Isn’t it nice to look back at photos in the realization that spring is not far off and soon our gardens will be performing again like last year? My arrangement this week brought back memories not only of my own garden, but also of the garden show I visited in Ingolstadt last September. (Above photo)
The crystal bud vase is filled with tiny porcelain flowers and butterflies I bought there, which I intend to give away eventually, one by one. But for now they are still sitting in waiting. 😉
And the pink dried flowers at the base are Helichrysum bracteatum ‘Silvery Rose’, grown two summers ago and saved. The three purple ones are Xeranthemums, which I grew last summer under the impression they would be like traditional strawflowers. They are much smaller though.
I was not terribly impressed with them actually, as they are flimsy plants which lean at the slightest breeze and make little impact in terms of flowers; only one or two opened at a time. I am returning to the original Helichrysum this year, with some more freshly ordered. 😃
Many thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for hosting. 😃 You should visit her blog to see what Cathy and the other participants linking in have found to put in a vase on this Monday, which is, by the way, the last of January! Yippee! (Detect my dislike of January there? 😉)
Hope you have a flowery week and a good start to February!
🌷🌷🌷
Words and Herbs 
What a cute vase, and a welcome sight on this cold day! Impressed how you’ve kept the Helichrysum two years – they look so fresh. And also how the others have kept the nice purple colour.
Thanks Chris! I am surprised how well the colours have kept on those Helichrysum too.
Such sweet little flowers that look just perfect on your doily.
😃 I am grateful I saved these.
A sweet little porcelain posy! And I LOVE your doily, it is a fine piece of work. ❤
Thank you Eliza. It was rather fiddly and I prefer working with heavier yarn but I am glad I did this one. 😃
A most charming display, Cathy, those flowers are delightful, the everlasting included. I’m also glad January is over but honestly, I always find February is the longest month. I know it sounds crazy but spring still seems way off. Due to the cold the snowdrops are very late. Have a good week 🤗
But you are sure to get some milder days in February, so take heart Annette. And isn’t your book coming out in February too? That will make it a good month. 🌷And I am sure it will fly by as soon as we realise seed sowing is just around the corner. 😉 😘
No mild weather in sight. Think Kirstein is right when he says we’re approaching the next ice age. Yes, I’m so looking forward to my new book 🙂
That is a clever way with coming up with some good colour on a winter’s day.
😃 A bunch of real flowers would be so much nicer, but needs must!
Lovely arrangements
Thanks Sowmya!
Those little porcelain flowers and butterflies are so sweet, and will make such nice gifts if you really can bear to part with them. I was interested to read your report about the Xeranthemums, which I will give a miss for the time being. I have just sowed my helichrysums for this year – about 6 different varieties, although I would still like some ‘Bright Rose’ (which I preferred to the ‘Silvery Rose’) seed, as the batch I had last year was not true to form. Thanks for sharing your lovely little display
That is early for sowing, isn’t it? The excitement of having little seedlings popping up is always wonderful! I probably won’t start till the end of March here, unless we get some unseasonably warm weather. Last year it took so long to warm up and juggling pots of seedlings was such a problem! I finally found a good selection of Helichrysums on a German website, including a coppery one and one called Crimson Violet, which looks like a deep pink. 😃
I always start in January, Cathy – they are started off in the house, by the Aga, then moved to the g/h when they have germinated. There quite a few that can be started off as early as that here. Glad to know you have found a good selection of helichrysum too – most of mine were from Plants of Distinction or Chiltern Seeds. Vrimson Violet sounds lovely 👍
Helichrysum bracteatum was a primary cut flower crop in the fields behind my Pa’s home in Montara. They lasted for a very long time without fading. I mean, they could last for years, and only got dusty.
Yes, they do last well. I once had a wreath made of hops decorated with some tiny Helichrysums and it lasted for well over ten years before it finally disintegrated. And it got dusty too! 😉
I love your porcelain flowers. Your strawflowers have me wishing I’d saved some of my own – I’m impressed that yours have retained their color for 2 years. I’ll keep that in mind when it comes time to sort out this year’s crop!
I remembered that I had a hops wreath with some strawflowers on it once, and they lasted for years!
Aren’t you clever! I love your ceramic flowers, Cathy. They’ll make nice gifts when the time is right. I have a friend who started a ceramic business in her new community. She makes gorgeous ceramic bird houses, beads, and other treasures. It’s almost February, so we’re another step closer to spring.
Ceramic birdhouses sound nice. 😃 And how nice to make a business out of your hobby. 😃
I agree! She’s living her dream and I’m so happy for her.
The colors of the strawflowers is fantastic, especially for two years. Amazed by the doily, fiddly seems an understatement!
Thanks Amy. I won’t be making another doily for a while though! 😉
Too much? I can’t do any tiny work like that…have you seen tatted lace? it may be a lost art.
I too am dreaming of summer….lovely idea for a vase.
Thanks Donna. We can dream! 😉🌷🌷🌷
In a Vase on Monday: Summer Memories
Such pretty flowers Cathy both porcelain and dried. I hope that perhaps you also have some porcelain flowers set to one side just for you. I plan to grow strawflowers this year. Have only done so once in the dim and distant past 😂
I might keep just one of the tiny porcelain butterflies. 😉 The strawflowers I grew two years ago were a first for me and I was so surprised at what large plants they became. I have a great selection of seeds for this year. 😃
OH, those glass flowers are so pretty and perfect for when the garden is not producing. My friend gave me Strawflowers she started using the winter sowing method I was not too sure about them, but they held on until it snowed, and bees were grateful.
I just can’t wait go start sowing seeds. Way too early here though! 😃
We do winter sowing in plastic jugs about late March and when we open them in late April or Early May they are ready to go in early cold hardy as soon as soil can be worked.
Love the porcelain flowers and your idea to share them. The doily is charming and beautifully crafted. Helichrysum are amazing in how well they retain their color. I should look for seeds and give them a try.
I recommend the Helichrysum Susie. Such lovely varieties are available in all shades. 😃
Those little porcelain flowers are are really sweet! I love the theme of your post this week, Cathy. Although I live in a very mild winter climate, I find myself really hoping for spring and early summer when the days are longer and the warmth lures me outdoors! Your post inspires me. 🙂
Well arranged, so beautiful 💚🤍💜💙