This week we will not only see the second full moon within one calendar month, but also the third of four full moons for this season, making it a ‘blue moon’. This doesn’t happen very often – hence the saying ‘Once in a blue moon’.
Now, if only I had one of those lovely Chinese moon flask vases to use for my Monday vase as I join Cathy at Rambling in the Garden once again… but this round one comes pretty close:
Now, what can I put in it?! Well, after searching the soggy garden I did manage to find something suitable…
Some lovely long hazel catkins, a hellebore from the patio pots and some hellebore leaves, grasses, and a few sprigs of St John’s Wort that hasn’t died back at all this winter. The sparkly white candle is left over from Christmas (I couldn’t bear to light it as it is so pretty) and is included here to symbolize the full moon. 🙂
I also filled another small vase with a hellebore and some Heuchera – the tiny pottery vase was bought at the Christmas markets with snowdrops in mind, but the little green shoots of my snowdrops are only just showing…
If you are in the northern hemisphere, I wonder if you have got snowdrops yet?
Have a good week, wherever you are!
Hazel catkins are so pretty. There are lots around here as it is a major hazel nut growing area. Lucky you to have Hellebores.
These catkins are the longest I have ever had! Some of the other bushes also have long ones, but many are still very short and not open, although they are next to each other. The hellebores have been flowering in their patio pots all winter, only wilting for a few days when we had a particularly cold spell.
Just lovely! ❤
Thanks Joanna!
So very creative and I love that blue vase. We are going to have a Blue Moon that will appear as a Blood Moon and partial eclipse.
Wow, hope it’s a clear night for you! 🙂
Oh that vase is stunning, and your catkins and hellebore really do it jusice as does the pristine white candle – a wonderful overal effect. YOur teeny tiny vase s lovely too, and as ayou say, it will be perfect for your snowdrops when they finally come to visit!
It is mild and sunny today and I have ONE snowdrop! (Funnily enough it is in complete shade). Snow forecast for tomorrow though… I will probably pick it this afternoon! 😉
I wonder if you got your snow – and if you picked your snowdrop…
Both! And sunshine today too!
Oh, those vases! Beautiful. No snowdrops in Maine, and there probably won’t be until the beginning of April.
I do hope your winter won’t last that long Laurie. I will share my snowdrops as soon as they appear! 🙂
In Maine, winter always hangs through until the middle of March, sometimes the end. As a Mainer, I am used to this. 😉
A gorgeous vase especially given the blue moon coming….beautiful flowers and plant material too….I love it and the hazel catkins are perfection.
Thanks Donna. I was quite impressed with the length of those catkins!
Cathy the blue and white vase is beautiful. And its content even more. Hazel’s Amentos are very long and beautiful with their greenish-yellow color. The Hellebore I love with its leaves. It is a really nice vase. The white candle so big and round is beautiful. The small vase is cute and I love its flowers. I hope you have Snowdrops soon to put them on it. May you also have a happy week. Greetings from Margarita
Thank you for your kind comment Margarita. Have a lovely week!
What a lovely way to celebrate the full moon….the vase just on its own is beautiful, however the catkins and hellebores make this midwinter arrangement. Clever you.
Thank you Noelle! The vase was a present from my sister years ago, and I always forget to use it as it is a fixed ornament on my shelf!
So pretty and elegant in the gorgeous vase. The candle is the perfect touch, I’d have to keep it too. The hellebores are bright and fresh.
Hi Alison. These hellebores have kept going in their pots all winter… it was worth buying fresh plants that have been grown to flower for Christmas, and they will go in the garden in spring. 🙂
Both of your arrangements are absolutely lovely. Not easy to find a vase and a candle that so nicely complement the moon theme. But now I am going to have to go looking to see what a Chinese moon flask is. I can’t imagine it is prettier than the vase you used.
Thanks Linda – I have seen the moon vases on the internet and hope to find one in a junk shop one day! 😉
I love every bit of your offering this week, Cathy! Terrific vase, and hazel catkins and hellebore create a gorgeous prequel to spring. Mwah!!
Not long to go now Eliza… February is a short month and then spring really will be here! 🙂
Those catkins are so lively. I love your vase. Nice winter arrangement. Happy IAVOM.
Thank you Lisa. I am glad I cut those catkins – they are quite beautiful. 🙂
Hi Cathy, wonderful vases! Yes, I´ve seen snowdrops – and I hope to watch the second full moon.
The moon is lovely tonight Uta. Hope it stays clear for you too!
Hopefully it won’t be foggy so we can enjoy the blue moon too! The large blue and white vase is fabulous! Have a wonderful week Cathy!
Thanks Deb. Happy moonwatching! 😉
Oh, do enjoy the blue moon Cathy! I’m hoping our skies clear in time. Yours is a gorgeous vase, those hazel catkins dripping with personality and beauty. I didn’t know what you meant by Chinese moon flask vase but recognized the shape immediately when I googled it. Love your hellebores.
Hi Susie – it’s clear tonight, but snow is forecast for tomorrow night! Those catkins really are lovely, aren’t they. 🙂
Wow, amazing catkins!! Seriously,love them.And the vase. Theremust be something like that here,but I haven’t seen it.Thenks for sharing yours and the Hellebores.
I love those catkins too! 🙂 Have a good week Amelia!
Both vases (containers and contents) are wonderful! Thanks for explaining the “blue moon” references I’ve seen. Our moon has a hazy halo around it this evening but hopefully clear skies will show it in its glory on the 31st. There are no snowdrops here – I expect they don’t like dry conditions and you couldn’t get much drier than we are now.
Snowdrops don’t do as well here as in the UK, where people pay horrendous prices for special ones. But it has been a very wet winter here so they should do well for once! 🙂
I love the blue moon vases…and the flowers and plants you chose to highlight them. Happy end of January!
Thanks Beth. The moon is almost full tonight and enveloped in a light haze – quite pretty! 🙂
Sweet spherical vases and you’ve chosen fabulous contents. Those dangly catkins are fabulous! My first snowdrop opened today.
One of my snowdrops has opened too Peter! 😀 I am very pleased with those catkins and might cut a few more.
That looks amazing together Cathy. I paint florals and never think to fill my room with real ones anymore lol maybe a branch of Witch Hazel 🙂
Oh yes Eunice, do bring some indoors to enjoy the fragrance! You can arrange it and paint it too! 😉
I will have to
Your vase is so perfect with those graceful, long hazel catkins! What a lovely set of bouquets, Cathy! 🙂
Thanks Amy! I am so pleased with the catkins – they are as good as any flower! 🙂
Well, I never knew that, what a lovely idea basing your pretty arrangement on a the blue moon. Yes, we have plenty of snowdrops and what a joy they are.
I have got a single snowdrop Chloris. 🙂 The early flowers get so much attention, but I am more then happy with my hazel catkins this week!
This is one of your best ever.
Oh, thank you Ricki! 🌷🌕🌷
Oh that’s fabulous Cathy! Those gorgeous flowers complement and echo the shape of both the vase and your moon. I’m looking forward to seeing that blue moon tonight and also watching a programme on BBC1 tonight called ‘The Wonders Of The Moon’.
Thank you! I am so glad I took a good look at the moon last night as it has clouded over tonight! Enjoy that programme Anna, sounds really nice. 🙂
The round vase looks wonderful with the catkins. I didn’t know about where the saying “once in a blue moon” came from.
Thanks Brian. The catkins are dropping pollen now, so I will replace them with fresh ones tomorrow… they seem to be much longer than usual too!
Oh, I love those catkins!
Me too! 🙂
You’re so clever, Cathy. The references to the Blue Moon are perfect, and I love the vase and candle. I’m a lot like you in not burning a beautiful candle, but I sometimes think that’s a little like my grandmother who refused to wear the beautiful night clothes we’d buy her. She’d keep them wrapped in tissue saying they were too pretty to wear. LOL! Anyway…beautiful vases this week. And I’ll add my comment to the list of others in wild appreciation of those catkins!
Thank you Debra! I know how your grandmother felt… If I have something new, be it clothes, a candle or whatever, I often put it away for a while before using it! 😉
The catkins are quite something, I agree!
J > It’s also an exceptionally propitious month for blog posts about full moons and the frequency of their occurrence ; presumably that’s why there’s so many. ;~) I hadn’t been aware of the facts, but as it happens I thought to myself, last night, that’s a huge great moon there … and haven’t I seen one as big as that not very long ago. Which must mean that they really are noticeably bigger!
Apparently, scientifically speaking, there is barely any noticeable difference in size, but weather conditions can make it appear larger. We had a lovely haze around ours the day before it was completely full. Then unfortunately it clouded over on the 31st! 🙂
What a beautiful arrangement. Hazel and alder catkins are some of my springtime favorites, I just wish I had a decent spot to put either.
Alder are lovely too, and a rarity here. We have dozens of hazels that have set themselves around the perimeters of the garden and keep the squirrels busy late summer!