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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, May 8, 2017

In A Vase On Monday - It's About Time


During the winter, time can go at a snail's pace for while it's an active time beneath the ground, we don't notice daily changes.  Most of us wouldn't mind pushing the hands of time forward.  In spring the opposite is true, time seems to fly and daily wonders abound as wave after wave of floral delights spring into bloom and fade as their reproductive imperative has been accomplished.   I, for one, would very much like time to slow down at the moment.

For the last couple of weeks I've been enjoying the blooms of the finally-increasing clump of Iris japonica and decided that there were enough to bring a few inside to enjoy.  They'll be gone all too soon.


They're joined by forget-me-nots that are everywhere in my garden right now.  Just two types of flowers thrown together quickly to allow for more time to play outside.  As usual, I also put off my homework for a Monday class until Sunday night and needed to get that done too.

Three small vases.  The two Iris weed pots were made in Alaska by a potter named Redwood Dahlke who died at a young age.  She was my pottery guru in the 70's.


The third vase was a gift from a dear friend many years ago.  It's never held a flower before.


Added to the vases is this tiny clock, the gift of another friend, a soprano who sang in a choir I once directed.  Marjorie was a giving soul who sang until shortly before her death.   The clock sits in my kitchen and needs to be dusted but was left this way intentionally.

There are extra forget-me-nots lying at the foot of the vases.  These will soon wilt and bring to mind the final stanza of the poem "Go Lovely Rose" by Edmund  Waller:

Then die - that she 
The fate of all things rare
May read in thee:
How small a part of time they share
That are so wondrous sweet and fair.




How fleeting is beauty, how brief our time, how quickly races spring.  May we all take time to savor every moment of this resplendent season.
In A Vase On Monday is hosted by the magical Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  Click here to see what others have brought inside to enjoy this week.

16 comments:

  1. Those two flowers were made for each. I've never seen that Iris and the markings are beautiful. Isn't it wonderful to have so many treasures that all have personal stories. Redwood is a perfect name for a guru, pottery or otherwise. Over the weekend we acquired three more pots from our favorite practitioner of that art; storing up more memories.

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  2. Ahhhhhhhh. My very favorite colors--and in such suitable vases!
    Waiting here for ANYthing cultivated to brave our chilly weather and bloom...

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  3. What poignant memories and words you have shared with us Peter - they are a fitting tribute to the simple vases you have created. Thank you so much, as always

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  4. Ah, this is lovely today. Fine sentiments, pretty flowers, and a good poem. Thanks for sharing. It's so cool that you have no end of interesting "stuff" to use for IAVOM.

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  5. It's a beautiful composition, Peter, and weaving your memories through it makes it all the more wonderful. I too would like spring to slow the heck down but I suspect Mother Nature knows best - summer is already creeping in here and the spring flowers need to make the most of their time while they still can.

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  6. Beautiful flowers, composition and remembrance.

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  7. Family members stopped by yesterday and wanted to see our tulips. Alas, most of them are done and gone already.
    Yes, too fleeting.
    I love your vase tableau.

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  8. Your vase trio is lovely, Peter, the Japanese iris is a delicate compliment to the myosotis. I LOVE forget-me-nots, they hold special childhood memories for me.
    I am enjoying this fleeting spring - May is my most favorite month.

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  9. Love the colors. I banished forget-me-not from my garden as soon as I realized how happily it spreads. Brunnera Jack Frost has a similar flower but much better behaved.
    Do you have a name to go with that magnificent Japanese iris?

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    1. I think it's the species Iris japonica, sometimes called handkerchief iris.

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  10. A beautiful and meaningful vignette, and your point about the slow pace of winter and fast space of spring is so true...

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  11. I love your next to last photo, Peter. I think forget-me-not decorate any composition.

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  12. I love these pretty arrangements with lovely blue flowers! Spring does remind us to enjoy the moment!

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  13. At last the inspiration behind your vased creations is revealed: homework avoidance! ;)

    Love the blues!

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  14. Spring does seem to be flying past but our good weather means plenty of time outside playing and enjoying. I love forget-me-nots and they pick up the iris colours beautifully.

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  15. Wonderful use of blues. I like the patina on the clock and it seems appropriate to the story behind it.

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