I usually get a live Noble fir tree, but this year I got an additional tiny, flocked tree. I save any trimmings from holiday trees to make swags and to decorate in the garden. This year I also topped the birds cage with a garland made from clippings and I stowed branches in a cement urn with decorative balls.
To make a holiday swag, gather your trimmed branches into a fan. Then, take smaller trimmings to lie on top of the fan and cover the ends of the branches. Think of this part as a mini-fan shape to cover the ugly branch ends. Bind securely with floral wire and add a bow.
The above swag shows how adding a simple ornament can change the look. I placed a ceramic bunny made by Julie Whitmore. Appropriately, it now adorns my bunny's cage. Save all your trimmings to make swags for the garden or for your friends.
I still have some blossoms in my garden, no hard frost yet. These pansies seem to like hanging on a shepherd's hook from a macrame hanger I bought on Etsy!
I am excited about the new raised bed my husband built me. I have red lettuce, calendula, nemesia, sweet peas, daisies and foxgloves. I have already made a salad from the lettuce.
In the raised bed, the lettuce stays clean and pest free.
If you cut back each loose head, make sure and leave a fan of the leaves. I leave about an inch and then the lettuce regrows. This method is referred to as "Cut and Come again."
I also have peas almost ready to harvest in another older raised bed. More reasons I love raised beds: less snails or slugs, I don't have to crouch to weed and I can control the soil.
I went Salt Lake City, Utah recently. I thought I'd share my photo of the temple to wish you a joyful holiday and happiness in your garden and in your life!
