About my garden

Monday 28 January 2019

Sweet scents In a Vase on Monday

I don't often buy flowers, in fact I can't remember the last time I did. Daffodils in grey January seemed like a bright idea so I bought some this week. 
The plan was to cut some foliage to go with them and create a framework.


I used some Elaeagnus ebingei, the hedge which keeps on giving, mahonia and winter flowering Lonicera. It smells amazing! I've never cut large pieces of Mahonia before, only the flower sprigs which drop their petals quickly. 
When I'd done it I was so surprised by how colourful it was. I usually give the Mahonia a bit of a prune after it has flowered so this is a good way to do that. I used some of the red leaves in Christmas wreaths.
The problem was that the daffodils were too short to go in but you might rightly argue that it didn't need them anyway. 

I cut some shorter stems of Laurel and Elaeagnus to show off the daffodils.


 It's going to be a while before I have any of my own daffodils to put in a vase but this just shows what can be done if you look around, as Cathy inspires us to do. She also has scents this week. 
Visit Rambling in the Garden for more inspiration about what to put In a vase on Monday. 

18 comments:

  1. Oh my, your first arrangement is so colorful and bright that it doesn't need the daffodils at all. What a sunny delight to have daffodils in a vase today. They haven't started showing up in our shops (or gardens) yet. Happy Monday!

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    1. Thank you. Daffodils are so bright and cheerful. Hopefully you'll get some soon.

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  2. Love the leaves and you were wise to leave the daffodils out, and make a second arrangement with them.

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  3. Oh that mahonia foliage really does work well and although it was a shame the daffs were too short to join it the foliage vase holds its own without them. Pre IAVOM I used to buy little bunches of daffs like this most weeks, but for me the meme has put a stop to buying flowers altogether, such is my self-imposed discipline!

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    1. I just bought them on a whim! I don't usually have any need to buy flowers as you can imagine.

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  4. The red leaves of the mahonia look lovely, the foliage doesn't really need flowers. I like to buy daffodils in January,they are cheap and make you think spring is nearly here.

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    1. Let's hope it is but it's probably a way off.

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  5. I think I'm going to be heading out with my loppers to cut back my Mahonia momentarily! You did brillantly without the daffodils.

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    1. Thank you. I was surprised but I'll be doing it again.

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  6. The daffodils cheer as nothing else can do this time of year, but the mahonia and friends arrangement is perfectly satisfying.

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  7. You were right not to put the daffodils in that lovely extravagant arrangement from your garden! The Mahonia is gorgeous with its orange leaves.

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    1. It is so bright and cheerful. I wish you could smell it.

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  8. You have reminded me of the joys of mahonia - must replace the one I lost.

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    1. I first met this plant about 30 years ago when there was one opposite our first house. I couldn't work out where the amazing smell was coming from.

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  9. Oh that vase looks replete without the daffodils Alison and has warmed me up just looking at it. The daffodils look so cheerful happy too. I've been eying bunches of daffies up for the last couple of weeks but have not weakened yet. I will soon :)

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  10. Hello! Very beautiful. Hugs.

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  11. When we have a mass of flowers we forget how important the foliage is - much as in our gardens I think. Because of the climate here my garden is almost entirely foliage in mid-summer, flowers come in spring and with the autumn rain. I do have flowers but those are in my cuttings beds which are irrigated. I always love daffodils so I love seeing those. Do you grow paper-whites in your poly-tunnel?

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