe are wrong, these are not Crocus Herald but 'Prince Claus'. This has been confirmed, the bulb supplier sent the wrong labels!

Crocus Prince Claus

As the pots contain several corms I've just planted these in a clump, but when the growing season is nearly over, and the leaves are dying down, I shall lift them and disperse them a little more naturally.

4.  I also came home with two snowdrops which are in the poculiformis form.  This is a pure white one called 'Bridesmaid' and should be easy to spot and hopefully it will settled in and increase.

Galanthus Bridesmaid

The other poculiform galanthus has a slight green marking and it looks like what is written on the label 'Galanthus green tipped poculiformis'.

5. Found locally ie near Ashwick and Oakhill on the Mendips, a stonethrow from Jackie's nursery is this sweet double Galanthus 'Ashwick Green Tip', 

Galanthus 'Ashwick Green Tip'

Jackie also gifted me a good late Galanthus nivalis found locally and another 'unknown' single greentip.

6. A few years ago I planted a few corydallis in the garden.  I enjoy trying to propagate plants, and my prefered method is cuttings, but I have during the last few years trying harvesting and growing plants from seed. It takes time to grow a corm to flowering size from seed. 

Corydalis Malkensis

It is quite possible for an ordinary gardener, to grow these from seed without complicated equipement or shelter.  Proof here with seed of Corydalis Malkensis gathered and sown in 2023, and which germinated in 2024.  It has taken 4 years from seed to first flower. 

Wholemeal Bloomer

 Another Home Baker's Club bake and one set for February 2026, but of course Jack's demonstration can be accessed at any time to suit.  Today I tried Stone Baked Wholemeal Bloomer, but not to the letter!

I didn't want to spend the time heating up the stone, and I didn't feel confident in using the couch tehnique for the final rest.  And because I didn't use the stone, I skipped the 10 minutes off at the start of the baking.

I loved the slash pattern and the loaves rose nicely, though you cannot really tell by these overhead picture.  

Yeasted Banana and Pecan Bread

 Another success from the Home Baker's Club over at Bake with Jack's.

What I learnt:

Yeasted Banana Bread is excellent and pecans are an excellent substitute for dark chocolate chips.  The pecans were lightly baked first in the oven.

The four strand plait is easy and fun and would work nicely with other flavoured doughs whether sweet or savoury

It might be an idea to shape the loaf and allow to slowly rise overnight to bake first thing in the morning.

I often start my baking a little too late and have to leave the loaf cooling overnight, hence the idea of having a freshly baked loaf in the morning by allowing the slow rise overnight.

Slices were frozen, and will be easy to pull out the night before for breakfast.  I shall try it toasted.

The rest of the loaf was sliced and put into the freezer.  The slices seperated easily, and after an overnight defrost in a bag, they were toasted for breakfast.  The warming and toasting of the bread really enhanced both the banana and the pecan tastes.

All dried out - In a Vase on Monday

The fresh garden flowers are taking a break this week, allowing me to show some of the dried flowers prepared last summer.  The vase is a soap stone one bought in China and given to me by my mother several decades ago. 

 

The pale green of the vase is not quite the right hue or shade to match with fresh foliage and flowers, so at last it gets an outing and pairs fairly well with some of the flowers I dried last year.  

Pseudodictamnus acetabulosus

Pseudodictamnus acetabulosus dries well and keep its form, and Origanum 'Emma Stanley' too with the colour only fading slightly.

Origanum 'Emma Stanley' dried

I have quite a few dried poppy seed heads around so choose three for the vase, and at the base are three more where the outer skin has been removed to leave the fine inner formations. A couple of years ago I noticed such 'skeletons' where I had dropped poppy seed heads on the beds, and used it again last year to great advantage.

With fellow gardeners who love to bring some of the garden indoors,  I am linkins this post to Cathy's In a Vase on Monday.