It’s that time of year when my garden fills with blooms, and I wish I could slow down time. Nature is something else, eh?
Today’s featured vase is a birthday gift for my longtime neighbor and friend, Jasmin. I used a container from an orchid that’s moved to a larger pot. The white provides a nice contrast to the flowers, which include purple, white, and lavender sweet peas, cuttings from the Pittosporum, emerging Nigella damascena, and Dianthus caryophyllus, also known ashybrid carnations, including ‘Georgia Peach’ and ‘Key Lime Pie,’ and the tiniest little flowers from Brunnera macrophylla.
I crafted a card to go with the flowers using a die designed by Eileen Hull to emulate postage.
I’ve been saving a stamp from the Philippines (Jasmin’s country of origin) to use on her card.
I added a birdhouse transfer, something she collects, and rounded out the other spaces with flowers. Jas is a gardener, too.
I’m grateful when bloggers come up with ideas to share mutual interests and to support each other’s creativity.
Thank you to “the Cathys” for inspiring this Monday series. You can visit Cathy at Rambling in The Garden at this link to see several stunning vases worldwide.
Gardening Nirvana 
Oh, I adore these colours and the sweet peas and carnations must smell delightful. Wish I could smell them!
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The combined scents are intoxicating. I once joked that WordPress needed a scratch-and-sniff feature.
Thank you, Eliza.
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Gorgeous!
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Thank you, Cindy!
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What thoughtful attention to detail. And sweet peas are my fave
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Thank you, Dawn. Sweet peas seem to generate a sense of nostalgia for many people. I love that soft scent.
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What a gorgeous little bouquet Alys! I have never really noticed Nigella before it opens, but those buds look amazing in a vase. And your neighbour will love the thoughtful card with all the specially selected details like the stamp and the birds and flowers. Have a lovely flowery week Alys! 🌷🌺🌹
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Thank you, Cathy. I’m heading to your blog shortly and I’m sure I’ll find another gorgeous vase.
I like the feathery tiny globe like buds. The plant is extraordinary.
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You always present your displays so well, and think carefully about your cards
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Thank you so much, Derrick. Xo
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Another beautiful card Alys.
You have two of my favourite scents in that vase. I adore the clove aroma from the carnations – we’re going to try those in the cut flower bed this year and we’re hoping for better results from our sweet peas this year as, after fantastic blooms the first couple of years we lived here, they haven’t done so well since.
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Thank you, Lynn. We planted the carnations last year and they have doubled already in size and production.
Our sweet peas come back year after year, volunteering where they please. I let the plants go to seed, then I pull them out leaving lots of seeds behind. Because they don’t like heat, these flower early and are generally spent by late June or July.
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Beautiful. I’m guessing you made her very happy.
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I did. :-)
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I love the flowers and lovely vase. The card goes over the top in creativity. Stunning!
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Thank you for all your good cheer, MH. Gathering flowers from my garden for a vase always lifts my spirits.
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Pretty flowers and pretty card! Wonderful to integrate the stamp from the Phillipines!
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It’s nice to see you here, Tierney. Thank you for your kind words.
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