Even when Cathy at Rambling in the Garden is rambling away from home, her meme continues and Cathy herself has posted a Vase on Monday… So no excuses, go and pick some flowers and join in!
Today I started with my Rhododendron, which always looks as if it will be pink when in bud, but then pales to ivory with a beige centre. The Pulsatilla seedheads also have a hint of beige and pink, so by adding the red and white tulips I wanted to highlight these delicate shades.
After placing everything in the vase I noticed each flower seemed to be vying for attention, leaning towards the front!
My parrot/fringed tulips are one of my weaknesses; I just love their shameless flamboyance…
Destiny (formerly Estella Rijnveld)
… their downright cheekiness…
Red Parrot or Fringed Tulip?
… and their feathery loveliness.
Don’t you love them too? 😉
Although we have had showers the past week, the tree pollen is covering everything at the moment – I can even see it clinging to the Pulsatilla below…
A bonus vase this week: some wild mustard appeared in my garden this spring, and although I love the flowers I do not want it to go to seed. So I cut most of it down and added a little Kerria japonica to jazz it up…
And while taking some photos I discovered this little fella…
Maybe not an attention seeker, but cute nonetheless!
What is seeking your attention in your garden right now?
Very lovely Cathy!! I love all the beautiful colors, the snail is cute but he will eat everything, nearly every plant in your garden!! haha!!
Unless the blackbirds get him first! Hopefully he will be keen on wild mustard and ground elder…. 😉
I didn’t think about the black birds!! 🙂
Love those tulips!
Thanks Lori… they are pretty amazing aren’t they!
Your red and white arrangement is gorgeous, really eye catching. Do you ever sow the pulsatilla seeds? They germinate really well if they are nice and fresh.
Thanks for the tip – I’ll give it a go! 🙂
Those tulips look fabulous together Cathy and the rhododendron works surprisingly well with them doesn’t it? More tulips to add to the wish list!
I should love some more parrot tulips Christina… must keep my eyes open this autumn as there are not many sorts on offer here. I think they are considered a bit ‘too much’ by most people! 😉
Snails are seeking my attention in my garden right now, they seem to like my place! Both vases are so nice, Cathy, you are a true inspiring gardener!
Ah, what a lovely comment Anca. Thank you! The snails are out now we have had rain, but the dry weeks before gave some plants a chance to get established before the banquet opened! 😉
Cathy those tulips are really beautiful and quite the frilly flowers…they remind me of feathers on ladies hats. A lovely vase that is an attention seeker for sure…and a lovely subtle second vase….I agree if it is a weed or a flower when I cut it I can usually put both in a vase.
Oh yes! A lovely image with ladies’ hats! Now that would be a challenge…. a hat decorated with real flowers… 😉
Voluptuous beauty! Love those tulips, Cathy. Great show this week, even the bonus vase with the little hitchhiker.
Ooh yes, voluptuous is another nice word to describe them! 🙂 Thanks Eliza.
Absolutely stunning!!
Those tulips make quite a statement don’t they! 🙂
Those fringed tulips are deliciously dizzy Cathy and your subtle rhododendron is a great companion for them. Love the little mollusc 🙂
We usually have hundreds of slugs and snails at this time of year, but I think the dry weather in April has kept them in check.., for a while at any rate! I am glad that you like these frilly tulips Anna. I was expecting everyone to say how loud and brash they are!
I just love your tulips Cathy!! I love the parrots and the fringed ones too but have not grown either of these – I will look out for them. The kerria works so well with the mustard – well done!!
Oh you must try growing some of these fringed ones Julie! I saw the Black Parrot one in your vase earlier and think it might go on my list too…
It is really helpful to see ‘real life’ photos isn’t it – it gives a better view of a tulip than the catalogue ones.
This tulip arrangement is one of my favorite vases Cathy. It’s just gorgeous. The tulips deserve attention and I really like the white rhododendron too. Around here everyone is commenting on what a beautiful show rhododendrons are making this spring, perhaps the cold winter helped.
Thank you Susie. This vase is a bit different for me and I am really enjoying it on my windowsill! My neighbour always has wonderful rhododendrons, but mine have years with hardly any blooms, so I am quite pleased with it this year.
So pretty! Our tulips are long past so it’s especially nice to enjoy yours.
My tulips will go on for another week or two, weather permitting. By then the perennials will have got nice and tall to hide the foliage. Yes, you must be a bit ahead of us now. It doesn’t seem long since you had icy rain and now your irises are already in bloom – spring always comes in a rush!
The parrots are awesome! The fringed…… well I’m not so sure, maybe too much for me! Strange to think that a parrot tulip could be considered ‘less’ lol
I may need to add a few of these, you know I have a weakness for tulips!
That red one is a bit over the top, but I still love it! You should plant a couple anyway, just to see if you like them in real life or not. And I think you have already decided to get some of the parrot ones so I don’t need to persuade you! 😉
Gorgeous ! Love your parrot tulips . What happy energy in your vase this week !
Tulips are happy flowers… can’t help but smile when I see them! 🙂
Yes, very happy and always amazing. I’ve grown a number of the parrot tulips over the years- not here obviously- but in safer gardens. Such crazy forms and brilliant colors! Tulips are a wonderful spring extravagance to celebrate the final ending of winter!
Wonderful tulips that you have there! I have left only two, and did not like to cut them. So I should plant more tulips this fall. Thank you very much for the inspiration.
Yes, you definitely need more. 😉 I can never have enough tulips and since so many mysteriously disappear each year I plant new ones every autumn. Thanks for visiting, Felix!
wonderful photo
Thanks Mitza!
I love parrot tulips! The bouquet fits for national colours (Austria, Denmark). Love the tiny snail 🙂
His big brothers are out now it has rained… having a banquet lunch on my plants!!!
The seedheads make your first arrangement, Cathy. It’s hard to believe that anything can hold its own next to parrot tulips but they do – and they give the bouquet that little extra zing that sets it apart. I like the 2nd arrangement too, though, for its simple charm and the strong yellow color, not to mention the little hitchhiker.
Thank you Kris. I really love Pulsatilla seedheads and I’m glad you think they go well. They last so well on the plant and in a vase. 🙂
wow I needed my sunnies on for these beauties! Really and truly eye catching. I rather preferred the mustard seedlings with kerria but none the less those tulips stopped me in my tracks.
They are a bit dazzling aren’t they! 😉 The mustard flowers have perked up indoors a bit and look less like weeds now!
Your mention of Pulsatilla, which I’m not familiar with, made me think of the word pusillanimous, which I hope doesn’t describe your Pulsatilla.
No Steve, after looking it up (!) I would say the Pulsatilla are actually rather modest and brave little plants!
Wow – what amazing tulips, definitely brazen hussies the pair of them! The pulsatilla seedheads are a great addition – will they stay on the plants a long time like clematis seedheads? Thank you for sharing both vases – it’s hard to stop at one these days, isn’t it?
Oh yes, you’ve found another nice expression to describe these tulips! They are doing well in the vase. The Pulsatilla seedheads will look good for weeks on end on the plant and in a vase, and the plant is amazingly lush and
robust even in a drought. Yes, these days there is enough to make several vases! 🙂
I groaned as I looked at these pictures – nah, not in envy this time, more like an acknowledgement of beauty. I am learning to live VICARIOUSLY!
😉
I know what you mean – ther are many beautiful plants out there, but I am often quite happy to see them in other people’s gardens without the need to own them myself. 😉
🙂 exactly.
That is a really tiny snail! Love the red and white tulips!
Maybe I can convince you to grow some parrot tulips after all….?!
You also have fringe tulips! I wish I no longer had to work so I could develop my gardens the way I envision. Swaths of daffodils and tulips in the spring, lilies in the summer and mums in the fall with unique plantings in between!
Your comment made me think of a little sign my mum has hung up in her house “Gardening forever, housework whenever!” LOL! I hope you can fulfill those dreams one day Bonnie. 🙂