There’s a new page in my sidebar – check it out! Just in time for the holidays we have a special offer for blog readers — we hope to tempt you to give yourself – or a gardener you know who already has every*thing* – the gift of a Blithewold membership! (Even if you don’t live close by, there are benefits you can take advantage of. Blithewold participates in the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions program. So by supporting Blithewold, you can visit other public gardens closer to home!) Take it from Gus-gus who says, “It’s the coolest present ever! …buuurrrrupp yup…”

Stuart over at Gardening Tips ‘n’ Ideas tagged me (me!) for a meme about 8 things for which I’m thankful. Thanks, Stuart! (I think that’s #1)

Yesterday on my walk around the property I decided to look for the shape of winter and although I was intent on *seeing* it, I realized that some of my other senses were raising their hands and saying oo! oo! Pick me! (I’m grateful to have at least 5 senses in full working order)

It might still be technically fall but unlike this time last year (warm through Nov., then a snowflake on the 3rd and warm again), it’s been bitter cold enough to give the ground that firm soft crust that has a little bounce to it. My feet shouted out about that. (thankful now for the insulated boots they complained about over the summer)
The Display Garden needs a little more tidying (thankful that Gail and Julie say it can wait for a warmer day) – the cardoons are still slightly perky but the cement pond has frozen over. The Water Garden pond has frozen over too (thankful we had some rain to fill it a bit again).

One of my favorite things about winter is the peek at fabulous naked branch structure and nature’s own ornaments hung for the season. (thankful for enjoying winter – I didn’t always and it sure helps to pass the time!)

I went right up to the Chinese chestnut for a photo op and – I swear this is a true story – before looking at the tag for the latin name which I had forgotten, I thought “hey this tree is rattling its leaves like castanets!”. Castanea mollisma. You betcha. Castanets are so named because they look like chestnuts, not because they sound like the trees – even though they do. (thankful for learning something new every day)

I have to admit my walk was fairly short – it was cold! – I don’t know how Fred and Dan stand it – they’re out all day long and not wusses like me. I went back to the greenhouse, thawed my cracked fingers and dove right into my kind of winter work. I enjoy greenhouse work (like rejuvenating this maiden hair fern) every bit as much as the garden work of summer and I’m thankful that I get to do the work I think I’m meant to do – with people I’m in awe of – in a public garden that I get to share with the world! (- in a nutshell)

Here’s where I’m supposed to tag others for this meme: I invite any and all who read this to consider yourself “it”. Use the comments box, use your own blog, pass it on!

It’s easy to buy a wreath. Get a basic balsam wreath, throw a ribbon on it and you’re golden, right? But are you proud? If you make your own wreath instead, I guarantee you will glow with I-made-that! satisfaction every time you open your front door. And it’s such the perfect thing for any of us gardeners who might have early onset cabin fever and need all the green-stuff creative outlets we can get.

Step one: Look around and see if you or any of your neighbors has beautiful evergreens in need of a trim. Always, always, always ask permission first before pruning! (I know that’s obvious to most of you – unfortunately there is someone in our neighborhood who does not remember to ask permission…)

2. Assemble your materials. Along with a variety of greens you’ll need a frame and 22 gauge wire (available at floral, crafts suppy stores and garden centers), pruners and a wisp (at least) of holiday spirit.

3. Go!

Attach the wire to the frame so that if you tug on the wire it won’t unravel. Cut and put together a bundle of mixed greens – hint: using a backbone of white pine or balsam in each bundle will make a fairly sturdy, non-floppy wreath. Another hint: Make your first bundle extra long so that your last bundle can tuck underneath without sticks showing. Attach the bundle by winding the wire around the frame a time or two. Layer all subsequent bundles on the stick ends of the previous. Hint #3: If you want a fat wreath, closely overlap the bundles; to make a skinny wreath (ie, for inbetween door and stormdoor), make longish bundles and lay them farther apart. Keep checking as you go for symmetry. It’s easy to get stalled in one spot piling bundle after bundle in a skyscraper building sort of way, so watch out for that! Also (and this is what happens to me) don’t lose steam towards the end putting on thinner and thinner bundles because you’re “ready to be done now!” When you’ve made it all the way around, hold it up for a look because chances are you’ll need one or two more bundles (it’s inevitable). When you’re truly done, tie off the wire by passing the spool through a sewing loop and leaving a long strand of wire, snip it using wire cutters or the notch in your pruners (never cut with the blade!) and use that length of wire to (proudly!) hang up your wreath.

To make a bow, pinch a small loop of ribbon between your thumb and forefinger. Working back and forth, make loops pinched in the middle until you have an even number on both sides of the middle mini loop. Cut the ribbon leaving a tail; cut another tail piece to attach and wrap a wire through to grab the wad between your fingers. Hint: Wired ribbon is the most forgiving.

My very first wreath was most certainly egg shaped – but I was never more proud. This one is, remarkably, pretty roundish! Wahoo!

I made this wreath from workshop leftovers of white pine tips, Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filifera Aurea’, C. pisifera ‘Squarrosa’, C. pisifera ‘Plumosa’, C. obtusa (Hinoki Cypress), Thujopsis dolobrata ‘Variegata’, Ilex aquifolium (English Holly), Buxus sempervirens ‘Rotundifolia’, and Rosa multiflora.

Everyone who participated in Saturday’s workshop went home with a wreath to be proud of and just like snowflakes, no two were at all alike! Do you make your own wreaths or any other holiday decorations? (Aren’t you proud?)