Monday, November 14, 2011

Greening Up For The Holidays 2011

I attended the annual container workshop at a local nursery and I thought to myself what could be new and different about putting a container together one year later!  Well, I should know by now there is always something new in the gardening world.


Glitz is all the rage this holiday season, spray painted birch branches in white, gold and silver.  Birch is preferred because the branches are more delicate than the red and yellow dogwoods.









I don't want to repeat information that is the same as last year so I will refer you to my 2010 post of the same title.  It is to the right of my blog under "POPULAR POSTS."


Fruit is big this year in outdoor displays, protect it with a quick spray of clear poly suitable for outdoors and you will have these for many years.


Melon Balls


Pears

Small pomegrantes
I did not spray these last year and had to throw them out at the end of the season.

Large Pomegrante

The Noble Fir is still the base for most container designs as this green is strong enough to hold up the rest of the less stable greens.  Remember, triangle formation for interest.  A couple of new greens for this year is the large leaved boxwood and Port Orford Cedar.

Large Leaved Boxwood


Insence Cedar
This is one of my favorites for its flexibility and pop as far as seeing the seeds from afar.

Port Orford Cedar
Very flexible and adds a softness to the arrangement


Seeded Naked Red Eucalyptus
I will spray this with the poly to keep the color.

Silver Dollar Eucalyptus
Just beautiful, no Wilt Pruf Spray no poly because of staining.  However, I used this last year and it did not retain its color, turned light brown. 

Winter Protea Repens

Many types of potted evergreens this year are for container displays.  In the colder areas the hole you are going to transfer it to must be dug now or the ground will be frozen.  These potted evergreens are not meant to be thrown away but to be repurposed in your garden.


Oasis is recommended for indoor containers like the one above (note the Noble Fir as a beginning for the greens).  Outdoors it is preferred to sink angle cut greens into soil, water well and spray Wilt Pruf to retain the moisture throughout the winter season.


This is one of the pre-made containers with many different types of greens.  It has Winterberry which is quite expensive and does not hold up for the winter season.  You cannot spray it with Wilt Pruf and I found after several hard frosts it turns black.  Use Pepperberry or faux is you can find one that will hold up outside.

This is a large containe with a tree topper used in the center with the same triangle effect of greens used around the perimeter.

I have my sprays ready to go, lots to do, will keep you all in the loop for Christmas Garden Decorating!


21 comments:

joey said...

Wow Eileen! Lovely, lovely energetic/creative holiday post ... agree, Wilt Pruf is wonderful both indoors and out!

Karen said...

Eileen, this post is very timely indeed for me. I want to decorate my urns tomorrow, but I don't imagine mine will turn out as beautiful as yours always do! I loved looking at all the wonderful additions for the outdoor displays, so much to choose from (I only wish my budget wasn't so limited.)

I'll be scrounging around looking for something interesting for the urns, and dreaming of the ones in this post.

gardeningnaturallywithclaudia.blogspot.com said...

Great inspiration! I can't get cut greens yet - seems Thanksgiving weekend more will be available at the garden centers. Budgets need not limit us though. Cut boxwood, arborvitea, juniper, or pine from you own yard and the spray paint on twigs makes a tranformation of a brown stick. Thanks for the ideas.

Lona said...

Hi Eileen. I love this posting showing all of the materials used in container decorating. There is always something new every year. I am not good at all making up containers so these ideas really help. Also reminds me that I have some dried Allium stems and heads to spray paint white and blue.
I know your containers will be beautiful again this year winter you always have such good ideas.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Joey,

I am trying to get the outside done before it turns bitter.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Karen,

I'll bet you can find a lot of great decor around your property, pine cones, evergreen boughs, etc. Just add some ribbon and your set.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Claudia,

It seems like the greens around us came in earlier than ever. People are really starting early because we are supposed to have a lot of snow this year.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lona,

I did spray my dried hydrangeas and I also saved my allium heads, think I will use gold on them.

Eileen

scottweberpdx said...

So beautiful...I can't believe it's almost that time again!

Beth said...

This was fun to read about and imagine the finished containers. I enjoyed your containers from earlier in the year and will look forward to your Christmas ones too.
Hugs, Beth

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Hi Eileen, I'm inspired! Love the idea of fruit. I think I will get to work on some Christmas decorations and containers.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Eileen girl you have me thinking I may just use my black urn again this year for a "green" display .. I was just reduced to thinking the massive wreath we bought at Costco would be enough .. low on energy but you made me "merry" and thinking I might just manage it ? LOL Thanks for the inspiration Eileen : )
Joy

Diana LaMarre said...

Oh, Eileen, I can't wait to see your urns. You do such a lovely job.

You showed some gorgeous items to work with.

I usually go out after Thanksgiving and cut down my own greens (shrubbery) and make a few indoor arrangements. They always smell so "Christmasy".

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Scott,

It is also difficult for me to believe that the holidays are upon us!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Beth,

I am working on those containers, frozen this morning. I will take advantage of the warm up on the weekend.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jennifer,

The fruit was beautiful but somehow I thought it would look wierd outside in the middle of winter.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Joy,

I have been on a roll as far as containers. I think I completed eight of them and brought the drop in ones to be done at a local nursery. They are reasonable and I want them to stay in business, so many have gone during the past couple of years.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Zoey,

I wish I had some greens to cut outside. I am definitely short on evergreens.

Eileen

Gloria Bonde said...

Eileen, your creativity is amazing! Your pictures are always a color feast for the eyes!

Rosie Nixon Fluerty said...

Eileen I love watching people make floral art arrangements but I've never heard of any of these special sprays. I am going to have to ask my few florist friends if they know if this sort of thing is sold in the UK. I really like those pieces of fruit though not so sure about those red melons. Looking forward to seeing what you make!

Betty819 said...

Wow! Now that is the kind of workshop I'd love to attend. What a beautiful way to decorate your Urns. Can you keep those fruits year after year? At that per item price, I'd have to keep them!

I look forward to seeing the displays you will create. Never seen some of those items.

I see where a lot of people bring small branches in from outside and spray paint them silver, decorate with a red Christmas bow or New Year's Eve colors and they are so festive.