Monday, 9 March 2026

In a Vase on Monday - Botanically inspired

Botanical drawings are beautiful and fascinating and shows the beauty of structure and details of plants. I love them and from time to time like to try my hand at studying and drawing specimens.  Yesterday whilst gardening I decided to remove the 'rogue' tulip from the garden table pot, and just plonked it a vintage apothecary bottle.  I thought no more of it until this morning when some of the blooms had opened.  We are having a strange day with mists swirling around, and the subdued light was perfect for this species multi headed Tulipa turkestanica.

This 'In a Vase on Monday' get together is the creation of Cathy, and just follow this link if you would like to learn more, and even join in.


Tulipa turkestanica

This morning as I walked through the dining room, I realised the copper stock pot and a large platter needed cleaning, then I realised the sideboard was overloaded with dried arrangements. I had started to clear some of them when I realised that they could also feature this week for In a Vase on Monday.

I knew that I would be wanting this tall narrow vase soon, and for several months it had been just the right height to show off the dried stems of Allium carinatum  subs pulchellum.

Allium carinatum  subs pulchellum

Needing my pie dish, the dried poppy heads were next to be spread over the garden.

Dried Poppy seed heads

With the ones which I had rescued from the garden last year, I tied into a little bundle which I have now moved into the conservatory.


All that is now left is the vase containing other flowers which I picked from the garden and dried last year. 


I think most of them featured last year in vases.  Just as some people like artificial flowers, I rather like dried flowers during the winter, reminding me of the beauties of summer.

Tulipa turkestanica closeup

When I see a multi headed tulip now I am reminded of the time years ago when we visited my uncle Noel.  He was a great prankster and had that reputation from a youngster.  When we arrived he took us straight into the garden to such us his prize tulip....there it was: a multi headed red tulip, a sole one in a bed of other straight up 'traditional' tulips.  Of course we could not reach it to inspect it or even see it that clearly, and we all just creased up at the joke, absolutely no one believed him and thought he had planted an artificial bloom.  Knowing what I know now, it was no joke, it was indeed a multiheaded tulip.  

4 comments:

  1. I enjoyed seeing all your vases and dishes, Noelle, reliving months gone by - and your tulip is delightful - the multi-headed varieties are so generous with their blooms! I have noticed buds on some of my tulips, but it's still a bit early for most of them. As a child, you must have found your uncle great fun!

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    1. Uncle Noel was an absolute character, he played the piano a bit like Liberace and even when he was elderly went to play the piano for 'the old folk' each week! He was a great gardener too.

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  2. A beautiful tulip Noelle. I have a few species tulips but some have already succumbed to mice excavations! And your dried flowers have retained their colour really well. The Briza is especially pretty. I had an uncle like that - always joking around so then you never believed him when he was actually serious!

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    1. Thanks Catby, we all need a joker uncle, someone to lift the spirit and give a sense of balance.

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