A dozen years ago, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden started a meme called “In A Vase On Monday”, or IAVOM. She wanted to challenge herself to regularly cut and arrange flowers and greens from her garden. She also challenged fellow garden bloggers, launching a wonderful garden blog meme. It’s a simple concept: cut flowers from your garden, arrange them in a jar or vase, and share them virtually with others. Gardeners post from the UK, Germany, the US, and other parts of the world. Charming, eh?
I’ve enjoyed sharing a garden vase, off and on, over the years, but I lack the dedication of the Monday Vase die-hards. I applaud all of you.
I’m sharing two vases today that highlight my joy of blogging. For me, it’s about the community formed through sharing photos and words, about finding your people in this sometimes fractious world. “In A Vase on Monday” does just that.
I’ve followed Cathy at Words and Herbs for close to 14 years. She posts a beautiful vase most Mondays.
The vase below holds crocheted flowers, a Mother’s Day gift from my youngest son; however, kitty’s “scarf” is an intended bookmark, straight from Cathy’s crochet hook.
Cathy mailed several crocheted bookmarks for our Little Free Library all the way from Germany. Sweet, right? I placed some of her bookmarks in our tiny library; one became a gift topper for a friend,
and this one is now wrapped around my kitty vase and will become part of my vase rotation. Please enjoy Cathy’s extraordinary garden at Words and Herbs.
This second vase is a treasured teacup, a gift from my university friend, Carrielin. I’ve had it for forty years. In mid-October on Eliza Waters’ IAVOM post, I spotted the same cat design. I checked with Eliza to confirm, and sure enough, it’s from the same collection of porcelain art, Couer Minou-ettes, by Portuguese designer C. Pradalie. The pieces aren’t rare, but even so, it delighted me to spot the same design, with flowers, from a fellow garden blogger. Eliza shares from her beautiful garden most Mondays.
If you would like to see what these gardeners and others have shared in a vase today, please follow this link to Cathy’s blog, then check the comments for additional vase posts.
Happy Anniversary in-a-vaser’s.
Gardening Nirvana 
You’ve summed up well the joy in sharing this meme, Alys. Gardeners united in blooming together. :) I love seeing your Minou cup with posies in it! 💕
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Thank you, Eliza. Blogging has enriched my life is so many ways. I’m happy to be connected to you as part of the journey.
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💕
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This is such a beautfiul post Alys and you have summed it up so well what this meme means to us all. I absolutely love the repurposed bookmark as a kitty vase scarf! LOL! Purrrrfect! 😉 You do in fact have some truly gorgeous vases and what a coincidence that Eliza has one the same too. I am also so pleased that the other bookmarks have been put to good use. I learnt from my partner’s mother, Eva, (years ago!) that gifts can give pleasure firstly to the giver in giving, then the recipient, and then if they are passed on to another recipient at a later date that pleasure is repeated all over again. Just like those cards you sent me which have almost all been sent to friends. 🩷🤗
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Thank you, Cathy, for your comments today and always. I often feel like we’re having a chat.
I adore your crocheted bookmarks, and like you’ve said, they’ve been wonderful to receive, to use, and to share. I’m pleased to hear that the cards are making there way to your friends. It all feels so good. xo
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Hi there Alys, would you like to add a comment with a link on my own blog so that others in the IAVOM community can find you too? Thanks for your kind words about the meme. Your cat vase is quirky and adorable and I like the knitted flowers too – I have a book of knitted and crotcheted flowers which I have made a few from. Your cat mug with its cheery blooms is lovely too, albeit in a completely different way
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Hi Cathy, and thank you for your lovely comments. I will leave a link on this coming Monday’s blog post. Thank you for suggesting it. Crochet has had a resurgence here with small animal kits that are popular with our youth, along with men crocheting entire outfits. It’s not just for grandmothers any more.
You’ve connected many of us through your Monday blog posts. I’m sure you never dreamed it would travel the world. xo
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Thanks Alys. I am intrigued by the wholly crotcheted outfits, although UK Olympic swimmer Tom Daley is a very public knitter and wearer of his creations!
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Lovely Alys.
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Thank you, Cindy.
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These add such cheer to my morning. I love how you repurposed the bookmarks. Yes, blogging does something for us that nothing else can. It keeps us connected. Thinking of you.
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Thank you, Marlene. I’m tickled with that bookmark scarf whenever I glance at it. It’s the unexpected, the beauty, the craft, all of it. I hope you’re feeling better. xo
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Great idea although I would find it easier to do once a month, its a fun way to enjoy different containers – and the flowers. I enjoy blogging for keeping me connected, meeting new friends in different parts of the world and keeping my brain active. Thanks for always visiting “onesmallstitch” Jean
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Jean, you are welcome to join in at any time and for as often as you like. It’s fun seeing what others are growing in their garden. Food for thought.
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Sweet kitty vase with the crocheted flowers! I love the idea of sharing vases of flowers. It reminds me of a post I was thinking of making in earlier Fall and now I might go ahead and share it.
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