This week's 'In A Vase On Monday' was picked under a slight flurry of snow accompanied to the tune of a bone-chilling wind yesterday afternoon. It seemed as good as any time to get out there and snip a few hellebore flowers rather than wait until this morning and risk them being laid low by frost. It has just struck me that we will be officially into spring by next Monday so fingers crossed that the weather gods will oblige and deliver accordingly.
I can only come up with one definite name for the hellebores in my vase and that's Helleborus 'Penny's Pink', who is floating in the top bottom hand corner. I love them all unconditionally but my favourites are the dark burgundy double and the single white.
My vase is resting on a copy of 'The Cloud Spotter's Guide' by Gavin Pretor - Pinney, which makes for a fascinating read on the subject of clouds. My cloud vase is a much cherished gift, made some thirty years ago or so by a talented artist friend.
Many thanks as always to our lovely and gracious hostess Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' who is celebrating a special blogging milestone today. Many congratulations Cathy!
P.S. The predicted frost for this morning didn't materialise but it's still very much on the cold side out there.
Our hellebores are hiding under a blanket of snow.
ReplyDeleteOh no - I hope they are not getting squashed Sue. It's amazing how quickly they perk up once the weather improves. We've escaped relatively unscathed as far as snow goes but it's still been very cold.
DeleteWhat a glorious vase to delight and enjoy - with the floating faces up.
ReplyDeleteWe are turning autumn cooler, but still, blue skies and sun, no rain in sight for us sadly.
Oh thank you for your lovely comment Diana. "Autumn cooler" must be welcome in your part of the world. I'm sorry to hear that you've not had that much wanted rain. I hope it materialises soon.
DeleteBeautiful hellebores. I too love that red one. Hope spring really is around the corner.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Suzie. It's definitely spring today :)
DeleteThis is a gorgeous selection of hellebores! I too love your burgundy double and your single white. And that apricot one with plum speckles. I like cloud theme too - I must be more creative with my staging!
ReplyDeleteThanks muchly Ali. I usually just pick and plonk :)
DeleteYour hellebores are exquisite and I can see why your cloud vase is so treasured - the perfect way to display them!
ReplyDeleteYes the cloud vase is much treasured and as I've found out just right for floating flowers in. Many thanks for visiting and commenting.
DeleteWhat a lovely vase--perfect for the hellebore blooms! My favorites are the freckled ones. The blooms should be fine outdoors, too, even with a frost. We often have wintry days after the hellebores bloom here, and they come through it all right.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rose. I like the freckled ones too. In fact I've never met a hellebore that I've not fallen for. I was keen to pick them and photograph them in advance of predicted frost as it certainly flattens them for a few hours afterwards. I imagine that they must go through much more severe conditions in your part of the world and still survive to tell the tale :)
DeleteI love how you have repeated the cloud concept with the book and your special vase. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you Linda for your kind words :)
DeleteOh that cloud dish is a wonderful thing to have, especially as it is a unique piece. And good to see YOUR collection of hellebores too. Do you not have 'Anna's Red' tucked away somewhere? I tried to buy one last year but apparently the Americans have been snapping them all up! I too have that book but have to confess I have still only just dipped into it so far
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Cathy. As you say my vase is unique as is each cloud. You are quite right - I do have 'Anna's Red' but didn't include her in this mix as she was looking a bit past her use buy date. I think that the book is best dipped into - too many facts for reading all in one go :)
DeleteA beautiful collection and always such a welcome sight. You were right to save them, ours are buried now. :(
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Alison. I think that we escaped the latest fall of snow very lightly. Your part of the world seemed to come off much worse. Hope that your hellebores now are holding their faces up and smiling in today's sunshine.
DeleteHow lovely to see so many hellebore flowers floating...wishing you a spring warm up soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna. Your warm up wishes have worked :)
DeletePretty pink petals on a cloud - how lovely! You have a great selection of colours. :) I am still waiting for mine to open.
ReplyDeleteOh just the sort of cloud that I would like to float on Cathy. I hope that you don't have to wait for long for your hellebores to show their beautiful faces.
DeleteWhat a clever vase and you showed it off well on top of the cloudspotter's guide. I love the pretty hellebores too.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks as always Kris for visiting and commenting :)
DeleteI'm so sorry it's still so cold there and hope that spring's arrival will warm things up considerably. A very effective way to display your hellebores!
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter. We definitely seem one step nearer to spring today. A gardening afternoon calls :)
DeleteI have so envied all the beautiful Hellebores in everyone's vases this year; I'm determined to find some next autumn even if they only last for a short time in pots for me. I don't think they will appreciate the heat here at all. I do at least have some shade now in which to plant some.
ReplyDeleteOh I hope that you get the chance to give hellebores a go Christina as they are as you know such beautiful flowers. Glad to hear that you now have a suitable shady spot in readiness. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
DeleteA beautiful way to display hellebores Anna.
ReplyDeleteThank you Brian. It seemed the prefect vase for floating in :)
DeleteThat you have brought together not only your lovely blooms, but also your vase and the book on clouds is a tour de force. I have 'The Cloud Book: How to Understand the Skies', by Richard Hamblyn. Thanks for recommending Gavin Pretor's Book
ReplyDeleteOh thank you for your kind words Noelle. I will look out for the book you mention :)
DeleteDon't you love how unique each hellebore flower is? The way you have them displayed is perfect for enjoying them. It's been unseasonably cold here too and it's really trying my patience. I hope it warms up soon for both of us.
ReplyDelete