Today's
'In A Vase On Monday' has been some time in the making. For the last few months a shrub in the immediate neighbourhood has been dripping with clusters of red berries. Last winter's copious rainfall was probably responsible for the sheer volume of berries which have hardly been touched by the birds. I think that the shrub may be cotoneaster cornubia but I'm not sure. Whatever it is it has proved a most welcome attraction brightening up grey and gloomy days. Each time I've passed I thought that I must return with my secateurs and snip off a couple of stems for a vase. What prompted me into action was the fact I noticed that the shrub had taken a real battering from last Thursday's dramatic
'Storm Doris', which also felled two trees just round the corner from us. Those berries are now definitely waning so time to act.
I've put them in a vase with a few dried flowers from Scabious stellata 'Sternkugel' (a great word to get your tongue around) which I grew at the allotment last year. It's an annual with pale blue flowers which morph into most attractive seed heads. They have had their own vase since the autumn but are now getting slightly past their sell buy date so will be jettisoned shortly.
The weather has played up again this afternoon, with not only some sleet but some snow too throwing a spanner in the works, so an indoor photograph again. My title for the post was prompted by our hosts Cathy's fashion catwalk theme from last Monday. Many thanks as always to Cathy over at
'Rambling In The Garden' for hosting.
I was eyeing up similar berries in the swimming pool carpark last week!! As you say, they make such a bright addition to a vase, and what good value the scabious is - I started some off from seed in the autumn but only had two seeds germinate but I shall sow a second batch in due course, as you have shown how useful it is. I was doing some sewing in the loft and I heard the hail, but there was no sign of it when I came downstairs again - but it has been damp all day which has kept me mostly inside anyway. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteWeather challenges abound it seems! I've been complaining about ours but I don't think they measure up to yours. I love the dried scabious - it's too bad it's headed to the dustbin.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful red berries and they're perfect for the vase you've chosen!
ReplyDeleteThose berries were just waiting for you to bring them indoors in the warm! They do look lovely in your big vase. :)
ReplyDeleteRed berries and rich green foliage - perfect!
ReplyDeleteThe scabious is interesting
ReplyDeleteYou could be talking about my fashion Anna. One of the gardens I help with has a similar cotoneaster trained against a wall. It looks wonderful with the berries and the bees love the flowers.
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