In a vase on Monday: Fritillarias

21bb potted Fritillaria meleagris, Feb. 2016, StuttgartPotted Fritillaria meleagris in our living room this week.

Fritallarias in pots, late Feb. 2016, Stuttgart, enclos*ure

The plants are 13″ to 15″ tall.

29 potted Fritillaria meleagris, Feb. 2016, Stuttgart

I love the checkered pattern on the blooms.

31 potted Fritillaria meleagris, Feb. 2016, Stuttgart, enclos*ure
Right now, almost all the supermarkets and florists here are selling small plastic pots of three or four blooming or almost-blooming spring bulbs (about €3.30 each — cheaper than a lot of cut flowers).

Potted Fritillaria meleagris, Feb. 2016, Stuttgart, enclos*ure

I replanted these into two purple ceramic pots that I had from a previous plant purchase. Then, to catch the excess water, I also put them down in blue pottery teacups from Rwanda’s Gatagara Cooperative.

25 potted Fritillaria meleagris, Feb. 2016, Stuttgart

I covered the soil with seashell chips.

32 potted Fritillaria meleagris, Feb. 2016, Stuttgart, enclos*ure

The yellow-blue sake pitcher and cups in the photos above were made by American ceramics artist Hayne Bayless.  They were purchased years ago at the Smithsonian Craft Show — which will be held this year from April 21 to 24 at the National Building Museum* in Washington, D.C.  If you plan to be in the D.C. area that week, you can buy advance (discounted) tickets here.

To see what other gardeners have put in a vase today, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

*The Oehme/van Sweden exhibit will still be there.