Earlier this month I thought we were skipping towards summer, with everything turning green and growing like mad at such an incredible speed. But then April decided to take us back to winter for a couple of weeks! Well, now we are thankfully back to warm and sunny and the plants have resumed growth… they did actually slow down when it turned cold. And so at the end of the month things are flowering at the more or less ‘normal’ time and the Aquilegia are coming out. Perfect for this week’s vase, as I join Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for ‘In a Vase on Monday’.
I have some lovely pink ones as well as the common dark purple/blue. The shapes vary so much, and seeing them close up in a vase is enlightening.
Thia large bold pink one stands out well in the garden.
I added blue Nepeta and some Pulsatilla seedheads. You can see the pollen from the fir trees that has collected in this one…
The whole lot was more or less plonked into the nearest vessel suitable which happened to be my duck jug, one of the (almost-kitschy-but-not-quite) Wrendale collection. 😃
The Nepeta has since perked up – such an amazing plant that will flower on and off all summer if I cut it back now and then.
Hope you all have a great week.
Happy Gardening!
Words and Herbs 
Thanks for sharing these an amazing flowers in vases. Anita
Thanks Anita!
I love the pink Aquilegia, so pretty. Glad your weather has improved, it’s still cold here but things are growing albeit slowly.
Now it’s May, so it must warm up for you soon too. ☀️
Fingers crossed 🤞🏼
The seedheads are wonderful! I learned this winter that our native Aquilegia , a smaller variety with orange flowers, is immensely attractive to hummingbirds – I’m going to try and collect seeds this summer to encourage more to grow around here. There’s nothing quite like a hummingbird buzzing around your head in the garden!!
We don’t have hummingbirds but I can imagine how lovely it is to see them in your garden. 😃
Pretty as always! I wish I could grow aquilegia, but the bunnies and/or woodchucks have destroyed it every time I’ve tried. I have one patch of nepeta which one of our cats finds as soon as it comes out every spring. He destroyed another patch by rolling around in it so much, but the other patch grows right next to some large rocks where rolling about just wouldn’t be comfortable, so it survives. (I really can’t begrudge him of this springtime pleasure!) And of course, I love your jug. I actually have two very sweet Wrendale mugs, one with baby bunnies and one with baby birds in a nest. They are among my favorites in my too-large collection of mugs! I hope you have a great week and enjoy your spring weather!
I think I have a Wrendale mug with a very cute donkey on it! 😉 Planting for wildlife takes on a whole different meaning for some… we have hares and foxes, voles, mice, moles, woodpeckers, all using our garden either as a snack bar or for excavating for accommodation! LOL!
Your flowers are lovely. Sending you Florida sunshine.
Cheers.
Velva
Thank you Velva!
That is a very spring-like vase. The are aquilegia at my family home that was there when they bought the house 66 years ago.
I think once you have them you have them for life! 😃
Stunning, looks like fireworks!
Yes, I do love those seedheads!
Good for you! Back to the rain again here…must think of another song to sing😉. This jug is so cute, I love it. You’ve picked the perfect bunch to go with it. Pulsatilla seeheads are so pretty. Very happy with our aquilegias, their variety easily deserves a blog post. Have a good week!
How about ‘I’m singing in the rain’! 🤣 I’d love to see your aquilegias. Mine are slowly spreading and creating new variations too. Wishing you some May sunshine Annette. ☀️🌸
Yes! I‘ve been singing (or howling rather) that one until it stopped 🤣 enjoying the sunshine now and all the jobs that couldn’t be done with all the rain. Happy weekend to you both and dear Anouk xx
Those pulsatilla seedheads are brilliant in a vase, particularly with such straight stems (clematis seedheads are much harder to accommodate!) and they work really well with the aquilegia. I took like seeing the different arrangments within the flowerheads, which is why I have got carried away when I have ordered aquilegia seed! I couldn’t quite work out if you had a white one too like my SoS, or if the spurs were a different colour…?
I don’t have an Aquilegia that is only white, like yours. I had one called ‘Green Apple’ in my last garden that was just white and pale green. Very pretty. So far I am bappy withbthe variations I am getting from just a few original plants. The Pulsatilla seedheads are a big favourite… the flowers went over quite quickly this year, but the seedheads last ages on the plants and can even be kept dried too. (But are fragile!)
Oh yes, I have Green Apple too, which I also grew from seed some years ago and which seems to reliably return. I have never thought to grow pulsatilla – is it fairly reliable?
Very reliable. I have never had it set seed but the clumps get bigger every year. 😃
What a cute little duck jug! I love the Aquilegia, which never lasts long here, if it blooms at all. The Pulsatilla seedheads make delightful companions.
I occasionally see the orange Aquilegia canadensis on blogs in the US. Does that one grow for you? I have never managed to get one established here!
Great to hear that spring has sprung again with you Cathy! I think that it’s finally going to start warming up here too this week. I love the aquilegias but those pulsatilla seed heads are stars in their own right too 😀
Now that May is here we must surely all get some warmer days – and nights. The Pulsatilla seedheads last for ages.😃
Yes, we’ve been going back and forth with the seasons, too. When we get to a perfect day like today…I guess that’s the payoff. 🙂 Your arrangement is so creative–I love the combination of elements and the way you put them together! It’s a cute vase, too! Happy Vase Day!
Thank you Beth! Such a lovely comment! 🤗 I enjoy my weekly ‘picking and plonking’! 🤣
LOL, almost kitchy. I love those seed heads with the other flowers. We actually have native columbine here, but yours is prettier. I guess spring has fully embraced you?
Yes, Spring has sprung properly! It is finally warmer at night now too, and I am hoping there will be no more frosts. But we do occasionally have some ground frost through May too so I have to remain vigilant… my tomato plants are already outside!
Little jewels, and the fuzzy seed heads are a nice touch– love the duck jug!
Oh yes, ‘fuzzy’ describes them nicely! 😃
Love the flowers and those seed heads really make it so fun!
Thanks Donna! I love using those seedheads in vases!
I love the seedheads in there, but you are a good one for looking beyond just flowers. Today we are behind you but after the heat today and tomorrow I think we might zoom ahead a week or two. Enjoy your return to spring!
Thanks Frank. Everything can happen really quickly at this time of year!
I love the old rose hues in your Aquilegias and the pulsatilla seedheads. They’re lovely together. I’m glad your weather is finally allowing things to flower normally for the season. 🙂
That is a good way to describe the colours Amy. I was thinking ‘vintage’ but like ‘old rose hues’ better. 😃
I love your aquilegias. I have our native red and yellow, but find yours more interesting. Happy springtime.
And one day I will try to grow your orange Aquilegias again after failing in the past! LOL! Happy spring Susie.
That duck makes me smile, Cathy. Your vase is lovely. I’m glad spring has returned, as it’s far too early for it to be hot and dry. Enjoy!
Thanks Alys! We have had some lovely days this week and we have indeed been enjoying it!
Pulsatilla seed structures look interesting, like those of native Clematis, but bigger.
With nice straight stems for using in vase arrangements. 😉
Beautiful bouquet. I especially love the interesting seed heads, and of course, the cute duckie too.
Thank you. Those seedheads have got lots of positive comments and I will certainly be using them again! 😃
I will be watching for them.
Each and every flower in your vase is lovely in its own right, but I just love the wonky bit of fun that the seedheads add to the arrangement.
Thank you for your lovely comment! The seedheads have caused a stir and everyone is remarking on them!
Absolutely gorgeous seedheads and I love that little duck, Cathy. Just sowed more of you Cleome seeds!
Oh wow! I hope they germinate well for you! I just realized I don’t have any Cleome seeds this year… I must rummage around in my seed box and check!
I could always send some back to you, of course … but I don’t know if they are still viable. I have both violet queen and the white. I’ll see if they germinate!
Oh no, you keep them Cathy. I found some pink Cherry Queen seeds in my stash… no idea how old they are but I’ll try them! I actually went off Cleome for a while because they do have an odd smell… have you noticed?! 😝
*2nd try comment, sorry if its a dupe. I’ve had issues commenting the past couple of weeks :(.
That is a firecracker of a arrangement! How fun, I’m glad it’s warmed back up for you.
Thank you Tracy! (Didn’t see a duplicate comment by the way). Have a great weekend!
I like all the different shaped flowers in this vase, really a standout.
Thank you Karen!