It's Officially Winter

Well the longest night of the year came and went on the 21st launching us officially into calendar winter.  I say this because I feel that Dec 1 was the start of winter here in southern middle Tennessee.  We have had below average temperatures for most of this month except a few unseasonably balmy days on Monday and Tuesday this week (60F).  I got out and took a few pictures since the weather was nice.  Hard to believe snow is forecast for Saturday morning!

I like this climbing euonymous, it keeps my spring house from looking so bare.  It is incredibly easy to root too.  Usually it's color is more variegated when new spring growth appears.

I searched high and low for a bud on my white hellebore (my sister already has one on hers) but alas I came up empty.  I am constantly looking for plants with winter interest and these never disappoint.

Carex (sweet flag) is looking fresh edging my goldfish pond.

Surprise!  I actually found some fat buds on my winter honeysuckle and winter jasmine.

We are blessed with native cedar trees...ahh green in winter! 

What's this?  A touch of purple still lingers!  Thank you heuchera.

Euonymous shrub (Blondy)- I like the yellow stems and crazy variegation don't you?

My woodland garden spot..sleeping now but in spring I hope to see a crop of spanish bluebell bulbs waving hello among many other things I planted last summer.

Pixie, I don't think there is a Christmas present in there for you!  Merry Christmas to everyone.  I hope you get lots of great gardening stuff in your stocking and under your tree..and maybe even a tree!

Fake Snow, Gingerbread, and other Christmas Chaos!

Well Christmas decorating was at a standstill until Saturday.  I was having the girls over for our yearly party-- which started out as a cookie swap 4 years ago.  I had a few more ideas that I needed to bring to life so I spent the day creating Christmas magic --my style.

I found this milk glass urn planter at a local thrift store.  I took this idea from a magazine.  Proof that not every tree in the house has to be decorated to say "Christmas."

Do I have Prince Albert in a can??  Nope, I was thinking more like a snowman in a jar.  I think he has enough air to last till Christmas is over.  I endured much harassment by Barbara and Donna to put something in my large glass jar...are y'all happy now??

I have become quite fond of vintage looking Christmas decor.  I found this little planter at this year's yard sales.  Add a little natural greenery from the yard = priceless.

This is the "windowscape" in my kitchen greenhouse window.  More vintage finds from yard sales.  I love these kitschy trees..this one even had all the lights.  Check out the poodle pulling the wagon full of Christmas balls.  I love old poodle figurines too.

Now it's time to party!  Here's the gang beginning in the back row L to R:

Melissa (Ash's buddy), sis (Barbara), Me, sis in law (Donna)

Front row:  niece (Ashley), Olivia, best bud Melissa (Olivia's granny) oh and Ashley is holding Pixie who is tired of posing for this pic!  Pic was taken in my sunroom.

Each year we have tortured Ashley with various craft projects...one year was wreaths with real greenery, then ornament painting, last year was scrapbooking.  To end her pain we let her pick this year's project..gingerbread houses.  She is our little Korean Paula Deen so naturally it was her year to shine! Here is a pic of our ginger-village!

I struggled along with mine.  All I can say is that powdered sugar and icing hide a multitude of sins!  Somehow it came out looking like a gingerbread version of the Amityville house...LOL!

They say art imitates life..'tis true here.  I was more interested in landscaping my ginger-yard!  Check out my rustic fence, shrubs, marshmallow tree, stepping stones leading to my m&m koi pond (the orange m&m's are the koi!!)  oh and my pretzel park bench adds the final touch don't you think?

Glen wandered about in girl land not quite sure what to do but enjoying the snacks all the same!  I caught him in mid chew here!  Hope you have a merry (and tasty) Christmas!

Help Me Welcome a New Blogger

THE DIVA HERSELF

Hello all!  We are all in the Christmas spirit and decorating is underway full swing right?  I finally talked my sister in law (Donna) into putting all her decorating adventures on her own blog.  She loves to decorate with cheap things from yard sales, clearance racks, etc.  She has such a good eye for the items she buys and I'm always impressed with how it turns out when her visions come alive.  I'd like to invite you over to her blog to take a peek.  It's always encouraging to get some comments on a new blog.  Enjoy!  http://discountdecoratingdiva.blogspot.com/

It's Beginning to Look (and smell) Alot Like Christmas!

Today's temps in the 50's lured me outside for the great Christmas greenery hunt of 2010.  We are blessed to live in Tennessee where an abundance of native evergreens grow and are free for the cutting.  Among todays bounty are as follows: 2 types of pine, cedar, magnolia, and holly tree.  Glen also found a native possumhaw just a short nature walk away.

This is my first year to have a lampost to decorate so I added some greenery to the exisiting red bow.  Red seems to be my theme this year.

I keep the red star hanging year round on my back porch.  I also seem to have a star theme going on.  Notice the star shaped lights in the basket.  Coincidence?  Yes...a happy one.  Can you guess what the colored globes are?  Yep, once they used to hang on a swanky 60's hanging light fixture I suppose.  I bought them at yard sales this summer just because they were cool colors/shapes.

Full view of the table.  I have decorated underneath too with my fresh greenery.  I love this table.  I got it 2 weeks ago at a late-season yard sale that my flower buddy Glenda was having....  Only $6, could it be true??  I think other people were afraid to risk it because there was a can of wood stain stuck to the top.  Glen rescued it without too much trouble.  Thank goodness for the durability of enamel tops.  I'll treasure this table forever, especially since it was Glenda's!

My arizona cypress needed a little haircut to look presentable enough to drape with red lights.  I have them lining my sidewalk too..keeping the red theme going.  About the arizona cypress...I've had it 3 years and have yet to see the uniform growth habit demonstrated on the tag.  It grows crazy-wild!  I will give it kudos to it's drought tolerance and beautiful blue/green needles...the other reasons I bought it. 

This little tree is artificial but I think it looks real enough in it's terra cotta pot.  I'll probably leave it out all winter so things don't look so empty on the porch.  It's another yard sale find I'm glad I bought (now).

POSSUMHAW HOLLY

Happily trekking away with my treasured berry branches!

Pixie says it's time to get busy...only 28 days till Christmas!!



Daylight "Savoring" Time

I STILL don't like this time change!  I just want to cry, kick and roll around in the leaves-- but my tantrum would not change the fact that it is dark by 4:45!  So I must stop feeling sorry for myself and get out there and enjoy the daylight I have (mostly on weekends). I am still putting a few things in the ground as time and weather permits.  I usually don't give up the fight until temps get in the 40s and below during the daytime.  I have been busily picking up bags of leaves on the curbsides and scattering them over my flowerbeds too. 

This is the first full year of growing for this camellia.  I can't remember if it's called Christmas Cheer or Yuletide?  This is the first bloom for this year.

I have been pleased with the acuba's ability to rebound.  I found 3 brutally uprooted and tossed in the trash heap last year and rescued them.  They have proven to be beautiful and tough and very tolerant of dry shade.  I think I'll keep them! 

I thought these persimmons made a pretty picture against the blue sky.  We have a couple of small trees that have been loaded down this year.  Last year there were hardly any.  I have actually eaten a few of them...tasty.

Oh to see the fresh green variegation of Italian Arum--a delight when so much is brown.

I plan to use these pretty rose hips in some winter arrangements soon.

That's about the size of things here in southern middle Tennessee for November.  I am not relishing the winter that lies ahead but God knows best.  He knows we gardeners would work our fool selves to death if He didn't run us inside for a few months each year! 

Octoberfest- The Ultimate in Redneck Fun!

We reserve the 2nd Saturday in October every year for our girls-day-out Octoberfest in Hohenwald, TN.  This year Glen tagged along and chauffeured the ladies around.  We had a ball as always.  Here are the highlights....

THE THREE SARDINAS

SELF APPOINTED OCTOBERFEST QUEEN

DONNA HOLD ON.....

COOL CHRISTIAN WATER TO QUENCH THE SOUL AND BODY

DEEP FRIED HEAVEN...WHAT CAN'T BE BATTERED I WONDER?

AT LEAST THEY'RE HONEST

ASHLEY AND MELISSA ENJOY FUNNEL CAKES AND DEEP FRIED OREOS...YUM-O

WHEW, JUST WHEN  MY SUPPLY WAS RUNNING LOW....

ALL THESE YEARS I DIDN'T KNOW IF MY STAMPS WERE SANITARY OR NOT!

MELISSA TAKING A MEXICAN FOOD BREAK..OLE!

I KNEW I'D FIND HIM...THE MULLET KING!

STILL BARGAIN HUNTING BUT WEARING DOWN

YES DONNA, WE'RE GOING HOME....

T-T-T-THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

Mum's the Word

You would think this post contained a lot of mums but actually there are only 3 blooming if you don't count the one I just put in my fall display!  I like to buy the 4" pots on clearance for .25 each and plant them at the end of the season.  They just seem to do better in the garden than larger pots.  I have always loved the bronze colored ones.  I have a white one that is in full bud so it should show me something soon.  Then there's always the sheffield daisies that wait a little longer to strut their stuff about mid month.  I think if it were not for mums I would have to take an antidepressant right now.  I also have some other stuff to show you.  Take a peek:

MY BACKDOOR PUMPKIN DISPLAY

FRESH TRIMMED HEDGE 

YELLOW MUM 

PURPLE AND BRONZE MUM 

STALWART MARIGOLD 

I know anyone can grow a zinnia but I'm lovin' the deep red color on this one!  Must save seed... 

Finally cleaned the garden shed so I can walk around! 

My recycled vintage yardsale napkins turned into a valance!  Those are ladybug tablecloth weights at the corners..so cute! 

I finally got a much needed break from work..they let us out at 11:00 today and I'm off tomorrow.  Plan B is to divide the daylilies that are eating my garden!!