In a Vase on Monday: Planning Ahead

Although it is still cold and icy here I am slowly starting to think about the gardening year ahead and need to make some plans soon. I did however have the forethought to plan my vase for this week!

Knowing there would be little in the garden I cut some Forsythia and Chimomanthus (Wintersweet) over a week ago for forcing and put them in my Forsythia vase.

I added a few Cornus stems too, but they blend into the background in my photos. The Forsythia is only just opening…

…but the Wintersweet was quicker – it smells divine!

I really do recommend Wintersweet. On a mild February or March day the bees will swarm to it and the perfume will waft across the entire garden. 😃 If you plant one you need to be patient – it took about three years for mine to produce a single flower, but this year will be its sixth year (oh my, how time flies!) and it has lots of buds. It has also grown considerably in the last two years and is taller than me now. I took this photo of it this morning… we have finally got some blue skies! (It was -9°C last night though!)

Many thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for her Monday Vase meme. I suspect some of those participating this week will be sharing snowdrops, or other spring bulbs, so do go and take a look!



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