Interesting items are often found thrown into our parking strips. On Saturday morning I went out to take pictures of our first frost and found this Patron Tequila bottle. Since the goal of IAVOM is to bring things inside found in our gardens or foraged nearby, this seemed like an apt container for today's arrangement.
Contents include several weeds, Phytolacca americana (Pokeweed) bird planted holly, and likewise avian gardened Cotoneaster franchetii. Non weeds are Cupressus arizonica ‘Blue Ice’ and Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’
Many birds were outside enjoying the calm and sunny day and the berries. It seemed only fair that, since they planted a lot of what's in today's vase, some should be included. They had some green sparkly stuff with them so it went in as well.
I heard a bird sing
in the dark of December.
A magical thing
And Sweet to Remember.
"We are nearer to spring
Than we were in September."
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.
-Oliver Herford
In a Vase on Monday is hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Click over to her blog to see her vase and links to those of other participating bloggers.
I love those pokeweed berries but it is considered a problem plant around here. Plus it is pretty big if I remember correctly. But what a statement they make in a vase. Your bird reminds me that I forgot to put any birds on my Xmas tree. Thanks for the poem. I've read it before but it really helps to make winter not seem as long if you think of it that way.
ReplyDeleteThe American pokeweed berries hang so artfully from your new vase. It bring back memories of the old-time milk bottles that were delivered to the door by the milk man. Milk tasted really good back then!
ReplyDeleteLove the poem, it's new to me so thank you for including it. Your retrieved vase is rather fine and you've put it to very good use.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! So glad you found some glass (?) birds rather than bringing in the live ones.
ReplyDeleteI love the way people leave you things in your garden - especially useful things like this bottle and I like the way you have thrown both weds and non-weeds into it. The 'pokeweed' looks really striking but i can imagine how invaseive it could get f the birds like eating the berries. Lots of birds out ad about today, enjoying food from the deeders in the garden
ReplyDeleteHow crazy that someone left a tequila bottle in your garden. I'm not sure from your description if it was deliberate or left as trash by one of the halfway house denizens (better than a syringe). The birds go well with the cotoneaster berries and the cupressus needles.
ReplyDeleteThe tequila bottle was a fun discovery - better certainly than finding the person who imbibed its contents sleeping in your flower bed! I love those pokeweed berries (a plant I managed to kill) and the glittery birds are a perfect addition to the arrangement.
ReplyDeleteThe birds always strip the holly berries about three weeks before Christmas here. But their need is greater than mine. Lovely that you have found so many goodies in your garden. The pokeweed is very effective.
ReplyDeleteAn odd but rather attractive thing to find tossed away. I only find flattened cans and coffee cups (so far). You have found plenty of lovely things to fill it and the little birds are a perfect finishing touch.
ReplyDeleteYour brdies are cute, and your tequila vase is lovely, but the thing I liked best about your post this week is that poem! I love it so much and had forgotten about it. The days will start getting longer again soon! :) Thanks Peter!
ReplyDeleteI love your arrangement, Peter (that tequila bottle makes a nice vase)! That's the way to reduce, reuse, recycle. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe birds are a nice complement to the berries ... echoing Nature's garden.
Yes!!!! Darn it..you are so clever!! I love glittery birds at Christmas. It's perfect.
ReplyDeleteYour creations just get better and better!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!I love the mistletoe in this vase and the cute glittery birds add more loveliness to it!
ReplyDeleteLove the poem.The birds are a nice complement to the berries.
ReplyDeleteThe bottle has an interesting shape. One of those that back in the day we would let candles drip down the sides as we sat in the garden having a drink or two in the evening. It looks quite nice with your bouquet in it. Poke berries are long gone here. We have to be diligent or Poke would take over here. I love the poem as just the other day we had a day of warmth and sunshine and a Robin did sing. It sounded so weird this time of year. Happy IAVOM.
ReplyDeleteA rich and rewarding arrangement with due homage to our flying friends.
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite containers are leftovers from some pantry item. Tequila...hmmm...might be fun recycling that one. When your arrangement is in place, I love the way the dark berries become jst a glow in the background...very noirishly elegant.
ReplyDelete