Despite it still being warm for the time of year there's very few pickings in the garden now. And not a lot of colour either. There is still the winter jasmine with it's tiny yellow flowers, used in a vase last week, and there are a few tiny blue primulas but I've left them where they are ... if they were picked there would be no colour at all.
Instead, I've trimmed a few short stems of these winter gems ... Sweet Box or Christmas Box, this variety is indeed Sarcococca 'Winter Gem', and Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price'. Both are hardy, evergreen shrubs just planted last year in the grass border that divides the driveway from the front path.
I'm hoping the warmth of the house will encourage the red buds of the Sarcococca to open into the highly fragrant white flowers that this plant is renowned for. I've just discovered that this shrub is ideal for under-planting trees. This is good - there are two areas in the garden where very little grows because of the massive fir trees there. It's been a real problem but I may just have found the answer.
The pink buds of 'Eve Price' opening to reveal tiny white flowers that are so pretty and in winter a very welcome sight.
Because the sprigs I picked are very short, I chose a small vase, actually four small vases fixed to a tile base, in which to display them. This vase has a bit of a history. The first time it was used I was disappointed to find that the base was very porous, water would slowly seep through making it not fit for purpose. Who would have thought it! However, after much deliberation I came up with a solution, the base is now waterproof so it can now be used without leaving watermarks on the furniture.
I was going to remove the glass pot next to the vase before the photo was taken but, as it has a frosted finish that seemed appropriate for the winter theme, it was left where it was.
As usual, thanks go to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for hosting In A Vase On Monday and encouraging us to search our gardens for material for a vase each week.
