In a vase on Monday: GBBD

Today is not only IVOM but also Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, meaning I had to chose which meme to follow: A choice I decided I did not want to make. Rather than show what is currently blooming in the garden via pictures of the plants in place, I decided I would put the blossoms in vases and kill two memes with one post.

When you are fortunate enough to have a Trillium grandiflorum clump large enough to steal a flower from, on most Mondays it would be enough.

Not today. I went thought the garden with a pair of clippers in one hand and a bucket of cold water in the other. No plant was too precious to cut or too common to be ignored. 

I was on a roll with blue and white flowers and vases but this arrangement below taught me a lesson: Just because you have a wealth of blooms to pick from, using more sometimes just creates a chaotic jumble. This Paeonia rockii might have been better on its own. Instead I kept adding oranges and gold and pinks to pick up the colors deep inside it — which barely show in the photo.

The previous vase taught me that one that is packed with flowers needs a specific concept in both design and color if it is to work. I am growing four different tulips and I used their popularity in Dutch still life arrangements as the theme for this display and their colors as the guide to deciding on what other flowers to include. I just need to find a butterfly or a worm to add to create the "life is fleeting" message. With temps hitting the 80s and storms forecast for later this week, many of the blooms in the garden are about to prove fleeting. But this is one of my favorite arrangements I've created; a great beginning to the week.

To see what other gardeners have put in a vase this Monday, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden who hosts this weekly meme. To see what's blooming in gardens here, there and everywhere visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens who hosts this monthly meme.

Click on the photos to enlarge them to see the details.

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

The last vase is exciting. A great way to enter the week, with great exuberance.

[Linda Brazill]

I really had fun doing that one!

[Peter/Outlaw]

The last vase is amazing but I'm also fond of the one in the "Let them eat cake." vase. The abundance and variety of blooms in that vessel perfectly echo the sentiment of the vase. You did a much better job of hitting two memes with one stone than I.

[Cathy]

Oh what exuberance and what a great idea - I have taking the easier option (?) and will post for GBBD tomorrow. I love your selection of vases, especially the 'Let them eat cake' one, no, on second thoughts I think I like them all equally - there is praise for you!

[Lea]

I love the beauty and simplicity of the first one
Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

[Loree / danger garden]

What a fun way to approach the meeting of the memes. I love your saying "No plant was too precious to cut or too common to be ignored"...and all the vases are superb!

[Christina]

You're right less can definitely be more where vases are concerned but you've hit the right balance is your tulip vase; it's gorgeous, the colours are sumptuous.

[Kris P]

What a great way to combine bloom Day and IaVoM, Linda. As I paged through your post, each vase was more exciting than the last, although I liked the "let them eat cake" vase best despite your disclaimers. Of course, I am well known as a vase stuffer myself...Happy GBBD!

[Amelia Grant]

I love the Trillium and the last vase. I tend to think about design a lot while arranging the flowers, sometimes too much!

[Rose]

What a gorgeous arrangement, Linda! I'm not very good at flower arranging so I usually don't bother. But a cheery vase like this certainly brings some welcome color indoors. Wow on the trillium!

[Barbara H.]

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. I like them all and think you've done a splendid job with each one. I know - I'm late to these recent parties. Now I have to read and catch up.