In a Vase, or Two

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Cold, windy, wet weather was predicted for last night and today.  Apart from a few showers, it has turned out quite mild; but the prediction had already encouraged me to cut one flower for today's vase.  The enormous bud on the rose "Mister Lincoln" stood a good chance of being broken off or at least battered about if the winds blew in. 

 

So I cut it last night and slipped it into a vase this morning.  The rose had a beautifully long stem, so I tried one of my taller vases.  It was too wide for a single rose.  Then into another vase.  It was the wrong color.  Then...

 

Out to the garden to cut a few more flowers.  After bringing them inside, it was clear they would not help blend the colors at all.  So at last I cut the rose shorter and used my little stoneware bottle to hold it.

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, rose, mister lincoln

The color has blued since I brought the flower in, but it's still such a beauty.

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, rose, mister lincoln

And it is big - over five and a half inches across and not fully open yet.  And fragrant.   Need I say more...?  (Actually I did, as I posted separately about the bush some weeks ago.)

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, rose, mister lincoln

Here it is several days ago out in the garden.

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, rose, mister lincoln

So then there were the extra flowers, which clearly needed a vase of their own.

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, rose, monday vase, in a vase on monday, iavom

Several stems of Senna nemophila, which is in full bloom now (with a fragrance reminiscent of chocolate, I might add)...

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, rose, monday vase, in a vase on monday, iavom

...and a few blooms here and there from Justicia californica...

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, rose, monday vase, in a vase on monday, iavom

...and a cluster of leaves and berries from Hamelia patens.  Not too many berries left now, but these are still bright!

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, rose, monday vase, in a vase on monday, iavom

The year has certainly come in like a lion here; we have had more rain in January than I remember through all of last year.

 

Wishing everyone a happy week!  And do check the other vases at Rambling in the Garden, where Cathy hosts In a Vase on Monday!

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, rose, monday vase, in a vase on monday, iavom

Weather Diary: Cloudy with rain showers; High: 59 F (15 c)/Low: 47 F (8 C); Humidity: 51%-100%

Comments: 12 (Discussion closed)
  • #1

    Annette (Tuesday, 24 January 2017 04:56)

    Hi Amy, your stunning rose certainly chased my January blues away! Such a beauty, bet it has a very velvety texture too. The other vase is delightful too – chocolate scent, yummie :)

  • #2

    Cathy (Tuesday, 24 January 2017 08:11)

    It is such a joy to see roses in January and we really appreciate you sharing them with us. The airy senna foliage is a great filler to accompany its tiny flowers

  • #3

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Tuesday, 24 January 2017 10:27)

    So glad you enjoyed it, Annette! The texture is something between velvet and satin ;-) My sister and I discovered the Senna's chocolate scent unexpectedly, just sniffing the air and wondering where it came from! Funnily, I have the "chocolate flower" itself (Berlandiera lyrata) planted just beneath. It does not bloom this time of year, so now I have a replacement for the scent for winter...!

  • #4

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Tuesday, 24 January 2017 10:36)

    Cathy - I thought we might all enjoy the rose more if I cut it ;-) Your are right about the senna, and I would like to use it more often in vases, especially while it is in bloom!

  • #5

    danger garden (Tuesday, 24 January 2017 11:07)

    Ah that Senna is perfection in a vase, especially with the Justicia californica. I grew Senna didymobotrya a couple of years ago. Perhaps it's time to seek it out again.

  • #6

    Cathy (Tuesday, 24 January 2017 12:45)

    What a beautiful rose! Both vases turned out to be really pretty - I like the look of the Senna, and am sure I would like the smell too! ;-)

  • #7

    Kris P (Tuesday, 24 January 2017 17:27)

    I love both this week's vases, Amy. Mr. Lincoln is unequivocally the prettiest red rose, in my opinion. I wish I had a lacy Senna like that one. How big does it grow?

  • #8

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 25 January 2017 00:47)

    Thanks, Loree - Senna is a wonderful genus, isn't it?! Even when the flowers are similar, the foliage may be quite a bit different!

  • #9

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 25 January 2017 00:49)

    Cathy - It's another fun scent and wafts a little on a warm morning - fortunately as I wouldn't have remembered to check the smell otherwise! So glad you liked these :)

  • #10

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 25 January 2017 00:55)

    Kris - I definitely thought of you when I started in on a second vase ;-) I expect the Senna to get around 6 ft in height and width; it is growing even faster than the acacia it's under and clearly still hasn't reached full size...

  • #11

    Kate R (Thursday, 26 January 2017 09:59)

    That rose really is amazing Amy - how beautiful! I love that Senna too. I had no idea that there were so many different types or even that they were scented. I really should do this In a Vase Meme but I worry that I would never get to it if it is every week - you are so much more organized than me!!

  • #12

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 01 February 2017 10:35)

    Kate - I have no idea whether scent is common among the Sennas, but this one is delightful on a warm morning or indoors :) I do hope you'll try the In a Vase meme; there's no requirement to do it every week, of course, and I've been amazed to find myself doing it consistently as I am by no means a well-organized person...! And I know your vases are always so lovely! Your cutting garden has already inspired me to grow more cutting flowers ;-)