Monday 13 July 2015

In a Vase on Monday, May I have the both please?



This week Cathy has been inspired by Old Masters.  This week I have tried to be 'on time', and true to nature want to post Both Vases I have made up this morning.

I know that even when I was small, I just could not make my mind up when faced with choices.  I remember this one, and my mother reminded me often:  gooseberry pie or 'another pie'...my answer was 'May I have the both please?'  I must have been about eight years old, and we were visiting one of my mother's friends in the UK, although I spoke English very well then, my main everyday language was jumping between French and  Creole, and then English when my mother was about.  I think the grown ups must have all had different thoughts. My Mum was probably embarrassed by the lack of manners, my father thinking there's my girl if faced with tasting two puddings which I never had before, why not both, and as these were two older 'posh' ladies I would like to think they they only thought good of me...there was plenty, and really I only wanted half portions of each.  I used to visit a lovely little Italian Restaurant many years ago, where they made marvelous desserts, and the waiters there knew I wanted a little taste of two or three desserts....now restaurants make a real art of 'composing an arrangement of several dessert elements on a plate'

Again I could not decided on which flowers to use.  I tip toed outside in the rain, bucket in hand, and began snipping.  Back inside I chose two vases, both of which had belonged to my mother.  Last week I just put all the blooms into one vase, but today a more simple arrangement came into mind. 

The first one is in a 'posh' vase:  Clematis Comtesse de Bouchard, Pittisporum Garnettii, Astrantia Major 'Sunningdale Variegated', and a stem of sedum, still green.  The variegated astrantia is much later flowering in the garden this year, compared to the other pink astrantia which all need cutting back now, and the Lemon Balm called to be picked as I brushed against it as I walked back to the kitchen.  Its form on a closer look is interesting with its whorl of little small flowers, and it has a lovely scent.



The second one in a little simple vase which my father brought back from Japan in the 1960s.  Here again a sprig of Lemon Balm, some Pink Williams which I have grown for the first time in this garden, my first Dahlia flower of the season, bright pink cosmos, and Achillea Millefolium 'Lilac Beauty'.  I bought the dahlias and cosmos from the gardening club sale, and they were pressed upon me despite the fact that I knew I had little space for them.

Last year the Achillea was smothered in green fly, but it is clear this year.  Usually we have a good balance with many different type of ladybirds foraging the greenfly, but to date I have not spotted a single one.  Instead every flower in the garden seems to have several small beetles almost the size of a pinhead, called Pollen beetles which I have hardly noticed in previous years.





11 comments:

  1. Both arrangements are appealing with well-chosen flowers. Gorgeous. susie

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  2. I like both your airy compositions, the lovely are lovely and rich.

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  3. Beautiful arrangements. I like both. I can see why you find it hard to choose between them! I also had a dilemma. I'd planned a yellow scheme and then the wind blew something else into my lap. So for me it's Sweet Peas today and a vase full of yellow tomorrow.

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  4. Both arrangements are beautiful, although the first, posh one is probably may favorite as I love the large-flowered Clematis and Astrantia, neither of which I can grow. I'm not able to stick to one vase each week at this time of year either.

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  5. Not sure if my comment was published as I ended up on a completely different blog when I clicked 'publish! ;) I was saying how elegant and balanced both your vases were and wondering if you just 'threw them together'..? Thank you for sharing your vases and the history of 'the more' ps I did comment last week too but don't see my comment there either... :(

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    1. Not quite thrown together. Sometimes I make them in my hand as I can position the flowers and foliage, then bind with some raffia, then trim the stems and into the vase. Sometimes it is straight in the vase.

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    2. Did not received one last week, but this one is very encouraging. Thanks.

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  6. Wow these are both gorgeous vases...such vibrant beautiful flowers. Love the clematis especially.

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  7. Love both the vases. Astrantia is quickly becoming my new favourite must have plant. I prefer the paler varieties though

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    1. They are lovely, and have such an intricate flower head. They are loads of colours, so everyone can find the ones they like.

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  8. Oh both vases have most attractive occupants and your story about the dilemma of choosing a pudding made me smile.

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