In a Vase: Lavender and Lace

For this week’s In a Vase on Monday, I’m back with more violas. Little ‘Primrose Picotee’ may be dainty, but it’s a powerhouse for bloom.

It’s none too easy to use, though, as it’s anything but long-stemmed. Still, I picked a couple of stems and slipped them into my smallest bud vase.

Lavandula stoechas is also putting out new bloom stems right now, so I added a few of those.

I keep wondering whether I might make a vase using foraged wild foliage, but most of the foliage on this property is in the pea family, with leaves that will close at night or when brought inside a dim house. This includes mesquite (Prosopis velutina), sweet acacia (Vachellia farinosa), and palo verde (Parkinsonia floridum?). It’s fascinating to have so many of the Fabaceae growing as shrubs or small trees all round here. However, I think I need to put in some foliage plants that do not open and shut with the sun!

Meantime, I continue to cut violas and lavender.

It’s a lean time for many gardens in temperate climes, but don’t forget to check Rambling in the Garden for all the other wonderful vases for In a Vase on Monday!

I hope each of you had a special and safe Christmas. Ours was a quiet one with lights and extra sweets and a now-traditional homemade pizza. At any rate it was quiet except when a malfunctioning smoke alarm decided to cut loose with its shrieks. Repeatedly. And, no, I did not burn the pizza. I’m not sure why it chose Christmas Day for its misplaced levity, but it will soon be replaced.

Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’ put out some very seasonally colored blooms for the day.

Wishing each of you a very happy New Year!

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