That last stretch of sunny days, R had a Great Notion. Our cherry trees had become encrusted with lichen and it seemed there was too little light getting through congested branches. So he got his Paul Newman on and did a little lumberjacking.
I rescued some of the budding branches in hopes of forcing them into bloom, then went in search of other material to fill out the vase.
Rhododendron ‘Janet’
Well, what do you know…the first Rhododendron blossom was just emerging on ‘Janet’.
Pussy willows are rather miraculous. These were branches that came in a store-bought bouquet. After enjoying them in a vase, I stuck them in the ground and Voila! In a mere three years I have sizeable shrubs.
A few branches from Giant Sequoias make a feathery scrim. The slugs were feasting on Helleborus x ‘Apricot Blush’ so I picked them for their own good. Just one went into this vase.
I know the pros advise stripping stems below the water level, but I like the look of the submerged lichen and greens. It will be interesting to see if they gunk up the water…I’ll let you know. Now it’s time to click through to see what Cathy (Rambling in the Garden) and her growing fan club have found to plonk in a vase this week.
Richard “got his Paul Newman on”; I love it!
I also love the lichenous branches below the water level of your interesting composition. That just adds to its charm!
We wordies must stick together. Thanks, Jane.
I love the lichen water….it makes this vase look very green lush and woodsy! And a couple of blooms to round it out!
Lush and woodsy is my aim. I’m one of those weirdos who likes my flowers few and far between.
A winsome arrangement. Nice to see the lovely Rhododendron.
“Winsome” is a word we hear too seldom. Thanks, Susie.
Wonderful texture contrasts, I especially like the Sequoia. The lichens are running amok here in Florida, El Nino??
I love it when new voices pop up here. Welcome! Clicking on your avatar took me to your profile. You mention a blog but I found no way to get there. Can you enlighten me?
He’s a lumberjack and he’s OK… Seems a lot of branches to cut down for the sake of a few sprigs in your vase though, rickii…!
The pussy willows are amazing, having rooted so easily and are a great addition along with your rescued hellebore bloom and the pretty rhododendron. Is it pink, is it white? Hard to tell, but with a very virginal appearance. Thanks for sharing rickii – and the lichen in the water look too.
The Rhody is basically white, but with a slight blush (whiter this year than usual, who knows why).
That was meant to say ‘I like the lichen in the water look too’
My fingers often go rogue and type something weird.
I’ve always admired pussywillows, although they don’t grow here. As a small child, my brother even named one of our cats (it was his turn) “Pussywillow.” She was gray but, at 4 years old, I have no idea where he got the name. That cat lived to be 19 and you have no idea how ridiculous the whole family was when we had to go outside and call “Pussywillow, Pussywillow, Pussywillow”!
Sounds like a good name for a gray can, but I’m sure something like that is how nicknames came about.
Wow, a rhody blooming already? Even my PJM and Bob’s Blue haven’t opened yet. It really feels like spring already.
I know…’Janet’ got the jump on PJM, which has always been the first.
What’s not to love about lichen and moss covered branches? Your underwater scrim is perfect for this arrangement.
It’s hard not to love them, but they did seem to be making the tree suffer. We Monday Vasers must be opportunistic though.
It’s a beautiful vase Ricki, and I am impressed with your Pussywillow rooting capabilities.
The pussywillows themselves get all the credit.
Señior Newman, good work. It might make even make the apples taste better.
I´m doing the same here, clearing a couple palm trees so the mango gets more sun. Raise a toast to our fruit trees.
MC! We squeezed a comment from you! Here goes…*clink*!
Such a charming arrangment…and if the vase is clear..its as much as what can be seen in the water…I love the arrangement both above and below..and the lichen is so beautiful.
Welcome, Noelle! I’m lusting after golden saffron buns, so you can guess where I’ve been.
Very pleasant. Like many of the others, I prefer the visual interest under the water. I often leave Cosmos foliage on the stems under the water because it doesn’t decompose very fast and it looks prettier in the vase. Gosh I didn’t know you could start Pussy Willow shrubs that way. That’s wonderful!
Willows have some sort of growing hormone. I’ve heard putting a sprig of willow in a jar with things you want to root will assure success.
I do find that most foliage makes the water horrible quite quickly but not all, Lichen might be OK and it does look rather nice.
So far, so good.
‘Janet’ looks sweet. Those look like some very venerable cherry trees.
Venerable, indeed. We hope to prolong their lives. They are perfectly spaced to hold a hammock.
Last weekend we had below zero wind chill and this weekend it will be 62 so I have no idea what season it is anymore. But I do love your awesome arrangement, regardless. 🙂
Happy I could bring a little spring into your life. Hang on… it WILL come.