In a vase on Monday – purple and yellow tulips with Berberis

‘If age teaches you anything, then one of its lessons is certainly not to hurry if you’re already late’ – Sergei Lukanenko (a science fiction writer)

This week’s ‘In a vase on Monday’ is some berberis (cut carefully because of its vicious spikes) with yellow and purple tulips.  The tulips have been growing in a border on right-hand side of my garden (the sunny side). I planted lots of white, cream, purple and pink tulips last Autumn (from Wilko and Sainsbury’s) – as usual I’ve got no idea what they’re called.   The yellow ones were a lovely surprise last week. My Chap planted them when I wasn’t looking – as he loves yellow and tries to sneak more yellow flowers into the garden.

First Vase – with a twist

This is the first vase my Chap bought me when we got together; it arrived with flowers too :-).  I like it because of the twist in the glass – and it often has flowers in it on our dining room table.   He works in the wholesale florist industry, selling just about everything except fresh flowers, so I have quite a lot of vases. It was lovely to do a full size arrangement this week – most of mine have been mini ones so far.

A close up of the purple and yellow tulips with Berberis – 21st April 2015

Berberis

I didn’t know much about berberis apart from its sharp spikes and it is evergreen. Ours has red berries in the Autumn and the bees love it.  I’ve seen it growing right across the UK so it’s pretty hardy. People often plant it as hedges or under windows to deter burglars.  But, after a bit of research, I discovered there are hundreds of varieties, it grows wild across Europe including the Middle East but also in Himalayas.   The berries are high in vitamin C but very tart; the dried berries are used in an Iranian rice pilaf called ‘Zereshk Polo’. The berries are also used in hedgerow jams as it’s high in pectin.  I’ll have to look out for the dried berries in the specialist delis in Manchester and have a go at cooking with it. I’ll ;let you know how I get on.

Things have been very hectic for me recently, especially at work, so I’m a day late with my ‘In a vase on Monday’; I hope you don’t mind.  I felt so much more relaxed walking around my garden this morning deciding what to pick for my vase; I decided not to rush, just as Sergei said.  These tulips are really cheering me up so think I might use the picture as a screen saver at work.

Do have a look around Cathy’s blog – Rambling in the Garden for more lovely vases and flowers from people across the world – https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/ 
She has lovely tulips this week too.

*****

Have you got tulips flowering near you?

Carpe Diem

love Bec xx