In A Vase On Monday - Hello Spring!

The flowers of late winter and early spring 

occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.

~ Gertrude S. Wister

This week's In A Vase On Monday offering is the tiniest of posies. There's miniature daffodils, Narcissus 'Tête á Tête', cowslips, Primula Veris, and the last of the winter jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum. Because they are all so tiny, this amber glass jug was the only one I had small enough to hold them. 

And so I say, hello Spring! Surely it won't be too long before I'll be picking the bigger daffodils, followed by celandines and then the bluebells. I can't wait.

And now an update on the second vase I posted last week.

The red stemmed dogwood, Cornus Alba 'Siberian Pearls' has, after being in the red and white polka dot jug for two weeks, has provided me with quite a surprise by not only putting on leaf but also by bursting into flower!

Enjoy your week,

In A Vase On Thursday - A Rainbow in Polka Dot Jug

Hello Everyone

This post ought to be entitled In A Vase On Monday but I didn't quite make it for Cathy's meme over at Rambling in the Garden this week.However, it did seem such a shame not to share it with you this week so here it is just several days late.

The rainbow of the title is the Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow'. It seems that this spurge got it's name because of it's striking, sage and lime green foliage that turn stunning shades of pink, red and orange during the colder months. I like it particularly for the vibrant green flowers with bright red centres.

Also in the jug is a few sprigs of Eucalyptus gunni. The leaves were growing too large so I thought it was a good time to clip a few to encourage fresh growth in spring. And encouraged by Cathy's recent use of stems of Cornus in her A Shot in the Dark vase I've added a few from from C. Alba Siberian Pearls - the red compliments the flowers of the Euphorbia very well. Tucked in at the back is a couple of sprigs from out huge unknown variety of Cotoneaster - it's so big it won't notice the loss.

It's no secret I love polka dots, especially white ones on a red background, so when I spotted this jug in a sale on a recent shopping expedition I just had to have it. The cake tin is a lot older. Like the fashion designer, Marc Jacobs, I don't think there is ever a wrong time for a polka dot!

The arrangement has been on our hall stand for several days now and is holding up well despite the heat from a nearby radiator.

Wishing you all a lovely day.