I am a collector of cows and Blue Willow china, so it is only natural that I would have a couple of Delft cow creamers in my collection. One I bought and another was a gift from my niece. The feed bowl was a tiny vase done by my husband in college in a pottery class, therefore a historic artifact.
This idea came to mind when I realized the long stemmed flowers I was going to use hadn’t bloomed. Faced with short stemmed flowers I decided to give the creamers a try. The cows are eating ‘straw’ from the edges of palmetto fronds:
I am not sure the purpose of the tendrils on the edge of the palm fronds, but it makes great material for bird nests or maybe a little mulch for a potted plant. Here is a close up of the other flowers:
The big purple flower is from the Hong Kong Orchid tree (Bauhinia purpurea), these trees come in many colors and varieties and bloom in the winter. The red flowers are from Turks Cap which is a native and a relative of the Hibiscus (Malvaviscus arboreus), these bloom nearly year round. The yellow flowers are another native, Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis) the cheerful little Sunflower is becoming a favorite of mine. The sprigs of green are from the Artillery Fern (Pilea microphylla) – another one of those plants that just appears around here. Not really a fern, but more like a succulent with tiny leaves.
The Blue Willow china collection started with some pieces I inherited from my grandmother. I have added to the collection over the years and try to add pieces made in New England, Buffalo is my favorite, that is what my grandmother had (she was from Connecticut) I will probably continue collecting until the cows come home.
The Shrub Queen 
Those sunflowers seem like such happy meadow flowers where contented cows enjoy the day.
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Exactly, happy cows!
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This is absolutely delightful Amy – and I am so pleased that you are including bits of your collections and the tales behind them alongside your vase. It adds another dimension to the meme and is one of the reasons I love it so much.
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Thank you and I agree the stories are part of the fun.
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Clever! I like that Hong Kong Orchid.
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Thanks, I like the Orchids as well. I have been trying to photograph that tree for years.
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Your creamers are delightful Amy, your flowers are mostly new to me.
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Thanks, the flowers were new to me as well!
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Those creamers make the cutest vases ever! I’ll be interested to hear how long your Bauhinia last in a vase – my Bauhinia x blakeana last only a couple of days.
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They ran out of water and are looking a little weak.
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I love these little cow vases…very cute…and clever use of the palm tendrils!
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Thank you
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You collect cows? Well that is novel.Such pretty arrangements and as usual, lovely flowers. I am very jealous of your Bauhinia, such a lovely tree.
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Moo to you, Liz. I will post my greyhound, Charles who looks like a Holstein next. We have also had a cow cat, one of my all time favorite cats. The Bauhinia is just starting and I am expecting it to be outstanding this year as we have had a lot of rain.
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Your cows are adorable, and great for your bright flowers, Amelia. I had been eyeing my cow creamer for use as a vase too, it is only white, without the lovely blue decorations, great for those short-stemmed flowers. But I also I have inherited and collected blue and white pottery.
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Thank you, I hope you enjoy your china as much as I do!
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Those are really lovely zingy flowers (which remind me of summer) not that the hibiscus would grow outside in manchester in the Uk) the cows are great… And you made me laugh about your chap’s efforts at pottery. Have a lovely week. Love bec xx ps I’ve got daffodils in my vase which shout Spring 🙂
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Thanks, Bec, I do love the zingy flowers. What could be better than Daffodils and spring??
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Love your amusing stories and both your arrangements this week.
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Thanks, Noelle. Spring soon.
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I love your blue and white vases this week – and the contents too of course! The pink orchid is lovely and quite exotic to me.
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Thank you, the orchid is from a tree!
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Love your blue and white cow creamers. What a great idea to fill them with posies.
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Thanks, Julie, they are great for short stemmed flowers.
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