Holiday Decorations From The Garden

Top 2. Dec 16, 1999 3:51 PM

» Marge_Talt - decorating

Hiya Karyn,

I don't think Martha is in any danger from me! But appreciate your kind words no end.

Will send strong "monitor for Karyn" thoughts towards the North Pole...Santa are you listening? What a bummer! If the images looked half decent on your borrowed monitor I am pleased!

Took me long enough to light on that chicken wire idea, but it sure is a time-saver!

Very best wishes for you and yours for the holidays and the coming new year!

-- posted by Marge_Talt

Top 3. Dec 17, 1999 2:45 AM

» dayan - clashing taste

Hi Marge:

I bet if you were doing this full time, Martha wouldn't have a chance.

Perhaps you have some words of wisdom on decorating for kids? My son is 6 and his taste runs to garish. We do all the outside trees in white and the Christmas tree in blue micro-lights--I forget the trade name for these but they have an 1/8 inch bulb and it takes about 100 of them to do 1 foot of tree. Anyway, the compromise is that we do his room in the multi-coloured mini-lights and tons of tinsel etc. He still feels the need to point out more "attractive" displays as we drive around.

Funny baby story: my daughter is two this year and has a clear grasp of Santa's plan for the night. She bounced out of bed on the weekend and came to tell me that, under no circumstances, was Santa to take her away to the North Pole during his visit to our humble abode. I need to brush up on my storytelling.

I have been meaning to tell you that my retaining walls look beautiful in the winter. It hasn't gone much below zero here (32F?) but most of the stuff in the beds has gone over. The same plants, (sedums, heather, lambs ears, thyme, violas, lavender, forget-me-nots, snow-in-summer) stuck in the walls are still green and happy. I don't know if they are especially protected from the wind or if the stones actually warm up their immediate environment.

Merry Christmas to you and yours

Karyn

-- posted by dayan

Top 4. Dec 17, 1999 3:24 PM

» Marge_Talt - decorating with kids n' stuff

Hi Karyn,

:-) I dunno - don't think I could handle "being Martha"...not my style at all. That lady is much too driven. Real 'A' type personality from what I gather.

I think you've hit on the best compromise with your son...let him decorate his room to suit him. Kids are into bright, primary colors - sophistication comes *much* later. You can use the opportunity to reinforce the concept of different stroke for different folks;-)

LOL - your 2 year old has been doing some thinking - good for her! Just tell her Santa doesn't take, he only gives.

I think the plants in your wall are benefiting from both shelter and the extra warmth stored in the stones. Stone is a good heat sink - when you do a solar heated structure, the key is lots of masonry to soak up the heat during the day and release it during the cooler night period. If winter is mild, many of them may stay evergreen for you, but most will probably retreat to rosettes when the going gets tough.

-- posted by Marge_Talt

Top 5. Dec 19, 1999 6:04 AM

» MaggieM - What a great article

Time and a new job have pushed me past the limit in being able to make some new decorations this year, but your tips have inspired me. I just may have time to string/wire some of my large collection of pine cones after the fact for using next year. Storing them in individual bags is a great idea to prevent the tangling (now I will have to get my husband to put more hooks in the basement rafters for even more bags)!

Do you have any tips for "refreshing" big bows? Mine go into grocery bags that I hang to store so they won't get crushed, but they are always a bit worse for wear when they come out again.

You have also given me a great idea - for next year! I have saved the metal hoops from a bunch of old half wiskey barrels that finally disintegrated, and I have a brand new expanse of solid wood fence just outside my back door - next year at least one of those hoops will become a gigantic wreath to hang on that fence. I'll just add chicken wire all around it to help anchor the greenery (I think a cedar rope will be a good base), then go wild - I'll even put some bird seed balls on it for the little winter birds to eat.

Have a wonderful holiday season, Marge, and in the New Year please continue to inspire us all!

-- posted by MaggieM

Top 6. Dec 20, 1999 2:00 AM

» Marge_Talt - wreaths and bows

Hi Maggie, Welcome to Gardening in Shade!

Thanks for the kind words! I'm delighted you enjoyed this article and that I've inspired you for next year.

Hooks on the basement rafters would be a great way to store pine cone bags. I dump them on the floor of an unused room..well, mostly unused. When someone comes to stay, I have to move all of them:-)

I don't have any tried and true methods for refreshing bows. Mine don't really bear very close inspection after all these years, but our house tends to be dark (mostly wood paneling) and they're up high so nobody notices the wrinkles (I hope...at least family haven't said anything and if they noticed, they would:-) )

Depending on the material, it might be possible to either steam them or lightly iron the streamer parts and maybe even the bow parts, if the loops are large. "Finger pressing" helps a bit - again, depending on what the ribbon material is. You could also try stuffing the loops with tissue paper before you store them so they can't compress as much - good way to use all the tissue from Christmas packages.

I think your whiskey barrel hoop idea is great! In fact, I will borrow it as one of mine disintegrated this year and I couldn't bear to throw out those nice hoops...said to myself "they will come in handy one day"...now, I know just what to do with them. The chicken wire should work a treat and I agree that cedar roping would be a super base. Even better is the addition of bird seed balls - your feathered friends will love you. You've inspired me!

Best wishes for you and yours for happy holidays and a super new year!

-- posted by Marge_Talt