In a Vase on Monday - Magnolia Update and Trying Something Different

For a couple of weeks now, my Monday vases have included budded branches of a deciduous, spring blooming Magnolia that had broken by February Snow.  While I've appreciated the fuzzy buds on the tree, cutting them to bring indoors never crossed my mind as the blooming tree is such a joy.  Many of us were wondering if the blooms would open indoors in water.  Today I have an answer:  Yes and no.

The fuzzy bud covering falls to the wood floor with a sweet little sound that makes you think that mice have invaded the house.

The buds do open but the flowers are not as large, robust, or as deeply colored as those left on the tree will be.

Nor do they last as long in the vase as they would on the tree but that's to be expected. 

There is also a strong fragrance.  We'll see if leaves emerge as the flowers fade. While I wouldn't intentionally bring many of these inside to force, a few would be a nice breath of spring a few weeks early.

Trying something different - I'm mostly a cram-it-in-a-vase-and-hope-for-the-best participant in Cathy's meme In a Vase on Monday.  Today, I decided to try my hand at something asymmetrical using only a few elements that had already fallen to the ground.  First up was this camellia.

Moss fallen from the roof covers the round horizontal part of the usubata.  Pretty sure that's against the rules of Ikebana but since I'm ignorant of the art form, we'll let it stay.  It's harder than one might think to depart from a more-is-better arranging aesthetic.

It might be better without the moss and with a few parts of the contorted filbert branch cut off.

The arrangement should be left alone but it's always fun to throw in some things from the hoard.  Here's a cute Japanese netsuke with a carved frog.

Also thought it would be fun to once again drag out one of my favorite thrift store finds, this japanese plate.

To see more Monday Vases, click here to go to Cathy's blog, Rambling in the Garden.