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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, March 13, 2017

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. 

12 comments:

  1. Funny how that orange thingie is "just right" for this clever arrangement!

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  2. What a nice host gift to give you inspiration for this lovely vase full of blooms and foliage. Happy Monday.

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  3. 'Pilot light' of hope - love it! Just about sums up this time of year, which is well represented in your offering today. You have the gift of making even leftovers look terrific, Peter!

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  4. The color of the cabbages matches the tulips so well! Yes, it sure is hard to keep your spirits up for the coming spring and summer when it rains so much. Sunday was nice, I managed to get out and do some cleanup, including cutting down the ornamental grasses finally. But it's back to rain again today.

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  5. "When we step outside and see how bedraggled everything looks, we sometimes wonder if the garden will ever look full and lush again."...oh thank god it's not just me!

    Your arrangement is lovely, the colors so bold and they all work together wonderfully!

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  6. Peter, your post came together beautifully, combining your thoughts, the seasons and time - so well constructed in the midst of your busy week. The ornamental cabbage is the star in your vase, even though it started in a supporting role to complement the tulips! Thanks so much for sharing and have a good week!

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  7. Not lopsided but asymmetrical. See you picked up some ideas at the Ikebana exhibit. Love your description of this time of year. Snowing and cold here but birds in the morning and light at night, so we are hopeful that Spring will arrive soon.

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  8. That's a wonderful and creative mash-up of the seasons, Peter. I DO wish you could send us some of your extra rain. Even though we were blessed with more rain than we've seen in years this winter, with soaring temperatures I've already had to resort to turning on the irrigation system and I'm rapidly draining the contents of my rain tanks.

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  9. Bedraggled is exactly the right term for it. I'm in a similar frame of mind, but finally there are some bulbs emerging to cheer me up. I'm especially happy because the Cardiocrinum giganteum, which first flowered and exalted my garden last year, now has three new sprouts coming up around the expired stalk. Hooray!

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  10. My tete-te-tete mini daffodils finally opened their faces, searching for sun, but there's not much else blooming yet. It is the in between season, for sure, especially this year.
    In my vase today are store bought alstromeria, mostly green in color for St Patty's Day.

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  11. A transition arrangement--very creative! I like the addition of the globes and pumpkin. They tie it all together! Transitions here mean one day it's 68F and sunny, and the next day it's 23F and snowing and drifting. But, hey, spring is on the way!

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  12. What a wonderful arrangement! Those tulips are such a beautiful color. It all works well together.

    We had a good rain during the middle of the night last night, great for the gardens.

    Happy Spring dear Peter ~ FlowerLady

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