In A Vase On Monday - A Collision

Mid March is a strange time of year in our gardens.  It's still technically winter and fall planted annuals like ornamental kale and cabbage are looking tired, pumpkins have rotted into the ground, winter blooming plants are bursting forth, while signs of spring abound.  A few days ago, we noticed the return of the flying summer choir as their song began outside our window.  It's a time between, a collision of seasons.   We still may be visited by Jack Frost, but the days continue to lengthen.  When we step outside and see how bedraggled everything looks, we sometimes wonder if the garden will ever look full and lush again.  Some rainy days, of which we've had a lot, the desire to throw in the towel and move to an apartment with three potted evergreens on the balcony is strong; on other occasions, when there's time to putter and put aright the wrongs wrought by winter storms there is a small flame (pilot light perhaps) of hope. 

Today's vase consists of elements of past, present and future.  These forced tulips, a gift from new friends, represent what's to come in the garden and also bring with them the memory of a delightful evening. 

They're joined by prunings from a variegated euonymus, a stalwart evergreen to tie the past to the present and future.

The fall-planted ornamental cabbage, weary of carrying the winter show, performs a bit of a reprise before going to the compost heap.

Thrown together in a rush (extremely busy week!)  it's a bit lopsided, kind of like this odd time of year.

Joining the vegetation  are a crystal ball representing the future, a gold-painted golden sphere, the present as light lasts a bit longer each day and daylight savings time begins and on the right is a little succulent and beauty berry bedecked pumpkin from October, the past.  Alternately, The crystal could be winter, the gold, summer, and the pumpkin fall.  

A collision of time, seasons, feelings. 

In A Vase on Monday is hosted by the creative goddess Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  Make sure you check out her arrangement this week and look for links to other participating bloggers.