Monday, December 19, 2016

In a Vase on Monday, to give away and to keep

My hopes of putting together multiple vases to give away this holiday season were dashed by our extreme weather and my lack of planning ahead (frozen plants are harder to cut from and I wasn't able to get out and haunt the thrift shops for suitable vases). I did manage to put together one, and it was delivered yesterday...

This "silver" cup was a Goodwill score (just a buck!), I have no idea what it's original purpose was but it is extremely heavy.

I knew I wanted to use Brachyglottis greyi (Senecio greyi) foliage so I cut a few branches after the ice had melted and before the snow fell.

The fierce east wind supplied some conifer sprigs. It was terribly convenient the way they just landed in the back garden.

Of course I had to purchase the traditional festive holiday flowers. I selected a small plant with long stems for cutting.

I love that they're coming with name labels this year...

The finished product...

Oh, I cut some Grevillea australis foliage too (the thin leaves).

It's quite traditional, but it went to an older couple who I thought would appreciate something like this.

As it turns out I cut way too much of the Brachyglottis greyi, and I couldn't just let it go to waste.

With no suitable vases available I grabbed one of my old aluminum tumblers (inherited from the grandparents).

The green on green of the foliage leftovers needed just s dash of Christmas cheer, luckily I'd hung on to the Nandina berries from an earlier wreath making adventure.

It works!

A great late addition, tucked into the holiday mantle-scape...

Visit Rambling in the Garden for links to all the bloggers putting together vase creations today.

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

18 comments:

  1. Even if you couldn't do a big give away just doing one is a lovely gesture. Plus it sounds like the perfect couple to be on the receiving end. Though I will say I would pick the one you did for yourself for me. I love the softness of the Nandina berries compared with the brashness of the Poinsettia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought about giving that one away too, but there's no way I'm parting with one of those tumblers and saying "but please give the container back when you're done with it" just didn't have the right Christmas tone...

      Delete
  2. Love the late addition to your mantlescape and can't wait for the big reveal of the whole thing. Beautiful "traditional" arrangement and a great score on the vase!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for reminding me I hadn't yet shared the overall Christmas look this year!

      Delete
  3. That's a great idea to give vases and their contents for presents like this, even if you have only achieved one so far. We know from our Monday vases just how much pleasure they bring us, so it is such a good thong to spread that pleasure around - thanks for sharing, with us and with your elderly friends :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a small stash of suitable vases at the ready always, just sadly not holiday appropriate ones!

      Delete
  4. I need to follow your example and trawl the local second hand shops for vases - when I give away bouquets they're usually presented in Snapple bottles and that's just not right. That Brachyglottis foliage is wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a fun excuse to get out and see what's on offer, without spending a lot of money!

      Delete
  5. The luck o the Irish must follow you on your Goodwill expeditions...or maybe it was your good intentions that brought you such luck. Both vases turned out great. I would expect no less from you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ricki. I also ran into a friend at one of the thrift shops, a bonus surprise!

      Delete
  6. So lovely!!! I love repurposing items and what a deal you got at Goodwill. It's a thrill to treasure hunt in thrift shops. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nice find at the thrift store. Your arrangement turned out great. Brachyglottis greyi is a beautiful addition.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I resisted planting it for so long, because of the lame yellow flowers, but now I have a couple...great for cutting!

      Delete
  8. Your thrift store find is a "julep cup" regularly used in the south for mint juleps. https://www.silvergallery.com/silver-pewter-barware/mint-julep-cups/

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well done! The silver green and red combinations are just right.

    There are some good vases to be had a thrift stores, and it is poignant to remember loved ones now gone by the housewares they used. I have a coral pink plastic glass of my Granny's, the one she always used, it's one of my outdoor vases. Nice way to remember her almost every day.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!