In a vase on Monday: simple, sweet and succulent

The stand-out plant in our garden this week has got to be good old Crassula ovata. Our specimen is seriously old: it has a trunk like a tree and stands at least six feet tall. I didn't originally set out to create an arrangement featuring only one type of flower, but once I had slotted these blooms into place, I thought that adding anything further would detract from their sweet simplicity.

The vase has been passed down through my family - I believe it belonged to my Nana. To be honest, I'd always been kind of miffed as to what sort of arrangement would work in it, but I think this does the trick.

 I think the individual flowers are really quite amazing when viewed close-up. Perfect little stars.

The vase/arrangement also works in well with our retro-themed kitchen.

Our Crassula ovata is a beast of a thing. I wish I got a picture of the trunk - it's thicker than a man's thigh!


Looking all starry in the last of the afternoon sun

Cathy over at Rambling in the Garden is the creator and weekly host of the In a Vase on Monday meme. To see what other gardeners have filled their vases with this week, check out her blog here. Perhaps you have a vase of your own garden blooms to add?

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 13, 2022 at 5:25 AM

    That is some Jade Plant, I wish I could see the trunk, too! Pretty flowers, theshrubqueen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJune 14, 2022 at 3:31 AM

      Thanks, I’ll have to do an update with the trunk! - HC

      Delete
  2. CathyJune 13, 2022 at 10:09 AM

    What an astonishing plant - when you said crassula I envisaged a low growing rockery type of succulent, so was not prepared for this! And it looks absolutely brilliant in that vase - thanks for sharing it with us on IAVOM

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJune 14, 2022 at 3:32 AM

      Thanks Cathy, I think this one is about 60 years old! HC

      Delete
  3. Susie @ pbmGardenJune 13, 2022 at 10:46 AM

    I agree these flowers need no other adornment. They look terrific in the heirloom vase.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJune 14, 2022 at 3:33 AM

      Thanks Susie, it was kind of a fluke - I have found that vase a bit perplexing previously!

      Delete
  4. Kris PetersonJune 13, 2022 at 11:10 AM

    As jade plants go, that one is spectacular and you couldn't have designed a better vase to contain the stems than that one. In my experience, it's unusual for succulent flowers to hold their own in an arrangement but these are definitely an exception.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJune 14, 2022 at 3:36 AM

      Thanks Kris, yes I’ve found that too. Except for Aloe sp. perhaps? I hope to have some of those flowers to add one day too, however my plants are still babies.

      Delete
  5. DonnaJune 14, 2022 at 10:16 AM

    Oh wow that is amazing. I used to grow Crassula ovata as a house plant. I had never seen one in a garden until I visited buy uncle about 20 years ago and he had a huge one growing in his front garden. I don't think I have ever seen it in bloom. How stunning. And your special vase is perfect these special flowers. Gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJune 14, 2022 at 5:10 PM

    Thanks Donna, I’d never thought of growing it as a house plant before, but in a snowy climate, it makes total sense!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJune 15, 2022 at 12:03 AM

    I was amazed by the size of the plant! It looks lovely in your vase - a perfect match.

    ReplyDelete
  8. HorticatJune 16, 2022 at 1:52 AM

    Thank you, yes, it's a triffid!

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnnaJune 17, 2022 at 1:52 AM

    Those dainty intricate flowers look just prefect in that vase. I'm amazed by the size of your plant 😂 I have a teeny tiny specimen inherited from my mother some five years ago and not a single flower as yet. I doubt if they would survive outside in north west England.

    ReplyDelete
  10. HorticatJune 17, 2022 at 4:23 AM

    Yes, growing most succulents (apart from maybe some Sedum sp. and Sepervivium sp.) in England is taking gardening to a whole new level! In my experience, Crassula ovata likes plenty of sun to bloom.

    ReplyDelete

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