I loved being on vacation and visiting with family and dear friends, but it is nice to be back in my garden and in our somewhat normal routine (not to mention being back in my own bed).

As a walked through the garden searching for items to include in this week’s Vase meme, a few unusual things caught my eye. The hibiscus, which began blooming in early June, is still awash in buds, and five opened at once this week. Muscari and ipheion greenery is already poking up; these two bulbs multiply prodigiously in my garden. The Encore azaleas are beginning to make a major statement, and I am encouraged to make them the center of this week’s offering.

Finding the right spot for photography has been a challenge. I look for a white background, so this low wainscoating is the only choice, and I open the front door to let in natural light. The vase, obtained when we lived in Japan, is one we have used in a previous offering.

Encore azaleas ‘Autumn Moonlight’ and ‘Autumn Carnival’ are the center of the arrangement.

White hosta and lanvender liriope add a softening touch. My wife always recommends a bit of foliage so I clipped and added a stem from a hydrangea.

We finished the arrangement with a few sprigs of ‘Anthony Waterer’ spirea and Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue.

The fragrance of these dwarf gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides) caught my attention, and I recognized that they would fit perfectly into a small cobalt blue vase. They make a more appealing presentation by themselves. Once again, I give credit and appreciation to my wife who is the chief arranger in our Monday offerings.

Let me recommend that you click on In a Vase on Monday to visit the delightful postings of Cathy, the originator of this meme. I do hope she will not be disappointed by this offering.