In a Vase on Monday: Wolves, Dogs, Roses and Bells!

As I join Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for her Monday meme (click the link for more vases), I am using a new vase which I have filled with old late-winter favourites. The vase has lots of small holes at the top, which means various stems can be held upright at the same time with no frog or pebbles needed to keep them in place.

The title may have got you wondering… so let me explain.

The wolves. ‘Wolf’s milk’ is the common name for Euphorbia in German (Wolfsmilch) and here at the front of the vase is my Euphorbia myrsinites in full flower. Sometimes it flowers in the middle of winter, but it is a bit later this year. It’s a wonderful plant for dry spots, especially rock gardens or pots, and seeds itself around against the wall of the house here.

The dogs: red dogwood, Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’.  I still haven’t pruned it back as it looks so pretty and hasn’t started leafing out yet. (And it’s too cold out there anyway!)

Then we have the roses; ‘Christrose’ is the German name for Hellebores and I have picked two sprigs of them for the vase. The dark red one is possibly the best in the garden. It is one of the Ice ‘n’ Roses hybrids. The pink one has also lost its name tag. (One day I will find the nest of a squirrel or magpie crammed full of my plant labels! LOL!)

The bells: daffodils are commonly known as ‘Osterglocken’ in German, which tranlates as Easter Bells. Such a pretty name, and appropriate in my part of the world too as they don’t often open before the end of March, in time for Easter. The tiny Tête-à-tête ones have been open for a few days now, but most of the larger ones are still waiting for a bit of warmth.  This one is the first taller one to flower.

Last but not least, as you can see above, the Forsythia opened last week – it literally stopped me in my tracks as I caught sight of it in the middle of the day from the house. A couple of sprigs liven up the arrangement and have filled the vase out nicely. And I think the flowers look like little bells too. 😁

I hope you are getting warm and sunny spring weather. Perhaps you could send some my way please!

Have a great gardening week!



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