I’m a little teapot, short and stout.
Here’s my handle …
Here’s my spout …
I wanted to join in with Cathy’s meme ‘In a vase on Monday’ this week to say ‘goodbye’ to Centifolia rose, ‘Fantin-Latour’, who is breathing his last for this year.
The roses were flattened by torrential rain last night, but I still managed to save a few (you may see the little thunderbugs on some of the flowers).
Inspired by John’s ‘Arranger’ at ‘A Walk in the Garden’, I used some young hydrangea flowers, before they had opened and coloured up properly. She’s opened my eyes to them – I want more now! Unfortunately I also want them to stay at this wonderful stage …
I also used the young shoots of Thalictrum flavum subsp glaucum (just before flowering) and some stems of Salvia ‘Caradonna’ that were going over a little.
Cathy’s meme, and everyone’s imaginative use of cut flowers, has really got me thinking about containers – I have so few. That’s why I used my favourite blue teapot (given me years ago by a dear friend), because I didn’t really have anything else available that would compliment the colours.
When I was taking my photographs I was thinking I ought to get shallow dishes/soup tureens (with chicken wire for support) and perhaps wicker baskets to enjoy my old roses in the house.
But something prompted me to look at the paintings of Fantin-Latour again for inspiration and I see that so many of his roses and peonies were standing in quite tall vases. (He obviously had a better gardener/florist than I!)
Perhaps a little more ‘Fantin-Latourish’?
I always thought that I loved my rose Fantin-Latour because he reminded me of the artist’s flower paintings. But when I turned away from my computer screen this morning and looked back at the real thing in the kitchen, I realised I had the genuine (much more beautiful) article growing right here.
It must be the fact that I share the painter’s obsession with these gorgeous flowers that has inspired me, rather than the paintings themselves (lovely as they are).
I always call my roses ‘he’ or ‘she’. For me, unlike other plants in the garden, they really do seem to have their own personalities and so many have been named for real people who may well have breathed in their scent. A different kind of ‘personality cult’ in my own garden …
… so goodbye for another year M. Fantin-Latour!
Now take a look at what all the other garden bloggers are putting in vases this Monday at Cathy’s ‘Rambling in the Garden’ meme.
Garden Dreaming at Châtillon 
What a heavenly rose. So pretty and breezy. The vase in the painting, beautiful though it is, is clearly top heavy and going to be knocked over the minute someone comes past with a shopping bag.I am all in favour of teapots for vases and your arrangement works perfectly; the hydrangeas enhancing the effect further with their delicacy.
I agree about the Fantin-Latour vase, Joanna! Perhaps he had an assistant at once side in case anything threatened to make it topple (like a lady with a shopping bag …)
Fantin la Tour, a rose I have loved and grown, in a previous garden. Thanks for the memories.
Glad you enjoyed Noelle!
I’m more and more loving using non-vase vases – and your teapot is perfect. Oh that hydrangea flushed with pink and green – mmmmmmmmm! divine! Absolutely love the combination of colours you have chosen – a touch of magic!
That’s so kind of you! I thought the hydrangea in particular delicious – but if you look at John’s vase on a ‘Walk in the Garden’ about a fortnight ago you’ll see where I got the idea. His wife’s arrangement was superb (and of course superbly photographed by John!)
I just love this arrangement Cathy with the combination of the hydrangea and the gorgeous roses. Which hydrangea is it? The green looks so fresh.
Thanks! I’m afraid I don’t know what the hydrangea is – just a pink mophead that I rescued from our hot slopes (it was there when we arrived). But thanks to Vase on Monday I’m appreciating it better now. I think it needs to go from its pot into a shadier part of the garden so I get more flowers.
Quite lovely, and you made me think of all those days when we sang the little teapot with our granddaughters.
Glad it brought back some happy memories John – but now I can’t stop humming it unfortunately.
Yes, gorgeous colour combination and what a shame M. Fantin-Latour has now been shown the door… have you other roses to come this year? I considered using a vintage blue & white gravy boat as my vase today….I have so many ‘bits’ that could be used but not always the right container for the blooms to hand 🙂 It adds to the challenge, doesn’t it? Using the thalictrum at that stage as well as the hydrangea is a great idea
The container bit certainly adds to the challenge, Cathy. I am so grateful to you and others who contribute to this meme for stimulating my imagination. Yes, there are quite a few repeat-flowering roses to come (actually flowering already), but I’m trying to focus and appreciate on the ones I know I’ll have to wait another year to enjoy.
That is the joy, sharing ideas and inspiration – I love it, and the way that it has captured people’s imaginations too
I think so many people love it now. Thanks again for initiating/inspiring/committing!
You are welcome
So lovely! You have inspired me to take a stroll in the garden to see what I can put together. Those roses are just beautiful.
You really should – and some of the simplest vases contributed to the meme are the loveliest!
Fantastic arrangement and you’re right you cannot beat looking at the real thing. And I too love roses arranged in an old tureen, my mother made such an arrangement for me on my wedding day and funnily enough I looked at the old tureen today and contemplated turfing out the rose petals but I just don’t have enough open roses to do it justice – yet. That’s the great thing about this meme, there is always next week and we get so many good ideas. I’ve clicked using green hydrangeas for another day too. Thanks Cathy.
What a nice story about the tureen and a great memory! Yes, it’s a stimulating meme, isn’t it?
It is a lovely rose Cathy, such a shame it got spoilt by the rain. Glad you managed to find a few for your vase though. Using a teapot is a great idea and the colour really shows off your delicate pinks and greens. 🙂
Thanks Cathy – the blue teapot will doubtless be wheeled out again!
Cathy I adore this fat beautiful rose and the hydrangeas with a bit of green….what a stunning arrangement and perfect way to continue to admire your rose but in a vase.
Thanks so much Donna – ‘fat, beautiful’, yes, but also so fragile as I see now that we have rain …
The combination of roses and hydrangea buds is beautiful, Cathy! It’s particularly effective photographed against the darker background. I know what you mean about taking another look around the house to find potential containers for cut flowers – I’ve been doing the same thing myself.
Thanks, Kris! Cathy’s meme is teaching me to be more imaginative – people are so clever, and I tend to get stuck in a rut.
How pretty, I love it. Fantin Latour is gorgeous.
We always get rain just as the roses are looking good but fortunately ours have shaken it off and are fine. I can’ t remember such a wonderful year for roses as this one.
We’ve actually been really lucky, Chloris. We had weeks and weeks of fine weather when the once-flowering roses started up, so I’m not complaining. He was on the way out for this year anyway having flowered for the last 4 weeks.
Gorgeous roses and such a beautiful arrangement which looks just perfect in your blue teapot. Our roses are just coming into bloom now, hopefully after the worst of the weather so they won’t be spoiled by storms. I love the last photo showing raindrops on glistening on the petals. I, too, am learning so much from following Cathy’s meme – about what can be used as a receptacle … just about anything it would seem … and about how to put flowers and foliage together to make a pretty arrangement, though I’ll never be anything but an amateur 🙂
Neither will I be anything but an amateur – but in the true sense of the word, Elizabeth. And yes, we are learning so much!
Perhaps Fantin-Latour simulated the illusion of height by propping the flowers up. Modern designer often use Oasis foam affixed to the top of a vase and there must be other techniques to create the effect of height. That said, yours is absolutely perfect as is. The blue teapot makes a delightful container and Fantin-Latour is really a soft, gentle rose.
Very intelligent ‘take’ on the tall vases … and yes about the lovely rose. Still some flowers, but we have rain now.