In a Vase on Monday. A Haiku about a Kiku.

When the wintertime chrysanthemums go

there is nothing to write about

but radish ’ . Matsuo Basho .

Chrysanthemum‘Chelsea Physic Garden’

When the Pianist and I are on a longsighted car journeying we keep ourselves entertained by making up limericks about the places we lead by . But we ’ll draw a adequate veil over those . If we are feeling a bit more intellectual we make up haiku . The haiku is a traditional word form of Japanese poesy . It has three lines , the first and the last line have five syllables and the middle blood has seven . There are usually two persona and the conclude dividing line often juxtaposes them . The poem above is a translation of a haiku by the Nipponese poet Matsuo Basho . Obviously in version , the lines are the wrong length and it does n’t really come off as a haiku , but I ca n’t read Japanese and you believably ca n’t either , so we have to make do with the translation .

I do seek to have efflorescence in the garden for every calendar month of the class but after several keen frosts , early December can be quite thought-provoking . But we do n’t have to speak about radishes yet , I still have a chrysanthemum look good in the garden although the rest of them have crack up . It is the peerlessChrysanthemum‘Chelsea Physic Garden ’ . When it first comes out is a bronzey- rusting colour but now it has melt a bit and the yellowness is more big . It is still endearing though .

Chrysanthemum‘Chelsea Physic Garden ’

Chrysanthemum‘Chelsea Physic Garden’

As we have a Nipponese root today I am using a Mason ’s Ironstone jug in the Imari pattern .

And I am using some Nipponese netsukes as props . Netsukes are elaborately carved toggles which were made for the traditional Japanese dress . They have fix underneath them which was for a cord to go through . These are credibly shammer , signed ex ones cost a fortune .

With the chrysanthemum I have used some yellow spray ofMahonia x media‘Winter Sun ’ which has a delicate aroma .

Mahonia x media‘Winter Sun ’

I used Winter Jasmine , Jasminum nudiflorum with starry lily-livered flowers which blooms for week in wintertime on unornamented branches . If it was n’t so ubiquitous we would all go mad for it .

I used some bud of Skimmia x confusa‘Kew Green ’ . The seedheads areBupleurumfruticosum .

And then there are some fluffy miscanthus seedheads too . The green leaves are from a bamboo which seemed suitable for a Japanese theme . I have used cornel twigs in flushed , yellow and orange and the bright foliage is yellowChoisya x ternata‘Sundance ’ andTrachelospermum jasminioideswhich always go red in wintertime ’ .

Trachelospermum jasminiodesleaves .

The orange berries are the wildIris foetidissimawhich pasture up all over my garden . It is very useful for winter arrangements . The chrysanthemum or ‘ Kiku ’ in Japanese is the symbol of length of service and greening which is a solace thought as the year is coming to an end and we have decay all polish us in the garden .

Mahonia x media‘Winter Sun’

To see other December vases pop over to the ever resourceful Cathy atRambling in the Garden . A few rimy nights do n’t dissuade her and her enthusiastic follower .

31 Responses toIn a Vase on Monday. A Haiku about a Kiku.

The haiku is fun , even if it does n’t fill all stylistic requirements . I ’m impressed by the range of flower in your garden after several rime . I love the chrysanthemum . Frost is well-nigh a foreign construct to me , having not bump one in at least 2 decades .

You ’re fortunate to have thing flower year - round ; we ca n’t do that here . Thanks for sharing , and your system is gorgeous !

In a Vase on Monday. A Haiku about a Kiku.