Eliza Waters

Forced Japanese quince blossoms (Chaenomeles japonica) catch the late afternoon light. The low hedge I took them from is along the walkway outside the window. I keep the vicious thing trimmed short, otherwise it would overtake the walk and its sharp thorns draw blood from every passerby.

A windfall twig of black birch (Betula lenta) with catkins found on a walk is also included. I love the wintergreen scent of the broken stems, and sometimes chew a twig as a breath freshener. This tree’s cambium was widely used to make birch beer, resulting in its being over-harvested, from which it is only just recovering.

I know Cathy likes props, so here’s my sweet Annie resting nearby, also enjoying the sun’s warmth.

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for hosting the weekly meme In A Vase on Monday. Click the link to see what other gardeners are creating this week.