Monday 6 March 2017

In A Vase On Monday - Warning

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
                                                                                      Jenny Joseph, 'Warning'

The inspiration for this week's In A Vase On Monday was sparked by spotting this brilliant combination of purple crocus and the bright red foliage on our photinia Christmas Berry, photinia x fraseri Red Robin.
Red and purple are not colours I would ordinarily plant together, never mind wear, but on a dull day like today this combination is guaranteed to lift the spirits. It also reminded me so much of both Jenny Joseph's ode to nonconformity and my late mother - this was one of her favourite poems. Not that she could ever be accused of nonconformity but she did wear purple and red together - just not a red hat. The hat is mine!
Moments after bringing the crocus indoors they were fully opened like this. They are displayed in a tiny gold decorated jug that is part of a very elegant coffee service which was given to me by a dear friend when she left Scotland a few years ago to live in America.

Last week's daffodils have gone over but, because we have so many still in bud I'm able to replace them and so the display goes on, at least for another week or so. The temperature is rising here in Ayr and we've seen quite a bit of the old sun over the last week but today has been colder than yesterday and rain is forecast for the coming week so whether I'll be able to do much gardening is questionable. We shall see.

Enjoy your gardening week.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whew! That's OK then, as I shall still be (am still?!) wearing purple although I would draw the line at some of JJ's other suggestions ;) Your crocus are delightful, and I was enamoured by the new photinia foliage (not in my own garden) when I was picking for Younger Daughter's wedding last year; sadly it didn't last well in teh buttinholes though but was OK in the posies. Thanks for sharing

Valerija said...

Very beautiful!

AlisonC said...

I like that poem too, we should learn a little from it. Brilliant inspiration for your vase too. That jug is so pretty and a sweet reminder of a friend. I hope you get out sometime this week, it's very cold here today and not very inviting.

Anonymous said...

Love that colour combination - I would love to wear those colours together, even before I get old! LOL!

Julie@peoniesandposies.com said...

I have never come across that poem Elizabeth although I love the sentiment - I always tell my friends that when I am old I will be Miss Marple like in thick woolly tights and a long tweed skirt - for now it is jeans and a t shirt! your crocus are lovely - particularly as they opened out inside.

Sandra H said...

Awww so pretty x