OMG! My oakleaf hydrangea has gone C-R-A-Z-Y. I’ll be the first to tell you that I love a spiller/thriller of a plant–be it a potted wonder filled to the brim or a shrub. Bring it on is my motto.But this is ridiculous. My “Alice” oakleaf is on steroids. I. Kid.You. Not. She spilled her pendulous blooms across the sidwalk making it nearly impossible to get the mower out of the garage. And her dinner plate-sized leaves are a wonder to observe. Seriously! Is this plant prehistoric? Not to mention the blooms which were easily a foot long, and I am not exaggerating one tiny bit.

Alice needed a haircut, no two ways about it. So in the heat and humidity of a July summer day, I grabbed the shears and commenced to trimming. Several minutes later Alice was tamed and, voila!, I created 8 weeks worth of material for “In a Vase on Monday.”

For some truly inspiring cut flower vase arrangements visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden and John at A Walk in the Garden. Their weekly vases are worth a peek.