Has anyone read West with Giraffes? I’m just a few dozen pages in but I’m already loving this 2021 Lynda Rutledge novel, even if the font in this edition seems extremely small to my aged eyes. It’s the tale of how two giraffes survive a hurricane while en route to New York City in 1938, and the cross country journey to San Diego that follows. It, along with an additional two books I’m kinda sorta reading made a perfect platform for my raku Ikebana vase yesterday. It was dull and dark and only a few degrees above freezing outside, so I put the vase in front of the dining room window – not usually a good idea, I know, lighting-wise, but it worked.
I re-used a few Forsythia twigs from last week – I’m liking how the non-flower buds are sprouting tiny green leaves – and added a few red twigs snipped from a Cornus sericea – red osier dogwood. The snowdrops are the only thing blooming, still, outside, and even though the flowers were closed tightly at first the petals welcomed the warm indoor air and quickly opened wide. Cathy at Rambling in the Garden hosts gardeners with vases of cut flowers – you should see what’s already in bloom in warmer parts of the world! Have a great week, everyone!!
Definitely looks like Spring on top of your literature, Chris. ‘Giraffes’ sounds like an interesting book. Are your Chives up?? Red osier Dogwood is really pretty. My 2 small patches of Snowdrops are blooming & 3 white Crocuses….there was a larger patch of them a few years ago, but a Bunny chomped them all. My several, yellow Crocuses are up and purple ones disappeared. Chives are up a teeny bit. Wednesday, the nursery where I go is getting their Pansy delivery…you know where I’ll be Thursday morning 😆
All my bulbs are up, but just a titch…still so cold here! Chives are a few cms high so far…I mustn’t get impatient!!
Your title could have been “Yellow, White, Green, and Read.” I noticed The Serviceberry in your book stack; that’s one I read and enjoyed. As for the vase, I rather like the combination of yellow flowers and green leaves provided by the forsythia; it’s charming in a different way than flowers alone.
Yes, the tiny leaves emerging are just as joyful as the yellow flowers, I find! I’m looking forward to The Serviceberry after I finish the giraffe’s journey…
Oh how lovely Chris, proving it doesn’t need much material to create a sweet and elegant vase. It brings me pleasure to see it on your blog, so having the real thing must give you such a warm and fuzzy feeling. Thanks for sharing it with us
Thanks Cathy – it looks like I’ll be waiting a few weeks for anything else to start blooming so I need to make the Forsythia and snowdrops last!
Well done. Very attractive. Snowdrops and forsythia are sure signs of the approach of spring.
You’d think, eh? 😆😆
Forsythia is nice. Rhody and I happen to be in Washington now, and forsythia is popular around the neighborhood where we are. It is so much prettier than it is in the milder climate at home.
Your ikebana arrangement is gorgeous Chris! Perfect lighting too. And thanks for the book recommendation. 😀
Thanks Cathy!