Congratulations Cathy!
Cathy at Rambling in the Garden had the inspired idea last November to challenge us all to join her in filling a vase with materials from our gardens each week… yes, she began in NOVEMBER! Erm, tricky to say the least, but Cathy, along with many others, kept it up and not only cheered her own house every Monday, but also brought cheer and encouragement to her followers. I only began in the spring, but once I started I was hooked too!
To celebrate with Cathy for achieving a whole year of Monday vases I looked back at my own vases and decided to pick out a few favourites…
Cathy has also picked a few of her favourites to celebrate this week, and wrote today that on looking back she was pleasantly surprised by the prettiness of some. I found I had the same thoughts, and there were also some I had completely forgotten about. Others brought back memories of that particular week, or the weather, and what was blooming in the garden.
And today’s vase? Well, I am now noticing how the garden is shutting down, even if we still haven’t had a frost yet. But once again, thanks to Cathy, I was determined to find something and was amazed at just how much I was able to conjure up…
On the left, some fresh shoots of the lovely pale variegated Vinca which has taken advantage of the damp year to spread. In front of that and in the centre is some pink Hebe – no idea what sort – a dark red grass I was given, and a confused Hellebore seed head – yes it flowered in September! At the back some Euphorbia and in front of that on the right my much-loved Persicaria. A little Marrubium foliage to the right, then the pink ‘Fairy’ rose as the focal point and a couple of geranium leaves below. Finally, just left of the rose, the two last lavender flowers and a sprig of heather for good luck!
Go and say hello to Cathy and congratulate her on a year of “In a Vase on Monday”, and see the other vases people have linked in to her meme too.
Or you could even join in! 🙂
Words and Herbs 
As you say many very pretty vases! Today’s vase is lovely too, so many flowers still to pick and they positively glow, just what is needed on a cold November day. It is getting lean pickings here! I like your slideshows; How did you do them, they aren’t flickr are they?
Thanks Christina…. there has always been something waiting to be picked so far, but I am wondering what I will do if we have snow this winter! The slideshows probably belong to the theme I use at wordpress, as it’s an option when adding media and “creating a gallery” . I can select photos from my media library and choose from tiles, circles, slideshow etc for the presentation. Very simple really. 😉
I’ll have yo look, thanks.
Ist ein Jahr schon um? Die Zeit der Jahresrückblicke beginnt. I hope you´ll go on with A Vase on Monday! Still colourful blossoms in November. We had a little frost. But some pink roses, one cosmea and a couple of pink strawberries are shining. 🙂
I only started doing my vases in the spring, but the other Cathy at Rambling in the Garden has been doing them for a year now. It could get difficult to continue if we get a long winter, so I shall have to use my imagination!
You are right. Somehow it feels like we could get a long winter. The pendulum has gone so long in the warm direction, it should return to colder conditions.I hope nature knows how to manage.
Vases with fur and benches are possible. Our hamamelis is already flowering (like every autumn).
Cathy what a fantastic achievemnt – a year of flowers from your own garden. My attempts at cutting flowers weren’t so hot, I actually struggle to pick them as I like them in the ground, that and others completely failed! there’s always next year…..
I’ve only managed about 8 months so far Claire, but the Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, who hosts this meme, is celebrating her first anniversary, so worth looking back! Fancy joining in?
O like the idea but knowing me I’ll obly manage a few occasions 🙂
Cathy it was wonderful to see some of your favorites and mine…and this week’s is so elegant….like right out of a floral design shop…I love the foliage you chose especially.
Wow, that’s a kind comment Donna! Thank you! This week I started with the foliage and it made me think differently to when I start with the flowers…. interesting!
I love all your lovely vases and today’s is gorgeous. It doesn’t look like a November vase. Such pretty colours.
I am very impressed by your slide show, how did you do it?
Thank you Chloris! Yes, I need colour on grey days like today. We had the lights on all afternoon! The slideshow is a feature when adding media on the wordpress site. I can ‘create a gallery’ and select how to display the photos I choose, and one option is the slideshow. So it’s very easy to use really.
Yes, what a good idea to review the year as a slide show – and what beauties you have reminded us of! I am sure your Fairy is darker than mine – could there be a LIGHT Pink Fairy and a DARK PInk Fairy, as I know there is a white one? And have you shown this persicaria before? It’s lovely, and a very vibrant colour – which one is it? Thank you for all your kind comments and your enthusiasm 🙂
I didn’t realise there are different colour Fairy roses until about a year ago. This actually looks a bit paler in real life, but I have a red one as well. It hasn’t settled in very well yet, ao perhaps isn’t as tough as the pink ones. The Persicaria is P. amplexicaule ‘Firetail’ and is amazing… it just goes on and on! Thanks for all your encouraging and positive comments too Cathy 🙂
As Chloris says, it doesn’t look like a November vase at all! And I really loved the slide show – especially the euonymus in September. And, to repeat Christina, how do you do the slide shows? (Unfortunately, even if you told me, I suspect I wouldn’t be able to do it on Weebly) Bravo.
Thank you Cathy. The slideshow is part of the wordpress features, so it wouldn’t work for you. I bet there’s a way of doing it for your site too though. It was a very grey November day but this vase took me back a couple of weeks – in spirit at least!
Lovely and inspiring Cathy, a great reflection of what you have achieved, they are all lovely. 🙂
Thank you Julie – looking back was nice, especially thinking of early summer! 🙂
Your vase today is so lovely. I like the way you’ve used a variety of foliage and the pink ‘Fairy’ rose is a charmer. I almost cut some Euphorbia today also but already had enough in my basket. Mine grows in a pot so doesn’t seem to grow very much. Is fall usually a good time for Euphorbia? At any rate, I enjoyed reviewing your vases and recognizing so many favorites.
Thanks Susie! My Euphorbias usually get a new lease of life in autumn but look their best in spring or early summer when they flower. Summer sun scorches them though, which is a shame as they tolerate drought so well.
I enjoyed your slide show, Cathy. So many pretty vases since spring! This week’s is really nice; I love that pink rose and all of the foliage. We’ve had some heavy frost and even some snow showers, but there are still a few stalwart flowers out there.
Hi Kimberley. Isn’t it amazing how many flowers still manage to hang on so late in the year! Still very mild here though.
I’ve just been to visit the other Cathy. What a fun year you’ve all had. It’s amazing what you can pull together from what seems like slim pickings. Congratulations! Your April vase is among my favorites. I’m not sure I can identify why, since they are all beautiful. It just ‘spoke to me’ if you will. Thanks, Cathy, for sharing your little slice of nature.
Thank you Alys! Yes, April’s is definitely in my top three too. I think it reminds me of everything coming to life after winter, and Easter, and my sister who has her birthday in April. I associate so many things with flowers and vice versa! 🙂
Beautiful vases and they were so nice to view in the slide presentation!
Thanks Sue! It was nice to look back and pick my favourites, but I like almost all of them. I just love flowers! 🙂
I especially like your vases from July – that is when it’s too hot here for flowers and most plants go dormant to survive the heat. I also like the idea of using variegated vinca, which I have never used before, although I don’t why! Thanks for your comments on my blog.
July was a lush month this year, with plenty of rain most of the summer. I am so glad the vinca took advantage of some extra moisture and spread out a bit this year!
Looks great and very uplifting, Cathy. Fairy is one of those that hardly ever lets you down. 🙂
Thank you Annette. I’ve had a Fairy rose still flowering at Christmas before now!
Beautiful! I’ve been following this theme since it began and it’s been wonderful to see what you all have been doing with it – so much creativity, and as you say, a lovely snapshot of what is blooming in the garden during a given week. No flowers here for a few months – except the store-bought kind – we’re currently under a nasty cold front and it’s been snowing on and off for three days. Brrrrr!
Thanks Sheryl! It is still very mild here… I wonder what winter will bring this year! Have a good week and stay warm!
You’ve come up with some wonderful vases through the year Cathy, and I am amazed at how much you found to put in today’s version. Quite Christmassy, with that colour mix!
Now wouldn’t it be great if I could produce something like this for Christmas week! 😉 Thanks Janet!
It was lovely to see so many of your vases again Cathy – the slideshow works very well! This weeks vase is beautiful – no one would think you are running out of material in the garden! I am really looking forward to seeing what you come up with as the weather worsens – snow is a challenge we did not have to face last winter but this year could be completely different!
Yes, we had very little snow last year while the year before was a different story. There could be quite a few twiggy, evergreen-themed vases coming up! 😉
Gorgeous and definitely worth looking at over and over as the weather turns…. Your’s are stunning!!
Thank you Diane – it’s nice looking back over the year and remembering the warmer sunnier days!
Thanks for the most enjoyable seasonal slideshow Cathy as well as this week’s pickings complete with that gorgeous dragonfly. I wish that Blogger provided such extras as a slideshow feature!
Glad you enjoyed the slideshow Anna. I wonder if there’s a widget you can use to make slideshows for Blogger? If I see one on another Blogger site I’ll take a closer look. 🙂
Once again I am just awed by how beautiful the colors remain clear into November. So vibrant and lush, and as beautiful as many I see as centerpieces on public display! I loved the slideshow, and after looking at the photos carefully I dared to pick a favorite. I loved April! So simple and sweet, but with your gorgeous flowers each is unique and special. 🙂
It certainly has been a good year for colour Debra. And now we are enjoying a very green November. I loved the April one too! Thanks for your lovely comment!
What a lovely slideshow, 😀 It is so wonderful you have kept up the vase posts for so long. Good for you.
Thanks! It’s so enjoyable, but I know I wouldn’t keep it up if it wasn’t for this meme!
You put together quite a few beautiful vases. They always have such a nice blend of color and airiness to them and I’m always amazed that they come straight form the garden. Do you think you’ll be participating much over the winter?
Thanks Frank. I will be doing my best to keep the vases coming over winter, even if it involves cheating a bit at times! So far it has been a real eye-opener – I never would have thought I’d have flowers for a vase in November!
I’m just going to say “Fabulous”! and a thank you to you Cathy, as it is through you that I was introduced to Cathy’s In a Vase on Monday meme! Here’s to more beautiful vases! Dana
Thanks Dana! Have fun again making this week’s vase! 🙂