In a Vase on Monday - Win, win?

Its the first day of the New Year......Happy New Year to all fellow In a Vase on Monday contributors.

If I had felt moved or had had time to post this time last week, on Christmas Day, this is what I would have posted....all the remaining Mistletoe from our wreath making episode at the WI earlier in December sat in a little green vase, with my nodding fairy, and crocheted snowflakes.  I bought the snowflakes off Cynthia in Kenilworth a few years ago.  Cynthia was one of the Crocheting ladies in the Kenilworth Knit and Natter Group, and was often making lovely little things to help raise funds for her Parish Church St Nicholas.  Here they lie around the mistletoe in a garland, tied all together.

So although I lost out on joining with Cathy and others, feeling at least joined in spirit with them, made me arrange this little homage to IAVOM in the corner of the conservatory.

I very nearly gave up too today...but In a Vase on Monday, if practised often enough, can help one to appreciate what could be 'lurking' in the garden, even after weeks of what seems like continuous rain.  This morning when I walk across the grass to top up the bird feeders, it felt like I walking across water...had I not done this, I would not have noticed a few very bright flowers.  After another deluge mid morning, I ventured forth to pick a few blooms:

These cycalmen coum needed the smallest of my glass ink bottles.  These are the first of the blooms from some third year corms which have grown here , but which I gathered when newly germinated in the gravel of my old garden.  The patterned leaf and the totally silver leaves come from other corms that are yet to flower.

I win, because despite the wet weather, I have a few bright flowers to display, and win because having been contributing to In a Vase on Monday...it made me go out and find these beauties.  Would you not agree?

On our walk in between the heavy showers a couple of days ago, I balanced across a dyke full of water to pick a couple of stems of hazel and Alnus from a hedgerow for my vase but it is definitely outshone by the cyclamen.  

Thanks to Cathy who leads us up and down the garden path each week in search of things to make us smile in our garden....she also comes up with the most uplifting posts to accompany her arrangements; a little like thought for the week from her garden.  Do go and see what she as come up with for the the first day of 2018.