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Making Spirits Bright
Greetings!
Confession: I have serious, nauseating Martha tendencies.
But it's so not my fault. I was raised
one of nine kids on a farm and if you couldn't make it, bake it, sew it, grow
it, or build it yourself, it probably wasn't worth having.
So
this time of year, I go a bit nutters. As much as a normal human's schedule
allows, I love to bake gingerbread houses and decorate the house to the nines
and festoon everything in greenery cut fresh from the garden.
In
fact, I even plant evergreens specifically with holiday decorations in mind.
It's wonderful this time of year to go outside, tromp through the snow, and cut
holly, boxwood, yew, chartreuse arborvitae, and silvery spruce for a homemade
wreath, the mantle, a garland around the front door, and boughs to tuck onto
window sills.
For
me, it's absolutely the best way to get into the mood of the season and set the
stage for enjoying friends and family through the New Year.
Happy Holidays!
 Veronica Lorson Fowler |
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 Easy Door Decoration
A fast way to use greenery from the
garden is to make a simple spray of greenery, like the one shown here that I made for my front
door.
Just
cut some greenery in such a way that it's a couple feet long and spreads out
flat. (Trim off wayward stems.) I like to go for three different types of
contrasting greenery, but you can get away with just one.
Use
floral wire to bind the top tightly together and make a little loop. Then tie
in a simple bow with a nice ribbon. Wired ribbon works best because you can control it more
easily. Allow the ribbon to trail down. Add a tiny ornament or a spray of berries
(I prefer real but there are some great fakes out there) and hang.
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Last-Minute Gifts for Gardeners
One thing about gardeners is that they are insanely easy to
shop for. We always love a new cool tool or something growing. Some ideas:
 A drop-dead gorgeous flowering plant. Your local greenhouse will have the best
selection, and this time of year, you're likely to find things like a pot of
miniature roses in full bloom ($20) or, if you're lucky, a spectacular gardenia
with lovely white fragrant flowers. ($60 or so).
For
a really special gift, invest in a beautiful ceramic pot to set the plastic pot
into.
Some awesome garden gloves. Consider a set of several mud-type gloves,
available at any big box store, about $4 or so each. Or try fancy "bionic" gloves ($30 and up). The bionic rose gloves are fabulous--the only thing
that reliably keeps thorns out of my skin.
Atlas gloves ($7) are my new favs. They're tough, like mud gloves, but
allow for a finer touch, too. Plus they're water resistant and they let my skin breathe.
A membership to your local public garden, arboretum, or botanical center. These range from about $15 for individuals to $50 for family memberships and include unlimited admission, deep discounts on classes and workshops, and other perks. Plus, if the facility has a greenhouse or dome, the gift recipient can enjoy it right away!
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 Let There Be Light
My The Iowa Gardener partner, Ben, has serious Martha
tendencies all his own. : ) Each year, he makes these nifty ice lights and
lines his front walk for parties and just for fun. They're also pretty on a
deck, lit up and viewed from inside.
Click
here for directions on how to make ice lanterns with common household containers and a link to a web site that offers a special mold.
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Bye Bye Christmas Tree
Despite the expense and inconvenience, I have a weakness for a real
tree. (The scent alone is worth it.) At the end of the season, instead of leaving it out for the trash guys
to collect, I often put it to good use. I cut off the boughs and spread them
around the garden over more tender plants for protection. The trunk then gets
sawed into sections and stacked by the compost heap (never burn it in the
fireplace--the sticky resin will gunk up your chimney.)
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Winterscape Wallpaper
 The beauty of plants doesn't go away once the snow flies. You just need to look a little closer. Here's a photograph of a Des Moines crabapple tree taken a couple of weeks ago. It's the perfect computer wallpaper for the season. Click here to download the photograph, complete with instructions. |
Ask Veronica a Question
If you're a subscriber, email Veronica with your garden questions and she'll do her very best to get back to you within two business days. Click here! |
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Garden To-Do List
Keep poinsettias evenly but
not overly watered. They dry out easily, but will yellow if kept soggy.
Position them in a bright spot away from cold drafts and blasts of heat from a
vent or fireplace.
Cut evergreens from your
yard. They make beautiful holiday decorations. Just remember that each cut is a
pruning cut, so do so with care.
If you clean a wood burning
stove or fireplace, dump the ashes on your compost heap. Ash is a great source
of phosphorous.
Don't fertilize houseplants
this month. With our shorter days and cooler houses, they're not growing much.
Check on forced bulbs. If
necessary, water to keep soil evenly moist. Once you see shoots one-half to one
inch high, take out the pots and put them in the sunniest, brightest spot you
have.
Evaluate your landscape in
winter. Think of good places, come spring, to plant evergreens and trees or shrubs with
interesting bark. You'll be able to enjoy them next winter.
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Garden Events
Through January 3
Butterfly Blizzard
Reiman Gardens, Ames
Daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission ranges from free for children under 3 to $7 for
adults.
December 28 -
December 30
Carnival of Crafts
Des Moines Botanical Center
Enjoy special crafts, games, and activities for children of
various ages 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $1 to $4 per child.
Through January 10
Holiday Poinsettia Show
Lauritzen Gardens,
Omaha's Botanical Center
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. More than
5,600 poinsettias, a 20-foot-poinsettia tree, and several passenger and freight
model trains. $6-$3, free for children under 6.
Through
January 3
Holiday
Quilt Show
Quad Cities Botanical Center
A group show of holiday quilts by the Mississippi Valley
Quilters. Also enjoy three trees decorated exclusively with natural materials.
$1-$5, depending on age.
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Garden Quote
"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and
behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
-- Norman Vincent Peale
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