Welcome to ‘In A Vase On Monday’ when, as usual, I am linking up with Cathy at Rambling In The Garden to join in her challenge to find something from the garden to put in a vase every week.
This week my mind is turning to the wedding that I am doing the flowers for in mid April. With four weeks to go I am keeping my fingers crossed that the garden will be looking much more full than it is at present – but like ‘A Vase On Monday’ I will be working with the material available from the garden, with the exception of a few choice blooms that I will buy in for the brides bouquet. The bridesmaids bouquets will be based on either white narcissi or tulips – which ever is flowering at the time and these bouquets will also double as table decorations during the reception. This weeks vases are in a similar theme to my plans, but using the yellow daffodils and blue hyacinths that are available at the moment.
I have quite a variety of yellow daffodils in flower this week, so have made these small bouquets to showcase a few of my favourites. The hyacinth flowers were added to dress up the jars that I am planning to include in the wedding reception table decorations.
I have another batch of Paperwhites flowering in the greenhouse this week, so I have added these to all three bouquets to add continuity and scent. I am hoping the final batch of Paperwhites will flower in time for the wedding, but that really is in the lap of the gods!
February Gold is one of my favourites of the early daffodils, although it does tend to flower in March. This year I am going to make sure that my order for daffodils and narcissi includes some of the very early flowering varieties such as Rijnveld’s Early Sensation and Cedric Morris.
I just love the delicate colour of this one – it was here before I took over the garden and there are only a few which never seem to spread. The colour is almost a pale apricot, so it really stands out against all the yellows that are flowering at the moment. I have tried to identify it, but so far without success.
This multi petalled yellow daffodil is another favourite that predates my arrival here – again I have searched through many images without finding a perfect match.
This beauty is White Cheerfulness, a delicate scented narcissi that is just coming into flower. It will be followed later in the month by the very similar Bridal Crown (how I hope that is in flower for the wedding!). I have planted both in drifts in my woodland area, where they add a sumptuous but delicate scent.
Finally a touch of whimsy – I have taken the flowers off a hyacinth stem and threaded them onto a wire to create a floral handle for these jars. With the touch of lace on the bouquets I think this arrangement is beginning to feel quite bridal. Used like this the hyacinth flowers will be lucky to survive 24 hours, but they add an unusual flourish which could easily be adapted as a napkin ring for an easter lunch.
I cannot believe that the end of March is already in sight – I am busy tidying borders, planting seeds and generally sprucing the place up now that the ground is finally drying out. In the midst of all this activity though I am trying to remember to enjoy my garden as it is today – in its beautiful yellow dress of early spring with a touch of blossom and lots of lovely green shoots.
I will be back on Friday with my March Cutting Garden review and in the meantime, if you are enjoying the daffodils, you might like to have a look back at a Monday vase I made last year.
As ever a big thank you to Cathy for hosting and I hope you will pop over to her blog to see what she and the others have made this week.
Insert your profile info here, by going to Users -> Your Profile -> Biographical Info. Profile image (avatar) comes from gravatar.com. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nullam faucibus ornare lectus nec cursus.
I seem to remember that I had a pale apricot narcissus when I lived in the UK, Julie but I don’t know the name as it came in a huge mixed bag that I bought for the allotment. I like how you have tied your bunches this week and think they would be lovely for a spring wedding. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you that the white tulips will be flowering when you need the,
Thank you Christina – the weather was lovely today – lots of gardening – but I think it is going cold again. I really need a warm spell to get everything moving!
beautiful!
Thank you Christine!
What a gorgeous collection of daffodils you have! I absolutely adore the arrangements and especially what you have done with the hyacinths (I must give that a try!). So nice to get different ideas. The paperwhites are so pretty, but my family don’t like their scent! So glad I stopped by! Dana
Thank you Dana – my family used to object to the Paperwhites too but I think they are resigned to them now! The hyacinths were really easy – but remember you have to do it on the day you want them because they don’t last out of water.
A very good practice run for the wedding Julie. What a lucky bride with flowers like these. The hyacinth handle is a beautiful accent.
Thank you Susie – there will be a lot of practicing over the next three weeks!!
Oh I enjoy seeing what treat you have for us and this one is just amazing with the hyacinth handles…wow. The wedding guests will be in for such a wonderful treat Julie. No gardening yet so once we get out there hopefully sometime in mid April, it will be a frenzy of work to catch up.
Thank you Donna – I have had a very busy afternoon outside today – I quite envy your late start. I expect that when the weather turns for you it will be reliably warm and sunny – unlike here where I am in a tee shirt one minute and under three layers the next.
It’s not so much that it’s nearly the end of March but more the fact that it is almost April! The hyacinth handle is such a simple but effective idea and it is good that you can be assured of having some combination of daffodil and hyacinth to work with on the day. Do you know how well Cheerfulness could be forced? I think I would like some variation next year after 2 or 3 months of perpetual Paperwhites!!
Thank you Cathy – I think any daffodil will flower a bit earlier if you grow it under cover – I have some Thalia just about to flower in the greenhouse whilst my garden ones are up but not yet in bud. Paperwhites are the best for the early months though – I think the bulbs are treated to make them better for forcing.
Julie, I have to tell you that while I was reading this very post of yours, my husband came home, handed me the mail, and there was the book you sent, “Flower Shop Secrets.” It is exquisite! I had no idea this series existed, and I will definitely have to make sure I get the rest of them. Many thanks to you for offering this wonderful giveaway. And, the flowers in this post are beautiful – I love how you wired together the garland of hyacinth blossoms – I’ve never seen that before, the perfect touch. Well, now I just have to get some flower seeds – I’ve only vegetable seeds at the moment. Thanks again, Julie!
I am so glad the book is safely with you!! It is a lovely series – well worth seeking out. I am the other way round – the flowers are all organised but I need to get my act together with the vegetables.
Speechless!
Thank you Anca – I am delighted!
Your bouquets are amazing! The April bride will certainly not be disappointed with pieces of art, such as this. And the hyacinth wreaths, what a unique and beautiful touch!
Beautiful and looking very bridal too. How exciting to watch and wait for those flowers to bloom at the right time! I especially like the hyacinth ‘handles’. Like Christine, I also had an apricot narcissus in my last garden from a mixed bag of daffodil bulbs. No names were given though!
Thank you Cathy – I think this one is going to remain a mystery. I did wonder if they came from a mixed bag, but there are two distinct clumps so I am sure they were planted deliberately.
Sooo lovely-the bride and wedding guests will love your very stylish simplicity.
Thank you!!
Oh, how pretty Julie. The hyacinth handles are quite magical Julie providing the perfect finishing touch. I hope that somebody can identify your apricot narcissus. Are you are member of the RHS? If so it might be worth contacting them.
I am a member Anna – that is a very good idea and I will try to follow it up.
I love strings of hyacinth blossoms and this is such a clever use for them! I may have to “borrow” the idea ;-D Thank you!
Feel free to borrow away Bethany – I adapted this from someone else’s idea for napkin rings!
These are gorgeous, Julie. Best wishes with the bridal preparations!
Thank you Kris.
I was browsing your photos last nite on an iPad, and the whole time, saying out loud OMG – these photos are so gorgeous – Thanks for sharing your world with us – love the string of hyacinth blossoms too – what a great idea. Cathy T
Thank you Cathy – it is always nice to get a compliment from a new reader!! I am so glad you enjoyed browsing and hope you will be back again soon.
The arrangements are breathtakingly beautiful! Today while I was outside I could only dream about the day that all the snow and ice would be melted and strong winds and sunny days would dry all the melt-off.
I do, however, enjoy seeing what warmer locales are enjoying because I know my turn will soon follow not too far behind. I do get ‘green’ with envy at hubby’s side of the family who live in AZ. Hubs tells me he enjoys Canada’s four ever changing seasons but in my ever advancing age I’m thinking I could stand a little boredom in day to day weather.
Your blooms are beautiful!! I do hope all the right flowers are at their best for you when you need them for that wedding. I’m sure the entire bridal party will be pleased. Thank-you for sharing with us!
I love the idea of focusing on arranging the flowers that are in bloom in the garden right now!