Pete,
The tall apple vase is a great shape but I've got to pick on the foot like George.
I think the connection method lets it down. An undercut tenon so it sits over the joint would have hidden the connection better. It's a bit obvious it's another piece of timber.
Another thought, the finial, at first I thought it was reversable (could go in either way up) but then I saw it couldent, but it's an idea you could persue on another piece. And I do like the boldness of it, big, brash but looks right.
The laburnum vase, I like but I think the crack needs something more. Not Les' staples but more like leather thonging, so it looks like it's stiched up, you could then call it mixed media, and therefore Art!