Like Cathy at Rambling in the Garden I am rather keen on haikus. Here is one by the master of the art, Matsuo Basho.
‘When the winter chrysanthemums go,
there is nothing to write about
but radishes’.
Fortunately, I don’t have to resort to writing about radishes yet because the wonderful Chrysanthemum ‘Chelsea Physic Garden is still looking fabulous.
Chrysanthemum ‘Chelsea Physic Garden’
I know I talk about this chrysanthemum a lot, but I have quite a few mums and none of them perform like this one and go on for quite so long, despite several hard frosts. I have picked a bunch today and there are still plenty left for the Christmas table.
The only other thing in the garden at the moment with any impact is Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ which is just about to burst forth. I have several of these dotted about the garden so I shan’t need to resort to radishes this month for my vases.
Mahonia x media ‘Charity’
I decorated this little basket with leaves years ago and amazingly it still looks just about alright, although next year I must remember to refresh it.
The greenery is Eucalyptus, I’m not sure which variety it is, as it is not actually in my garden. So I am cheating a bit. Well quite a lot actually, as I nicked it. But it is a huge tree which someone has planted in the little wood near here which I like to walk through. I find it very handy for winter arrangements.
I used seed heads of clematis and asters to look like little snowballs to give it a seasonal look. OK, I admit the aster seed heads look like dirty snowballs.
But look at the rich colours of this peerless chrysanthemum.
The dedicated followers of Cathy’s meme, ‘In a Vase on Monday’ are sure to have been creative in coming up with something for their vases even at this bleak time of the year. I am sure nobody has had to resort to radishes. Do go and see.
Chloris
The Blooming Garden 
No radishes here! Your ‘Mum’ is lovely; mine look much worse than this after the heavy frost last week. But today is the sort of day you would love Liz, warm and sunny with an amazing blue sky.
We have had some keen frosts here too. It has been sunny too but very cold. How nice to get a bit of warmth.
Today was the warmest day for ages; warm enough to have coffee outside! But we’ll pay for it tonight, clear skies mean it will be cold.
I don’t ever remember giggling at a haiku before! Well done for amassing anything for a vase. That Chrysanthemum has such a warm, gentle colour – it’s lovely.
It made me laugh, the idea of radishes in winter is so unexpected and bizarre.
I love your idea of leaves around the basket.
Thank you, it makes a useful container for autumn and winter arrangements.
Your mahonia is gorgeous – we’re a bit too cold for them to grow well here. I love your leaf-basket, what a great idea! I must remember that next year. What leaves did you use?
Thank you Eliza. I used Sweet Chestnut, Castanea sativa leaves but you could use any autumn leaves.
Yes, I giggled at the haiku too – but then thought that I could show the basket of very tiny oca tubers as my weekly offering and which would make an ideal substitute for radishes. Your chrysanthemum was the perfect occupant for your original leaf basket, accompanied as it was by fluff and dirty snowballs. I shall definitely be adding hardy chrysanths to my garden next year and promise to be very polite when you have your mahonia IAVOM!
Oca tubers? Now that is original. But props for Oca would stump even you. Or perhaps not. I recommend C. ‘Chelsea Physic Garden’, nothing lasts as long in my garden.
I am not going to take that as a challenge, Chloris! 😉 ps will be noting names down for future purchases…
I love your little basket covered in leaves. That chrysanthemum is indeed a gorgeous colour. I might look out for it, though I am supposed to be cutting back on new plants! I am envious of your mahonia. I bought a large plant this year to fill a gap in a hedge and had hopes that it would flower this winter, but it is showing no signs though it has put on lots of growth so it must be reasonably happy.
You are cutting back on new plants? Is that in the interest of economy or are you going for a minimalist look? Perhaps your mahonia needs a bit more time, mine are very old and are always covered in flowers.
I am just trying to make the garden easier to manage as I have had a lot of problems with my hip recently and my back before that. I think it is time to make things easier.
Lovely pictures. I like those chrysanthemums. xx
Thank you, this chrysanthemum is gorgeous.
Such a gorgeous colour, Liz, I love this vase! What a great idea to wrap it in leaves. Your Mahonia is awesome, I hope mine will be some day too.
Thank you Annette. I have 4 huge Mahonia’ Charity’ I think the previous owner must have been keen on them. I have planted a couple of Mahonia japonica which blooms later but has a much stronger Lily of the Valley perfume.
I’ve got M. japonica too which has beautiful winter colour. Charity has such an impressive stature though.
Snowballs and glowing chrysanthemum embers, a perfect combination for this time of year!
Thank you Peter, what a lively description.
The light in your final photo is lovely and shows off the crysanths beautifully.
I’ m glad it shows the colour off well, I took it inside because it was too cold to linger outside taking photographs today.
I love those colourful chrysanthemums. Are they called Peerless, did you say? And I love the leaf-wrapped vase. Such a pretty arrangement with the clematis seed heads as well. Thanks for sharing
Thank you Karen. They are called ‘ Chelsea Physic Garden’. I only meant peerless as in incomparable or without match because they are so lovely and long lasting.
Oh yes, of course. I was trying to cook the dinner and fuss the cat at the same time as reading and commenting 🙂
Beautiful. It’s such a pleasing, tactile combination and I love the woven leaves around the basket.
Thank you Allison. And I love all the textures of your arrangement today.
That is a beautiful mum and you’re justified in crowing about it. I leaf-lined basket is also wonderful and I’m impressed that it’s stood the test of time so well.
It is a beauty, without doubt my favourite Mum. I think I will try some different leaves on my basket next year.
I love that dirty snowballs and all! What types of leaves are on the container? It looks wonderful.
Are there any radishes in your garden?
Thank you Amy. They are Chestnut leaves, Castanea sativa.
No radishes, I can’ t imagine anyone having radishes in winter. I think he said it because it was the last thing you would expect.
Oh, beautiful leaves, there are very few chestnuts in the US. I grew radishes last winter here, they were not very good. Not edible is another way to put it.
Oddly enough, there are some huge radish farms not too far from my house.
Lovely little basket!
Thank you and we both chose chrysanthemums today.
That is a great idea for covering a container for an arrangement. I love the colour of your Chrysanthemum and adore the fluffy seed heads. I saw lots of fluffy thistle and Eupatorium seed heads coated in our thick white frost today and wished I could bring them indoors, but the effect would be lost… 😉
Thank you Cathy. We don’ t often get seed heads rimed in frost here. Beautiful when it happens.
Your basket of chrysanthemum and seed pods is very creative and festive for the holidays, You proved you can take the last of fall blooms in the garden and make something beautiful out of them!.
It is quite a challenge to find blooms for a vase at this time of the year but this chrysanthemum never lets me down.
Great color in that chrysanthemum. Nice that the dried basket has held up so beautifully. The use of the large leaf at the base is inspired–love the texture it provides to the arrangement.
Dried leaves seem just right for this time of the year. The basket was easy to decorate.
Your Mahonia is majestic and I’m envious in the extreme. Great use of clematis fluff in your arrangements; if radishes don’t suit the colour combinations, don’t forget the turnips – or is that just me…
I’m not sure about turnips. Mahonia ‘Charity’ is wonderful at this time of the year. They can get leggy, but they are easy to prune to make them more compact.
I love those little fluff heads of clematis seeds. They looks like furry little critters rambling about the mums.
They do look a little like furry caterpillars. Seed heads are great for this time of the year.
pure joy visiting your blog!Mahonia x media ‘Charity’-I have never seen this plant before or heard of it:-) It is stunning! I love mums, and I agree yours is a beauty. I had no idea you were so talented putting arrangements together. I would love that sitting on my table! 🙂
Thank you and how lovely to hear from you again Robbie. No talent in flower arranging I am afraid. I always just plonk. But I do like to have flowers on the dining room table all year.
Jolie composition florale !
Oh, much lovelier than radishes (what a gem of a haiku, too). There’s something rather marvellous about the scent of crysanths, no wonder they make such nice tea.
I never used to like chrysanthemums but now I wouldn’t be without out them. They are essential for late autumn when most flowers are looking so tired.
It’s funny how things grow on you, I’m beginning to regard heathers (though not the spray painted ones!) with new eyes these days.
As you were laughing over radishes I got a good chuckle from the dirty snowballs in your arrangement. Love the mahonia. Perhaps if the globe continues to warm I will be able to grow it here some day.
I was away earlier in the week, but thank my lucky stars I circled back to this post because the leaf-decorated basket and its seasonal offering is inspirational. Did the leaves go on when they were green, or were you able to apply them later? The contrast of textures is striking…I especially like the downy clematis seed heads against your mum. The directional lighting of the last photo, distinguishing the colors and forms, is perfect.
Such creativity!
I absolutely love that little leaf decorated basket, and am delighted that you haven’t had to resort to radishes! Having said that I don’t even have any of those!!! Love the colour of those mums.xxx
Nice to see the chrysanthemums and fall colors. We have been under ice for a while now, and down in the 20s at night. Made for some beautiful photos, but we have a lot of broken branches to clean up. The butterfly bushes did not fare well and will need cutting back.