It’s far too cold and snowy to even attempt to find anything in my garden for a Monday vase this week, so I have resorted to some dried flower and seed heads saved from warmer days…
Included are: Sedum, Lavender, Hydrangea, Cynara, Echinacea, Crocosmia and Iris.
There is still a very pale hint of pink on the Sedum, but it didn’t dry terribly well. The dried Hydrangea, however, still looks pretty…
This other vase is a permanent fixture on this shelf, so I brought it into the light to show it off and moved the other vase to another spot. It contains grasses collected from our garden and a nearby woodland clearing, but I can only identify the fluffy Molinia (far left) for sure…
I am looking forward to visiting other vases over the next day or two which will be shared at ‘Rambling in the Garden’, where Cathy hosts this Monday meme.
Have a good week!
Words and Herbs 
The Hydrangea has kept its colour beautifully Cathy, and a dried arrangement is just as lovely as a fresh one when put together as well as yours. I also love the shadow of the vase on the wall in the last image. A beautiful composition.
Thank you Christina. Both vases are giving me great pleasure in these days of meagre findings! 😀
stunning still life, Cathy, shouting winter all over and I love the idea of placing the plate along with it. the grasses are so pretty, they don’t need a supporting cast, do they. keep warm and have a good week xx
Thanks Annette! I fell for those Molinia when I saw them bobbing about in the breeze – could have picked armsful of them!
Clever use of the light to feature the varying forms in this winter arrangement of dried materials. The hydrangea color is still lovely. Stay warm and snug Cathy and have a good week.
Thanks Susie.I don’t always manage to save hydrangea flowers, but it worked well this time. 🙂
Like you, I only have dried material to use. Nothing dries more beautifully than a Hydrangea. I love you grouping with the grasses.
Thanks Linda! I love those grasses too. 🙂
The lighting in your photos really sets the monochrome scene off to an advantage, Cathy, and it’s amazing that you have managed to retain some pink on the hydrangea. I also like the grasses too – I have a vase a bit like that too! Thanks for sharing
The hydrangea dried well this time around. It’s nice to be reminded of what was flowering out there in the summer. Sometimes it seems like it was all a dream!
It’s a recurring dream though…!
I can feel the cold through these photos, Cathy, a nice reminder of the garden’s winter rest. I love the shadow of the vase against the wall, and the hint of pink in the drying hydrangea. Have a terrific week.
Hi Alys. Yes, a reminder of what was in the garden last summer and will return again soon. 🙂
🙂
Your vase may be pale and interesting, but your header picture is lovely, a slice of summer captured in frost.
Thanks Brian, that rose was photographed one October when we had a very hard frost. I shall look forward to seeing it in bloom again this year, although rose season seems a long way off right now!
I like that you have taken full advantage of what you have at hand. Dried flowers and grasses can remind us that the garden is just in it’s resting stage. It gives us time to prepare for what is to come later in the year.
I must admit I am taking it very easy this winter. I think I still have time for any planning that needs doing as this cold spell is due to last a while. 🙂
Two beautiful still life vignettes, Cathy. I love that plate, it really ties it all together. I have dried flowers that are yet to get arranged. Must get around to it sometime! 🙂
Thanks Eliza. I will have to experiment with drying other flowers for future winter arrangements too.
Ah yes, the slim pickings (literally and figuratively) of winter in northern latitudes. Central Texas has plenty of plants that go well in dried arrangements.
I can imagine it does. And I am sure I could save a lot more myself, but never think of trying until it is too late!
There’s no flower that dries as well as a Hydrangea bloom, I think – I’d grow Hydrangeas for that reason along, if only they weren’t such thirsty plants. The vase with the grasses is perfect, especially with the light displaying those beautiful shadows on the wall.
I find hydrangeas tricky here too, as I never remember to water them and the strong sun is often too much for them. They do look lovely when dried though. 🙂
What a lovely way to still have some flowers in the winter.
It helps beat the grey of winter! 🙂
Hydrangeas are lovely antiquey shades when dried. Your dried seedheads are beautifully elegant and sophisticated.
Thank you Chloris. I don’t think I will bother drying sedums again, but must experiment with drying other flowers this year. 🙂
There’s a certain je ne sais quoi about pale and interesting Cathy 🙂 I’m smitten with your angel. I have one who is in need of a companion.
Thanks Anna! I haven’t seen those Willowtree angels around for a while, but I bet they are still available…. you should treat yourself! My Mum has one with outstretched arms with birds on them. 🙂
Very creative use of what happens to be available in these cold times. Lovely.
Thanks John. The limitations actually make it easier than in summer when there is so much choice! 😉
A very artistic composition, Cathy, it seems as if you enjoyed playing with the light!
Albeit artificial light Anca. But the days are getting longer already and the snow is making it brighter too! 🙂
Your vases show how wonderful dried material can be – lovely 🙂 I am hoping I will remember to collect more this year! By the way, I have just posted a Tuesday View: https://www.smallsunnygarden.com/2017/01/11/tuesday-view-old-and-new/
I also want to collect more and experiment a bit with what can be dried. I’ll be right over to see your view Amy!
What elegant and tasteful vases, Cathy! Lovely to see a selection of grasses, too 😉.
Thanks Kate. Where would we be without grasses?! 😉
I really believe you give me a weekly opportunity to see natural materials in the garden with greater appreciation, Cathy. I absolutely love these dried materials! It wouldn’t even occur to me to create arrangements with varied seed heads. I particularly admire the Echinacea, and may I also say that I really love the last photograph. It’s beautiful. Let me tell you, too, that California is getting so much rain it has created some problems. LOL! After hearing me gripe about the drought for so long, I thought you’d like to know! 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment Debra. I just read that one of those amazing trees in the Sequoia National Park came down in your rains. The pictures I saw of the flooding are not at all what I would expect of your sunny state. Hope you are dry and safe!
What a great idea to dry herbs, love how they look that way, gorgeous vase.
Thank you Cheri!
This looks very attractive Cathy and should last for ages or until you get tired of it! I actually really like the shapes left behind. My Monday vase is still going strong with what less appreciative folk might call dead flowers
I will certainly never tire of the grasses, nor the hydrangea head which retained its colour well. 🙂
I like the dried grasses.
You could try drying some of your lovely grasses too, as you have such a nice mix of them. It’s good to be able to see them in winter indoors. 🙂