Wow – that was a cold one!
Inspiration for today’s vase came from the poor little flowers of Rose ‘William Shakespeare’ (David Austin) and the blushes of red and pink on the greeny-yellery flowers of a mophead hydrangea.
I passed the hydrangeas (in pots) on my way down to the garden to pick something for my Monday vase and the first thing I came across was poor Willie, frozen solid in the Rose Walk.
I bought ‘our William’ because I wanted another dark red Austin rose – I liked ‘Munstead Wood’ so much and it performed so well here.
At first I thought that M. Shakespeare was rather a vulgar version of ‘Munstead Wood’, but this year he’s coming into his own and ‘Munstead Wood’ has been very poor indeed (I’m wondering if it’s not too fond of the plentiful rain we’ve had?).
Nice when you fall in love with something that left you less than totally enchanted to start with!
Then I braved the prickles of Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea’, because I felt they’d add a certain bloody something (I’m thinking Macbeth here) to the arrangement. And a little gentleness came by way of Artemesia ‘Powis Castle’
There is actually some Sedum spectabile in there as well (all the leaves dropped off when I picked it!), but it seems to be shyly hiding in every photograph.
Even the surface of our table on the balcony had a film of ice on it this morning. Willie is still standing outside, because I think he’ll fall to pieces if I put him in the warm kitchen.
I’m afraid this vase isn’t going to even last the day out, but I did enjoy creating it!
Greetings from a very frosty Chatillon – did you read that the Academie Francaise has just voted to get rid of circumflexes? Thank goodness, because whenever I type the word ‘Chatillon’ in a blog post, I’m forced to use a website offering French accents to copy and paste (there should be a little hat over the ‘a’ in Chatillon). Now I don’t have to worry!
Go on over and get an eyeful of all the other lovely vases on Cathy’s Rambling in the Garden. And thanks to her as our gracious hostess!
Garden Dreaming at Châtillon 
Crushed red velvet, rather apt opulent arrangement for the chateau. Maybe the Alliance Francaise will get rid of the trema which will leave me bereft…’Noelle’.
Yes – crushed velvet describes him perfectly – particularly crushed yesterday morning!
How intriguing about circumflexes! 😉 Too late for you now, but you don’t need to leave WordPress – if you click on the symbol to the right (it depends whch way you write your post what it is – might be 3 dots) of where the sybols are for bold/italic/links, etc This is the toolbar toggle and it will come up with another row including an omega which you click on to get special characters – and hey presto! accents, degrees, fractions, etc…
But back you your vase – oor Wullie is a indeed a most handsome rose and I wonder why I didn’t consider him as a replacement for those of mne that I took out (presumably size or flowering period).Using the hydrangea and berberis is inspired – what a lovely combination and what a shame you don’t think the vase will last the day….carpe diem!
You actually called him the way he was in my head – I tamely went for the English version. Thanks for your comments – and especially the advice about the accents – I will investigate since I do actually need to use them occasionally, living here! I always have to apologise to French friends for lack of accents in my emails – but I couldn’t go over to a French keyboard since I touchtype and French is not QUERTY – I’d be lost. Look out for a post soon with lots of accents in it!!!
Gosh, a French keyboard – I had never even considered there would be such a thing, but of course they do make sense
I remember when I first came and didn’t have an internet connection. I was forced to a cafe to send emails with work attached. It was a real nightmare as a touch-typist. All the keys are in the ‘wrong’ place.
Oh my, your container is beautiful and the arrangement you’ve made in it is as opulent as a still life painting; beauty frozen in a spectacular moment.
Thanks Peter – I do like that vase. It came from a vide grenier and I always think it looks very 17th Dutch with roses in it!
That’s a very pretty rose and it’s all the more wonderful for its ability to take the cold. I hope it lasts longer than you expect. Perhaps a beam of sunlight will allow it to slowly defrost…Another blogger provided me a link some time ago showing a method of encasing flowers in ice cubes for display purposes. (The key is to do it in stages.) I’ve never tried it but perhaps you should!
It did last overnight at least Kris – how fascinating about the ice cubes – I didn’t read this until the rose was defrosted, but will bear in mind for the future!
Your vase is charming, if fleetingly. I love those rich colours and ‘Willie’ is certainly stunning. The vase itself looks beautiful too and befits the contents. Perfectly arranged and photographed.
Thanks Alison – actually brought it into the kitchen and it has lasted overnight, so not so fleeting as I thought!
Such a gorgeous vase with the perfect reds and greens for the change of seasons….
Proper autumn here now, Donna! Thanks for visiting.
Such opulent colours. Such a fab Vase full
Thanks!
You have a talent for arranging flowers, Cathy! What a sumptuous vase – the colours are so rich. I love it.
That is such a sweet thing to say, Sam. When I see everyone else’s flowers I always feel like the least talented contributor!
Stunning! It really is a gorgeous arrangement and your view is fabulous too! We have only had a little frost so far, but it is the damp and fog that finishes off my flowers. That rose is a winner, frozen or not. 😉 Such a shame they can’t be preserved in that perfect state.
Beautiful. I see the words opulent, sumptuous and rich have been used in response already.
Very kind – thanks!
That is so very beautiful, and I love the vase you used too! Your roses look lovely despite being frozen (poor things)! There were a few snow flurries here this morning.
Snow – my goodness. I’d prefer it. We are coping with exceptionally heavy wind and rain. Not what’s wanted!!!
Gorgeous arrangement, Cathy, I love it. Romantic to the nth degree!
Thanks so much Eliza. Would prefer NOT to be so romantic, really!