Another Monday rolls round and I am joining Cathy at Rambling in the Garden in her wonderful meme once again. My vase this week was inspired by a comment I wrote on Christina’s vase this morning, which ended with the words “Roll on spring!” (And my prop is a large marble which kept rolling around too!)
The test tube vase is ideal for small flowers that need elevating a bit – particularly Hellebores. There are a mix of white, cream and pink ones, and a yellow one that refuses to open is in there somewhere too.
The gorgeous crocuses have been shut tight the past few days, teasing me with their hint of colour. But within five minutes of being indoors they opened so wide – I could almost watch them. The snowdrops needed a bit longer but are now open completely too. I also put in a couple of purple primulas from my “Carnival” primula that has creamy white, yellow and purple flowers all on one plant. Strangely enough the yellow ones have all been nibbled by something, but the purple ones are intact… food for thought!
I shall be glad when the light levels improve, as using the flash on my camera produces unreal images:
The crocus is so beautiful. I wonder how long it will last in a vase. I know the Hellebores usually flop within a couple of days too, but for the moment I shall enjoy them to the full. 🙂
A note about my lovely green marble: chosen with great difficulty from an array of marbles in the little gift shop at a marble mill down in the mountains not far from Salzburg. There is a little information about it here in English if you are interested, or here (with a rather wobbly video!). Somewhere I would love to visit again one day, and walk the rocky path along the narrow gorge right up to the top… in warmer weather of course! 🙂
Roll on Spring!
Words and Herbs 
Beautiful vases Cathy, I actually thought the light looked good in your photos but like you am looking forward to longer days and Spring!
Thank you Julie. I am convinced spring is not far off, even though it is snowing out there at the moment! 😉
Oh I wish spring were here. Your blooms were such a treat Cathy…I loved each view especially from above….such glorious colors. Here spring won’t bloom until April.
It is an odd winter indeed. I hope your snow doesn’t hang around too long this time. We are being teased by a day of sunshine every few days, and then snow flurries in between, but I don’t think spring can be far off now.
Well Cathy, you have summed up my feelings…roll on spring and warmer weather. Its going to be really cold tonight. Your arrangement with the test tubes really does highten the beauty of your flowers…and the lovely wood of your tray is a good contrast for your delicate blooms.
Thanks Noelle. By mid-February I start getting impatient! At least I have a few flowers already though! 🙂
Lovely arrangements. Thoughts of spring…
Thanks for visiting, Belinda. The winter here has been kind, but grey, so I am hoping spring will hurry up now!
The test tube vases are brilliant. I’m with you: let’s get this spring thing rolling!
Thanks Ricki, and sorry for the late reply, but your comment got shoved into my spam folder. Spring is just that little bit nearer now! 🙂
Lovely. Roll on spring indeed 🙂
A hiccup today, as it is trying to snow. But I think spring can’t be held back for long now with no new freezes forecast for the next 14 days. 🙂
Ein exquisites Arrangement! Die richtigen Gäser für die Blüten. Die Seite über die Kugelmühle ist sehr interessant. Ich habe das erste Mal von einem “Kugelmüller” gehört. Spring is rolling on!
Vielen Dank Uta! Man kann sogar sehen wie die Kugeln gemacht werden. 🙂
Ich habe zwei steinerne Qigong-kugeln. Vermutlich sind sie so geschliffen worden. Sehr interessant.
I love the idea with the test tubes, very cute and shows off the tiny treasures to great effect, Cathy. I’ve been busily practising my sun salutation and can tell you that I’m more than ready for spring…roll on then! Have a good week 🙂
Thank you Annette, and wishing you some warm spring sunshine very soon! 🙂
A lovely collection with a heart of spring. I’m ready for warmer temperatures to roll on!
I feel I shouldn’t complain when I think of the bitter cold you have had this winter Eliza. But the lack of blue sky in the winter months always gets to me by the middle of February!
Yes, I think we all get to the point where we’ve had enough of winter!
Gorgeous light and color! It certainly feels like spring here in California!
I hear it has been very warm in your part of the world. Enjoy that spring sunshine Deb!
Great way to display your early spring blossoms.
Thanks Susie. I am so glad I found the test tube vase! 🙂
Those test tubes are such a perfect way to display these blooms, Cathy – and your second photograph is absolutely gorgeous. I am intrigued by your marble, as I am guessing it is stone/crystal and not glass. Is that the case? Look forward to hearing more if possible
Thanks Cathy!
Just checked the commentary you linked to and I see that it will indeed be a marble ‘marble’ 😉
Yes Cathy. The rough stone is put in the water mill and gets tossed around and around until it is a quite smooth ball. Apparently they used to export marbles from there to all over the world!
So not shaped by machine at all? That’s wonderful
So creative, as usual!
Thank you Anca! Your comments are always so kind!
Primavera, I think the Crocus may have been waiting for you to rescue them and opened happily. I hope they hang around for a while. I wish I had some of those test tubes, they are great for short stems and the display is lovely.
I shall probably pick a couple more crocus today or they will get soggy and go over before they have even opened outdoors!
Lovely spring flowers and I like the marble too, goes so well with the tittle.
Thank you. Spring is nearly here!
These are all so pretty. I don’t think it matters if the hellebores only last a day or two. Spring is just round the corner I hope.
Yes, I hope so too. I shall refresh the vase with a couple more hellbores and crocuses later. (It’s trying to snow at the moment!)
I didn’t even recognize the crocus as a crocus when it was fully open like that, which I guess tells you how often I see crocus in my climate. I love its color. The test tube vases look beautiful back-lit with light from the window.
I rarely see the crocus open that wide too, as it is not often warm enough for them, so it was also a real revelation that they last in a vase for a few days!
Beautifully photographed vases, Cathy. Roll on spring…
Thanks Alys. Rolling, rolling…..
So lovely. Such beauty and promise. Reminds me that Spring is on it’s way!
Thanks Nancy! Hope to have a few more flowers soon!
The arrangements look very elegant in the tall slim vases Cathy.
I think Winter is just getting started here, Roll on Spring.
I’m sure spring will reach you soon Brian. After all, March is very near!
A test tube vase, who would have thought? I think it’s brilliant!
I also like the lighting. It is low but every day it’s getting a little stronger and a little longer, and in no time you’ll be filling beakers full of flowers instead of a test tube 🙂
I wanted to make my own vase like this, as I buy vanilla pods in test tubes, but finding the finished product (while I was supposed to be doing Christmas shopping) was a real bonus! Oh yes, dreaming of having armfuls of flowers to cut! 😉
Such a lovely selection of early flowers, Cathy 🙂 I love the way you’ve used those tall tubes! Aren’t the longer days wonderful? Even here, it makes such a difference…
Thanks Amy. The extra light does make a difference, especially when the sun comes out! 🙂
A beautiful row of blooms, really pretty, Spring is on it’s way!
Thank you Dorris. I am sure you are right!
I’ve admired your ‘test tube’ vases before, they do display the flowers beautifully. Thanks for the mention too.
I had planned to try and make a vase like this one, as I buy vanilla pods in similar tubes. Glad to find a finished version though! 🙂
I’ve never heard of such a thing as a marble mill. Your linked page calls it a “marble ginding mill”, so I guess the r got ground up and couldn’t be replaced.
I see the German word is Kugelmühle, which reminds me of the potato kugel that relatives of mine used to make when I was growing up in New York:
http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017912-potato-kugel
Thanks for the link Steve. Yes I noticed the r was missing too! We came across the mill by chance one holiday. The whole place is quite a curiosity!
What a lovely way to display your spring flowers, roll on spring indeed! I can’ t wait.
Thanks Chloris. Yes, I am getting itchy feet to get out in the garden again and can’t wait for better weather!
Very nice! Love the crocus with the white Hellebores.
The crocus and white hellebores are planted near each other and complement each other nicely outside too. 🙂
The test tubes are perfect for displaying the nodding hellebores, and the small flowers too, Cathy. I particularly like the view from above. We had several dry sunny days which enabled me to go do some weeding, but now the rain has set in again, but I’m looking forward to more dry days to work outside. Green stone always makes me think of malachite, I hope spring rolls on soon along with the marble!
Thanks Hannah. Apologies for the late reply as your comment was put into my spam folder – which I should check more often! I haven’t been able to get onto my garden yet as it is still wet and much too cold, but we have at least had some sunshine too. Hope you get that dry weather you’re hoping for! 🙂
I really love the test tube vase, Cathy. Your whole set was beautiful this week. It looks to me like spring is getting a nice start already–it can continue to roll on, that’s certain!
Debra, we are being promised some really mild weather this week(11°C), but I still need some patience before spring really gets going!
What a wonderful assortment of spring colors. Up here in the north we’re still quite a ways away, so it’s very refreshing to see spring has arrived in other parts of the country. I love the vase choices. I also couldn’t help but think about how much the marble weighed in your suitcase 🙂 But it was worth it.
Hi Stephi! I didn’t have to fly anywhere with the marble fortunately, as we live in southern Germany, just a few hours’ drive from the mountain gorge. I still don’t get to the mountains as often as I would like though! Spring is slowly making headway here, but it will take a few more weeks to get into full swing I fear! Thanks for visiting. 🙂
I love your testube vases, perfect for hellebores, and I bet for dahlias too.
Thanks Janet. I hope to keep these test tubes topped up with little pickings all through the year, so a dahlia may make it in there at some stage too. 😉