In a vase on Monday: Holds upon Happiness

 by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

 in Cape Town, South Africa

 

When I pick flowers from my garden, it is, as my mother taught me, for a gift to a friend. My two new roses, with a supporting cast to cheer them on. I walked around the posy to capture each side.

 

garden posy February
West

 

garden posy February
North

 

garden posy February
East

 

garden posy February
South

 

Yesterday I learned that the new emoji, with jazz hands, is a virtual hug in lockdown. When my mother moved to her retirement cottage I claimed her begonia. Those asymmetrical leaves have always reminded me of hands. (All right hands ... but two rights don't make a wrong) Now a virtual hug with friends absent in time or space.

 

Begonia leaf as a virtual hug
Begonia leaf as a virtual hug

 

Into each life a little rain must fall, but the darkness that brings rain is welcome as we move to autumn.

 

Dark begonia leaf - into each life a little rain must fall
Dark begonia leaf - into each life a little rain must fall

 

My friend has returned to our False Bay suburb, and Metalasia muricata is a garden volunteer which says home to us. Pink rose Thuli Madonsela echoes my friend who gives back to society with her music and her time.

 

Metalasia and Thuli Madonsela rose
Metalasia and Thuli Madonsela rose

 

South Africa rose in a sunny gold is beautiful and fragrant. But has vicious hooked thorns. Approached with kindness, the green thorns are easy to snap off, and the posy can be held without regret. Holds upon happiness

 

South Africa rose beauty fragrance and thorns
South Africa rose
beauty fragrance and thorns

 

Since my friend likes Centaurea cineraria, this time, a cutting to root as petals fall, not my usual single Prince of Wales feathers.

 

Centaurea leaves
Centaurea leaves

 

They say - flowers leaves some of their fragrance on the hands that give them - so added two sprigs of scented pelargonium.

 

fragrant pelargonium leaves
fragrant pelargonium leaves

 

This week I can join In A Vase on Monday with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden

 

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Pictures by Diana Studer

of Elephant's Eye on False Bay

 

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Comments

  1. What a thoughtful description of the elements of your arrangement. Those roses are beautiful.

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  2. Good to have you with us again today, and I love all the thoughts behind your posy, another take on the language of flowers. What a joy to be sharing roses in February!

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  3. Dear Diana, what an amazing combination and begonia leaves as a virtual hug is such a lovely concept. Can't wait to cut flowers from my garden for a vase. Still winter here in the southern part of Austria with a snow covered garden. But soon ....
    Have a good time. Thank you for your lovely words and please take care.
    All my best
    Elisabeth

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  4. It's a lovely bouquet, Diana - from all angles! Your roses are spectacular. I think you should be a friend to yourself on occasion and give yourself the gift of flowers to enjoy in your house ;)

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  5. What a lovely bouquet you have created for your friend, I especially love the roses. I'm sure that will be a wonderful gift to receive. I hope all goes well in the Cape and that you are getting enough rain this year.

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  6. The bouquet is gorgeous - such an amazing gift to lift someone's day.
    Amalia
    xo

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  7. A beautiful arrangement of flowers and beautiful words too. You have brightened my morning which is somewhat great at the moment :) B x

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  8. What a gorgeous bouquet and wonderful gift for a friend! The South Africa rose is especially striking; surely there is an important lesson in those thorns! I enjoyed this post. Thank you!

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  9. The thoughts are just as lovely--perhaps even more so--than your beautiful arrangement.

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  10. Thank you - love that my flowers share their joy across the world!

    And that, while the rose petals have fallen, the good bones are giving my friend a second portion of happiness.

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  11. Beautiful bouquet. I like the use of the leaves. Suddenly I remember the scented pelargoniums I had on my windowsill when I was a student.

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  12. And a lovely posy it is! Your friend will love it.

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