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Foliage Fun In Winter

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Repurposed foliage can last a considerable amount of time in a cool home or office.

Foliage bouquets on a winter day can be a lifesaver. The traditional bouquet is generally filled with blooming plants that are terrific eye candy. After the blooms have faded, the leftover foliage is no longer appreciated. This is true even in the garden.

Most gardeners tend to plan and plant for color on those hot summer days. The evergreens quietly take a back seat to the colorful parade that beats its drum loudly. When autumn arrives, the garden is put to bed and it is only then, the evergreen foliage stands out. Humbly saying “look at me now”. Snowfall then graces the foliage of these evergreens making them sculptural magnificent.

FORAGING FOR FOLIAGE

One of my favorite things to do in winter, is strolling through my neighborhood during or after snowfall. The mature evergreens that are part of the natural landscape, tend to pop out of nowhere. Taking the time to wander and observe nature in winter, allows one to see what can be foraged.  Foraging outdoors for vines, branches with berries, or branches with winter fruits are all quite interesting. Each of these options might be found in your own backyard. All can be found in the woods or at the edge of a stream. The diverse foliage found in nature are the perfect seasonal accent. Pruned to the perfect size, they are useful in arrangements inside and outside the home.

Using leftover foliage from the garden, I created a unique container arrangement to great me everyday.

PRUNING FOR ARRANGEMENTS

The delight of a container filled with assorted branches in the midst of winter is amazing. Here are a few tips for knowing what to prune:

  • Prune any crossing branches. This will prevent the winter winds from creating a wound that could allow pests and disease to affect the plant. Clean your pruners after every cut.
  • Make sure the cuts are not visible to passersby. This could leave an unsightly gap in an otherwise perfect specimen. If you can prune in different places every year.
  • Cut off enough to use as you lightly prune or shape your plant material. Make certain that you are using the appropriate type of pruners, shears or lopers. The wrong tools can either mess up the tool or severely damage the plant.
  • Make all of your cuts a clean-cut. Stems should not be mashed or shredded. Sharpen and disinfect your pruners as you move from shrub to shrub.
  • Do not leave your shrubs with bare knees. Most evergreen shrubs should be wider at the bottom than at the top. Shrubs are not square in nature – just a friendly reminder. Know your plant material.
  • Select branches that are supple, have interesting foliage and most importantly have no disease.

CREATING ARRANGEMENTS

Here are a few tips to remember when arranging:

Select your container with its placement in mind. No tall, oversized containers for the dinner table. There is nothing worse than trying to have a conversation through a bodacious bouquet.

Try low and broad containers. I try to use something that can be recycled or reused. If you cannot see the container, that simply allows you (the arranger) to play more.

Bigger leaves in the back or at the bottom lays your foundation. . Building out and up is key. Make sure that your arrangement is not top-heavy. If you have to move it, you do not want your work to topple over.

No blooms or berries  NO PROBLEM! There is enough foliage in the winter to create unique arrangements  by using the branches and boughs.

Get outside, forest bathe, gather some cuttings from the winter garden and create!

Dreaming of forest bathing, pruning and snow!

Teri, Cottage In The Court

Snipping foliage here and there, the scent lingering on my hands , winter arranging is a sensual delight!

PS – My newsletter is coming soon. If you would like to receive updates, information and glimpses of what’s going on in my word, subscribe.

I embrace and share the beauty that surrounds me.

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Sharing Boxing Day Traditions at Christmas

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Sharing on Christmas Day is usually a given. After carefully shopping for friends and family, sharing a meal and hunkering down is usually a common practice. This year I decided to do something a little different and uniquely share with my community.

After making arrangements for my office using greenery from the garden gifted to me, the wheels in my head started turning. My garden club, Capitol Hill Garden Club, had a few bags left over from our Greens Party as well. I took advantage of this gift from the garden. When it comes to getting the public excited about gardening, I try to be creative. I quietly planned to share some Holiday joy with those who might miss out.

Christmas Eve I started my mission by washing and wrapping over 30 miniature vases that I no longer wanted. Tying each with a bow, I boxed them up. I was then ready for the next part of my exercise in sharing. In my opinion, the best gifts are not purchased. They are created, by hand and finished off with love. A supurb gift is one that comes from nature. I chose two nice sized containers that sat gathering dust. Next I found two chunks of oasis in my studio and began my elfish adventure.

BOXING DAY FUN FACT 

A little sharing about the history of boxing day which was celebrated on the day after Christmas in the UK.  This tradition started around 1833. It was a day where people gave back or shared their Christmas excess. Holiday food, goods and gifts were shared with those less fortunate. In some instances money was collected by the local Churches and given to the needy. Usually the well-to-do citizens gathered trinkets, money and left over food, boxed it up and gave it to their servants, their poor relatives, as well as to the slaves.

CHRISTMAS ON THE PLANTATION 

Usually on many plantations, the only time the slaves had off was at Christmas – MAYBE. If the plantation owner was considered nice he allowed a slave to pick a yule log. As long as the yule log burned, the slaves had those days off. I can only imagine that there was a lot of praying going on for the log to burn as long as possible. On some plantations, owners allowed a feast to be prepared specifically for the slaves. Sharing the finer meats, vegetables, wine and downtime, this celebration could last for a day or a few days. Each plantation was different. Why Christmas MAYBE?  If you were not in the good favor of the plantation owner, there was no Christmas or downtime.

Christmas was also a time for romance on the plantation. Quite a few marriges took place between plantations. It was a time when slaves were allowed to go from plantation to plantation to visit. When courting a potential spouse, a yearly visit was quite special to many.

Some slaves began a celebraton known as Jonkonnu. Creating makeshift costumes with uniquey designed masks, the celebration went from home to home. Dancing to music made with makeshift items, they were gifted with whatever was on hand to share. The women made quilts and repaired clothing during this downtime on the plantation. Songs of hope (including cryptic messages) were commonly called Spirituals. It has been documented that many slave revolts happened at Christmas.

A NON TRADITIONAL DAY OF SHARING

I wanted to give back in a uique way to my community. There will always be someone who might not have a gift to give. Usually there is someone who might feel forgotten during the holiday season. I chose to make a little bit of difference in my own way. I chose the Forestville Health & Rehabilitation Center as the place to be the recipient of some horticultural holiday cheer. The decision to deliver my festive creations on Christmas Day and not Boxing Day, was intentional.

What better place to share a festive arrangement or two of live evergreens. I also presented the box of wrapped miniature vases for those who might not have a gift to bring to a loved one. The staff could also brighten someone’s day with a small bouqet or simple stem as needed. The Greeter’s name was Arlene. We had a warm and informative conversation about the facility.

One thing rattled me, as we chatted. When I gave her the box of wrapped vases, she told me I had to distribute them to whoever I wanted to have them. Crushed, I sadly stated “I dont know anyone here”. I sat up all night choosing vases, wrapping them individually, tying the perfect bow with the intention of making a difference. Arlene could sense my sadness and said she woud give them to the Director of Activities. As I began to breathe again, I thought to myself, I will keep giving back so I will not have to say those words again.

As gardeners, we usually have an abundance of something. A few blooms or an armload of bodaciousness, how often do we think to share? Not just at Christmas time, but throughout the year the garden can be shared. You never know the impact of the unexpected “share”.

Creating the arrangements on Christmas eve, singing and reminiscing about my blessings was not intentional. I was excited about the thought of sharing unexpected joy. My mission going forward is to to get to know more about my community, engage others in the art of gardening and share.

Thank You Arlene for making this Christmas extra Special for me!!!

Are you familar with the underserved in your community? Will you consider sharing your garden gifts in the next season? You could make a new friend who will light up and smile after being gifted with unexpected horticultural bliss from the garden.

I did use a box to carry the arrangements. However what I shared could not be contained in a box.

Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day!!!

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Leave No Leaf Behind

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The lone leaf is one of the most frequently discarded items when arranging bouquets from the garden.  When you have a bucket filled with textural interest from greenery and stems with berries, one less leaf is insignificant, right? That one leaf might be what is needed to complete the desired look for your arrangement.

Fresh cut stems of berries and assorted greenery just waiting to become a holiday creation for the home or office.

Here is one little tip on how to use the lone leaf with what you have on hand. While working on holiday arrangements in my office, the normal arranging items were not available. Improvising was key to a successful arrangement.  I needed some sort of anchor to add fullness and fill in the gaps.

The leaf should have a bit of stem to adhere to whatever you choose to use.

A coffee stirrer that was clear and plastic was ideal. It would not get soft or rot in the water.

Look around to find the perfect item to be utilized as an alternative extension. Be creative. Being immersed in water for a week or more is important.

Using a smidgen of tape, I secured the leaf to the stirrer. The tape should not touch the water. Do not use any item that will absorb water. The use of rubber bands or thin paperclips is also useful as stem extenders.

One, two or three leaves can be gathered to create a cluster.

I also created a cluster of leaves to vary the visual impact in the vase. When inserted in arrangements you do not see the stirrer. This adds additional flair to the arrangement. It is also a great way to fill in sparse areas. Using your imagination, one can also create unusual combinations that add visual interest to arrangements.

In a small arrangement, the leftover leaf can add big impact.

The next time you want to create an arrangement, leave no leaf behind unless absolutely necessary.

 

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Hope Reflected In The Garden

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The Oakleaf Hydrangea offers the gardener hope whether we get bloom or simple autumnal leaf color.

Hope. These days it is always on my mind. The anticipation of positive outcomes has kept me silent for most of the year, as I hoped for the best. Hope for things like making sure my parents house sold. Making sure I found help in resurrecting my garden – Thank you Freddy. Finding and keeping a good home improvement resource – Thank you Candy. Hoping that my garden travels were affordable, educational and fun – Thank you GWA. Keeping an eye on my unreachable garden as the seasons changed and beauty was captured briefly as I rushed off to work, traveled and connected with the public to grow my business.

Pink Camellia’s embrace the corners of the Cottage…

In the midst of this…I kept hope on my mind. Things will calm down, come together and a certain level of peace will return. The beauty of this word sometimes catches me off guard. I woke up this morning, threw back my curtains and could not believe my eyes.

The Exbury Azalea is one of the Spring blooms I look forward to. However it is November…

The Exbury Azalea “Northern Lights” was the beacon of hope I needed today. This is a spring blooming species that blooms prior to the leaves showing up. It is November and the blooms are nestled amidst the leaves. When things like this happen I know that anything is possible. and this makes me smile.

I am embracing a mindful existence while gardening, as well as in the words I share. To slow down and be “present” in my joy of gardening is a gift. I reflect on my journey, lessons learned and the anticipation of future experiences. A little something I figured out – to have hope is to…

Have Optomistic Perspectives Eternally

Is there hope in your garden? Is there an unexpected pleasure in your garden? Are you present in your garden? Make time to embrace the beauty that surrounds you.

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Leaves Have A Seasonal Message

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Leaves have a hidden meaning. It requires us to pause and receive the messaging.

Leaves speak to us in a quiet manner. Coming in many different shapes and sizes, leaves are one of nature’s gifts to the garden. Observing leaves can enlighten us on ways to reflect upon our life’s journey.  In one of my horticultural communities, Plantrama.com, C.L. Fornari and Ellen Zachos are sharing the leaf stack challenge.  Gathering leaves of interest and stacking them in a way that speaks to us and then posting the photo of the leaf stack online. While adding fun during this transitional season, participating also makes us pause.

OBSERVE

While gathering leaves at the break of dawn, I realized that leaves mimic our life experiences.  I gathered my findings while a gentle rain fell, in the dark of the early morning. I am familiar with the terrain of my garden even with my eyes closed. A lesson in having faith in my footsteps, courtesy of my Dad’s Life lessons. I realized that leaves are very similar to the moments that create our lives.

REFLECT

While arranging my leaf stack, a few still glistened from the gentle rain, like a refreshing memory. Some of them had begun the metamorphosis into dormancy (Hosta, Hydrangea, Maple), like nesting during the winter. One leaf I turned over ( begonia) to show its beautiful red veins – turning over a new leaf can of times show our true beauty – in the midst of a struggle.

There are also a few leaves that look fresh. Not bothered by the unpleasantness or incidences incurred in life (Hellebore, Impomea or Sweet Potato Vine). The Sweet Potato vine had been lunch for a hungry groundhog just as it became a lush ground cover, spilling over the sides in my planter.  You would never know that its growth had been nipped at the stems at the beginning of summer. Now, as the season draws to a close, the lush foliage is on the rebound. How many times have we been at the top of our games and we suffer a set-back?

The Hellebore leaf is a gentle symbol of hope.  With its solid green jagged edged leaf, the Hellebore will share unanticipated beauty mid winter. The Hellebore will bloom mid winter. In the midst of a bleak, usually less colorful time of the year, fresh, vibrant blooms will evolve. Shades of burgundy, black, pink,  and ivory elegant blossoms show up in spite of the weather. These leaves reflect moments in our lives where we need to have hope. Hope that the bright spot will arrive at just the proper time during difficult moments.

GATHER

Look, reflect and consider gathering a bit of nature. Take a walk, forest bathe, or go into your garden to gather a few leaves that speak to you. Stack them or put them in a vase and reflect upon them. Have a mindful moment reflecting upon your journey and joyfully anticipate what lies ahead.

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