greentapestry : IAVOM ~ 7up!

Monday 9 November 2020

IAVOM ~ 7up!


What an absolute  gem of idea Cathy came up with seven years ago to invite bloggers to share a vase of flowers, foliage or garden related material every Monday. I must admit that although I visited posts featuring other folk's vases it was not until April 2014 that I ventured into posting my own vase. This was mainly because until then I had not really picked much in the way of flowers to come into the house from either the allotment or the garden. I was more than happy to welcome visitors clutching posies, himself occasionally treating me to a celebratory bouquet or with making the odd purchase of flowers from our excellent local florist. I regularly filled small vases with snowdrops in the late winter and with sweet peas in the summer. Other than that there was little in the way of creating vases from fabulous flowers and foliage.

Since then however my habits have changed and I regularly look forward to filling a vase whenever I can. The experience has made me more observant, brightened up my kitchen windowsill where a lot of my vases reside and has resulted in sharing so much fun and knowledge with some really friendly encouraging bloggers. Today Cathy asked us to create a flowerless vase. So in my 'In A Vase On Monday' today are the following :
  • Some stems of lonicera nitida and of cornus 'Anny's Winter Orange'.
  • Snippets of cotoneaster horizontalis - still a few green leaves hanging on but most of them are now going out in a flamboyant burst of fiery reds and oranges before they loose their livery for the winter. This plant originally came from a cutting in my parent's garden many moons ago and gives much pleasure all year round.
  • Some frondy ferniness from athyrium 'Ghost' - a beautiful silvery fern which does well in shady damp conditions. It has only recently started to go over.
  • Plump fruit on their way to red from malus x robusta 'Red Sentinel' which is positively dripping with berries this year. I noticed just before I took my photo that there was an stray floating at the bottom of the water but thought that I could do some damage if extraction was attempted.  I'm hoping that this is the winter when the berries last until the other side of Christmas and the new year which they supposedly do although I still have to see it. Funnily enough this little tree will also celebrate it's seventh anniversary in just over three months time.

My vase this week is just an old jam jar - no need for posh or expensive vases to contribute which is another appealing reason to participate regularly. 

Thanks so much Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden', for providing us with such a welcoming home to share over vases especially during the last few months and for forging such a great community. It has enriched my life as well as many other bloggers and is much appreciated.

16 comments:

  1. I'm very impressed with those pretty crab apples, Anna. They make a wonderful focal point for your flower-less arrangement. I've enjoyed getting to know you via this meme too!

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    1. The crab apples are quite delightful Kris and also their blossom is a treat in the spring. I have also enjoyed getting to know you and your garden 😘

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  2. Yes, so many of us have rethought picking from our gardens (and allotments)through IAVOM, and you correctly point out that we have also learned to be more observant - not just the contents of vases at close quarters but whn searching for contents in the first place. YOur vase looks so rich with the gorgeous crab apples reflected in the coneaster foliage. Our local birds have so far not not needed the fruit from my Malus 'Evereste' although some crabs have dropped off. Thanks for sharing a vase on this special anniversary, Anna - hope you are both coping with lockdown

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    1. Thanks for your comment Cathy 😄 Yes my crab apples have not yet been dined on by our birds yet but we still have to have really cold weather which might well change their eating habits. We are both fine thanks Cathy but definitely have cabin fever!

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  3. My sister has passed on a bonsai. Cotoneaster from the garden at the house where I grew up. I remember the red berries, but had forgotten the autumn leaves.

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    1. What a lovely gift from your sister Diana. The cotoneaster has various points of interest during the year. I especially like the fact that their tiny flowers attract a multitude of bees in the summer 😄

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  4. The crab apples are really cheerful.

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    1. Yes they certainly bring a smile to my face Sue on grey days.

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  5. So pretty. I think'Anny's Orange' is even better than 'Midwinter Fire'. And you can't beat crab apples in the autumn and springtime too.

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    1. I think that you are quite right Chloris. The blossom is a joy too as well as those fruits 😄

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  6. The round Cotoneaster leaves are like little golden coins, and reflect the shape of the crab apples perfectly. Such a very pretty vase Anna. Who needs flowers anyway?! ;-)

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    1. I like your comparison of the cotoneaster leaves to gold coins Cathy. Now if they were the leaves would have long gone 😂

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  7. When the headline of your post came up on my email, I thought you had been very cleaver and used as your vase a 7up can or bottle as a container. What a lovely lot of material in your jar, Anna. So pleased to have met you through Cathy's weekly meme and your generosity has touched me. Happy Anniversary to Cathy and the gang, and that includes us.

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    1. Now I wish that I had been clever and inspired enough to have come up with that idea Noelle 😂 It's been a joy to meet you too and the other bloggers who participate in IAVOM.

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  8. Very sweet arrangement, Anna. I like how the round cotoneaster leaves echo the crabapples, both in shape and colour.

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    1. Thanks Eliza. I only realised the shades and shapes complimented each other when I had filled the vase 😂

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All your comments are much appreciated and treasured. I wil try to reply to everyone who leaves a comment, but it may take me a few days, especially when I start spending more time in the garden and at the lottie. I know that you will understand :) I am sure that I will also visit your blog if I have not already done so. If you have any specific questions I will either reply to them here or you can email me at : thegreentapestry@gmail.com

Namasté

- Anna.