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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Monday, February 29, 2016

In A Vase On Monday - Little Bottles of Spring


Inspired by the Educational tables put together at plant sales by the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon and other organizations at some plant sales and this little collection of tiny bottles,  I set out to clip smallish flowers.  The smallest bottle, second from the left, was unearthed while digging a bed in my garden.

Spring comes early here (these are considered winter blooming plants but when things begin blooming again it's spring in my mind.)

 Skimmia maponica and a little spring of Ribes sanguineum.   Viburnum × bodnantense ‘dawn’, Daphne odora

Cyclamen coum and Sweet Violets.

Stachyurus praecox, Hyacinth, 'Tete a tete' daffodil, Pernettya mucronata berries, Ribes sanguineum.

Scilla siberica (Blue Squill,) Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)

Primula vulgaris and a Hellebore.

Crocus, Primrose, Daphne.

Dark red Camellia.

Hellebore.

Now to throw them all together.




 Throw in a bird or two and a purple background (It's lent and all.)



Do you remember those tiny perfume bottle samples?  Maybe they still make them but it's been years since I lived with sisters or a mother.  I remember smelling these miniscule vials of olfactory delight (Avon perhaps?) and thinking that spring or summer actually must smell like that somewhere. (I wasn't a particularly bright child - explains a lot, doesn't it?)  Anyway, here are my little sample bottles of spring.  If you live in a part of the country that is still experiencing winter, all you have to do is place your order now and spring will arrive at your door soon.   


In A Vase on Monday is hosted each week  by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  Click on over there and check out what people all over are putting in vases (or other receptacles) this Monday.

 Let's shorten that Stachyurus branch and throw in some pussy willows.  

Happy Leap Year!

14 comments:

  1. Beautiful Peter. A microcosm of Spring.

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  2. What a clever way to display your early spring flowers!

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  3. Love this idea and how you diplayed the bottles...soon we will see spring here and I will have so many gorgeous blooms to display too! Wonderful view of spring for me!

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  4. Lovely sample bottles of spring, it must smell absolutely divine!

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  5. What a genius idea. I love it.
    Not long a go I tossed a bunch of little bottles. Isn't it always the case? you find use for something shortly after getting rid of it? sigh.
    I have or had all the plants you used in this post except for Ribes sanguineum. I still hope to incorporate it into my garden one day: I just love those little pink blooms.

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  6. Very clever and lovely! The phrase 'Little and often' springs to mind :)

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  7. I love how you've displayed your lovely winter/spring flowers. Putting the little bottles on a tray together really unifies the arrangement; gorgeous!

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  8. Spring has most certainly arrived and your little bottles present it well! I love that little ceramic bird too!

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  9. I like the way Jessica has described your vases a s a microcosm of spring - so apt! And the way all your individual bottles came together to make that overall display is delightful - thanks for sharing Peter

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  10. What a nice collection of little bottles, and a fine way to display these early risers. Nowadays, perfume samples come in itty bitty plastic tubes good for about three applications...nothing like the good old days. I especially like your blues (scilla and grape hyacnith) in the amber bottle.

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  11. All the little bottles singularly are so cute, Peter, I've noticed little flowers in a small vase blown up large are practically the equivalent if large flowers in a large vase. But grouping them is sensational! The little blue flowers do tend to stick out. I like the muscari flowers, like bloomers with white lace edgings.

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  12. Oh, I love this idea! The UW-Madison Arboretum does this, too--they always have plant samples on display for "what's blooming in the Arboretum" or sample dried seeds or stems during fall and winter. I might have to borrow this. You're so fortunate to have all these blooms in late February/early March!

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  13. Love them individually but they make quite a stunning group as well. I am always saving little jars and bottles and buying tiny vases. There is always room for a little something. I also found an old glass patent medicine bottle while digging in my old garden. I gave it to someone who collected such things but I admit I've always had a twinge of regret.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.