Grow your own/Make your own: A Garlic Wreath with panache!

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Mominthegarden

Leaning on our garden bench

Our organic Vallelado garlic was a huge success this year. We harvested it more than a few weeks ago and I have been airing it as much as possible. Our weather hasn’t been perfect. The norm for Ireland is to have some sun, some rain, some wind, and back to sun again… every day! So it was precarious setting out the garlic and making sure it didn’t get rained on, etc.

loads of organic garlic

Today I decided I wanted to hang some of the garlic in the kitchen. There are quite a few things I need to get organized this week, and for me the garlic was at the top of the list. (truth be told, I love creating, but I am not really looking forward to the other organizing items on the list…)

What to add to the wreath…

Hang it in the kitchen… I had one wreath left so I didn’t have any choices to make there. I also want to be able to use the garlic, so it is attached with raffia and green florist wire, instead of with a glue-gun which might have been a bit easier and faster!

Adding the artichokes

You might remember this picture from a couple of weeks ago

For those who know me, you know that I am all about reusing and recycling. I also like to grow things in the garden that I can use in arrangements or/and dry. The artichokes are still in the drying process, but their purple plume seems to be holding. They have been in the kitchen for the past couple of weeks (not in water) and have looked really well. I’ll miss them in the vase, but I like them on the wall, too!

tied garlic

Artichokes up close

It all came together fairly quickly, and easily. This was “play time” for me, so I really had to get it done quickly!

Garlic with dried roses and artichokes from the garden

I’ve been hanging roses every now and then this summer. I have a clip-on drying rack (schools use them to hang art work to dry, I usually use mine to hang socks to dry). I’ve been clipping the roses upside down and then totally forgetting about them. The roses are quite fragrant, so the room smells lovely now too.

Artichoke and garlic up close

I’m still not sure what the greens are. They are not dry. I just cut them this morning. But I used them because I know they will dry easily on the wreath. The plant seems to be quite happy with me for “pruning” it! It is now full of purple flowers.

Garlic Wreath with artichokes and roses

I tried hanging the wreath where I normally take my wreath pictures. But it was too big! So I have it resting on a table. The lighting inside just doesn’t do it justice. I like this time of year when the fields are full of bales, especially when it is sunny out!

Harvest time

Harvest time view from my back door

Such an easy thing to do, making a garlic wreath. What will you make today?
Now, to get the rest of my things organized!

Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Dana

P.S. If you’d like to read more about growing garlic, please click here: https://mominthegarden.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/organic-garlic-sitting-pretty-in-a-hand-carved-wooden-bowl/

A lavender wreath with roses and herbs

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Mominthegarden

In the beginning…

I have been just itching to make something with my lavender since I started harvesting it a couple of weeks ago. I knew I wasn’t going to have the time to make lavender wands. It had to be a relatively quick and easy project. Since my wreath from last year was fading a bit, I decided another wreath was in order. I made two different style wreaths last year, but I didn’t want to do the same again this year.

One of last year’s wreaths

Where did we go for ideas before Pinterest??? What an amazing site to visit! I perused the site a few times, and the one thing that stuck in my head was using greenery of some sort with the lavender. I wanted to get the wreath made quickly, without spending a lot of time looking for items to add to it. I actually stumbled upon the greenery in my garden. Oh I know, that is terrible to admit. It is an herb of some sort that we don’t use, and it is totally neglected. I think it is thyme. (shhh, don’t mention to anyone that I don’t know what herb it is) 😉

Lavender wreath in progress…

I had to start with taking the old wreath apart. I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep some of it or not. But as I fumbled through ideas of how I was going to make it, I decided to take it all apart.

Lavender with herbs and roses and Spanish Moss

To make the wreath, I pin small bunches of items to the frame with metal pins that are “u” shaped. You simply push them into the straw-framed wreath base. I find the pins to be the easiest way to attach things. I used a lot more Spanish Moss this year, to completely cover the base. Most of the roses are my favorite type and most fragrant: Rosa Jacques Cartier (1868). There are a few of the Pink Peace hybrid tea rose and Queen Elizabeth Floribunda Rose, too. I was experimenting to see which type dried best. I still think it is the Rosa Jacques Cartier, although they are quite tiny.

finished wreath and all the mess on my table

The little bouquets of lavender are tied together with raffia and then pinned to the base. I wanted it to be easy to make (kinda mentioned that a few times already). So I decided to start with a basic pattern. I had enough greenery to alternate it with the lavender. Those happen to be all of the roses I dried earlier this summer. It was just enough, which was lucky for me!

hangin’ on our kitchen wall

My 14 year old daughter was the first to see it and exclaimed that she really liked it. Phew! It passed the first test of family approval! It was nice to hear she liked it, too.

I couldn’t do it without my lavender!

Besides, it will be hanging on our kitchen wall and we’re all going to be looking at it for a while. Better to make something we all like…

Lavender with cornflower

My lavender has been buzzing like crazy this week. There are so many bees! And a few butterflies. I’m glad I didn’t harvest all of it. Plus I hate loosing that pretty purple in the garden.

Using an egg cup made of pottery.

I have lavender all over the house at this stage. Lots of it is still drying out. I have quite a few large vases filled with lavender, and a couple of tiny vases, too. I also have containers full of the tiny blooms which are used for sachets. So much lavender!

dried lavender & dried roses

Lavender Wreath with roses and herbs

I loved hanging the wreath on the fence. That spot is supposed to have hedging in front of it. But the hedging isn’t doing well right there. It was just calling out “hang the wreath here for a picture!” Yes, it really was.

See? It really is easy to create things from your own garden. Have you made anything that just made you smile?

Since it is lavender season, I’m going to put my link in for making lavender wands and my lavender wreath from last year. Let me know if you make something with your lavender!

https://mominthegarden.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/lavender-wands-my-first-lavender-wreath/

https://mominthegarden.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/english-lavender-in-full-bloom-lavender-wands/

Dana

Lavender Season – a delight to behold!

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Mominthegarden

Lavender up close

We moved into our home four years ago. My husband and I really like living in the country, and our home suits us just right. The yard was more or less a blank canvas for us, except for the established lavender garden. What a treat! Lavender! So pretty to look at, and a scent to match that beauty!

One view of the lavender garden. (As a side note, the fields in the background are planted with potatoes and the plants have bloomed with white flowers!)

Our first summer here, one of my sisters-in-law suggested I dry the lavender. I’ve been drying it and finding different things to do with it ever since. I have really grown to love it. It is so fragrant that I don’t even need to brush past it to enjoy the scent; it is already wafting in the air. It truly is a relaxing fragrance too.

Lavender garden with an old milk container squished in

Full lavender garden view with milk container

Someone with so much lavender in their yard surely has to do something creative with it! I surprised myself last year with the number of lavender wands I made. The colors of the ribbons I used to weave the lavender were so pretty to work with.

Lavender Wands

I shouldn’t forget the wreath, either. I was really delighted with how it came out. This year I just haven’t had the time to spend on crafts, unfortunately. That is a huge unfortunately, because I really enjoy making things with my hands.

Lavender wreath with dried roses

There is still a bit of time left to work with the lavender, so I just might get something made. This past week I have been cutting some of it to dry for bouquets. (All is definitely not lost!)

If you would like to try your hand at making lavender wands, you can have a look at my post from last year: https://mominthegarden.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/lavender-wands-my-first-lavender-wreath/

Lavandula angustifolia Lavender in our fruit and vegetable garden

Even after working long days, it has been so wonderful to go into the garden and cut lavender. The lavender I just planted last year was the first in need of cutting. I can’t believe how much it grew! Lavandula angustifolia Lavender. It was just a bit bluer than my established lavender, and the blooms were a bit thinner, too. But still beautiful.

Nature also enjoying the lavender

I bet you didn’t think I could pose this many pictures of lavender, now did you? Even the different times of day give it a different appearance!

Lavender in evening sunlight – this looks almost pink (but is definitely purple)

Clematis Bagatelle ‘Dorothy Walton’ and lavender

Lavender and play house

A sunny evening with dark clouds in the background

A sunny evening with a dark sky in the background

I loved how the lavender gave some pretty color to our fruit and vegetable garden. I was sad to cut the color away…

Lavender close up

One last view of the lavender garden

And that is the story of my lavender this season! I hope you have enjoyed seeing all of my pictures. I wish I could share the beautiful scent with you too! Maybe one day we’ll have the technology to do that. 🙂

Dana

My “flowers from the garden” Wreath

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Mominthegarden

Flowers from the garden Wreath

It has become rather popular on Thursdays to post pictures from the past on facebook and refer to “Throw back Thursday” on the post. Sure, when isn’t it fun to look through old photos? I found myself doing that today, and decided to join the Throw back Thursday movement and post about a wreath I made last summer.

My lavender

I have to say that I am a rather practical gal most of the time. If it is possible to recycle or reuse something I will try to do so. That includes what I grow in the garden! I like growing flowers which can be dried. I love my lavender for this reason! I’ve learned how to make lavender wands, and last year I made a lavender wreath for the first time. (of course I posted about it! https://mominthegarden.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/lavender-wands-my-first-lavender-wreath/ ).

Roses & hydrangea

Roses and Lavender from the garden

I have some lovely old fashioned roses that are beautifully scented. I dry them in my clothes closet and it smells so lovely every time I open the door!

Roses from my garden

lavender, roses, and hydrangea

The wreath is easy to make. I use Spanish Moss as filler between the smaller flowers. The hydrangea comes from my friend Susan’s garden. I have planted some hydrangea plants though, so I am hoping I’ll be able to use them (eventually)!

Susan’s blue hydrangea

Look at that blue! I know in my yard they grow pink, and I’m happy enough with that. I just might visit Susan around July though, and see how her blooms are doing! 🙂

My pink hydrangea

Annabelle hydrangea

The Annabelle hydrangea is the next plant I’m going to try growing. It is simply majestic!

Flowers from the garden Wreath

At the top-right of the wreath is some dried allium. I’ve used allium before, but only after spray painting it silver for a Christmas arrangement. So using it plain was something new for me. I like the different texture it gives the wreath.

Allium from my garden

I’ve had the wreath hanging in my kitchen throughout most of the year. It is getting time to replace some of the flowers, though, as they’ve lost their vibrant colors. That is O.K. as I like to keep things looking fresh!

Throw back Thursdays – I think I like that theme!

Happy Thursday!
Dana

Making a simple Christmas wreath

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Mominthegarden

Christmas wreath 2013

We finally hung our Christmas wreath outside! The weather has continued to be rather mild in temperature, although there has been quite a lot of rain. Thankfully, the sun has also come to visit us even if for short visits.

Christmas wreath 2013

I had one more straw wreath frame, and greens left over from my large outdoor wreath, so I decided to make another wreath to give away. I really enjoy making them, especially when working with eucalyptus, pittosporum (Tom Thumb) and lovely evergreens.

Straw wreath form

It does take some time to cut the greens into a small(ish) size, and then pin them into the wreath form. But it isn’t difficult to do, especially when using floral pins.

Floral pins and garden sheers

Piece by piece you pin the greens on!

Filling in the greens to cover the straw.

The evergreens are just my base. I wanted the color and different textures from the Tom Thumb Pittosporum and eucalyptus to be the main focus of the wreath.

Adding Tom Thumb Pittosporum for texture and color

Filling in with pittosporum

The family were watching A Christmas Carol while I was finishing up the wreath. I could watch too, from where I was working. It was an animated version, but still quite scary! We are finally on a break from all of our activities and able to relax together as a family. I’m so glad we have taken the time to watch those Christmas movies (even if for the 100th time!).

Eucalyptus added with the pittosporum

Now I had to decide how to embellish it! I decided to go with a very simple look.

A few gold balls

A gold French horn

A gold bow

Watching that video on how to make a bow on Youtube has come in handy this season!

A simple Christmas wreath

I was really happy with the finished wreath. Yeah, I was having second thoughts about giving it away! 🙂 But it was for some special people (my in-laws!) so I stuck to my original plan and gave it to them.

Photo with no flash

Christmas is almost here. I have enjoyed getting ready by visiting with neighbors, friends and family and sharing our baked goods. Mostly, I’ve enjoyed our time together as a family. I hope you are able to enjoy time with your friends and family, too.

Merry Christmas!
Dana

My friend Susan made this star for me! Isn’t it fabulous?

Two more sleeps!

Orange & Clove Pomander Wreath

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Mominthegarden

How it all begins…

Last week I went to a fabulous craft fair. There were hundreds of very talented crafts people there. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I can’t wait to go again next year! So many wonderful ideas. One item that I loved was a wreath made from dried limes, oranges and cinnamon sticks. I tried drying fruit once before, unsuccessfully I might add. So I wasn’t interested in doing that, but I was interested in working with cinnamon. Cinnamon, cloves, oranges; I was on a mission. It has been years since I last made a pomander (something aromatic that used to be for scenting linens/clothes). They are quite easy to make. A simple cooking thermometer can be used to poke small holes into an orange. This is where you can be creative with different designs! I did a fancy “S” on two sides, and then rows of three on the other sides.

Cooking thermometer used to make holes in an orange.

The cloves go in easily when using a cooking thermometer to make holes in an orange.

Rows of three on two sides, and a fancy “S” on the other sides.

I used a ribbon just to break up the space, and I pinned it on the top and bottom to keep it in place. Easy enough! Now, what to do with the pomander? I decided on making a table wreath arrangement. I used a straw framed circle wreath, floral pins (or “u” pins), greens and my garden shears.

Straw frame circle wreath

Garden shears, eucalyptus, holly, and evergreens

I really enjoy working with my hands and getting a little creative time. To me, this is the fun part of getting ready for Christmas! Being given eucalyptus from my neighbor the other day really made me smile. I’ve added eucalyptus to my “need to buy for the garden” list! How awesome to have such different textures and colors right there in the back/front yard! It smells lovely, too!

table wreath in process. (You can see the plastic plate in the center)

clove & orange pomander with cinnamon sticks

I used a small rubber band to keep three cinnamon sticks in place, and then tied them with a ribbon. I used three oranges, and paired them with three cinnamon sticks. I had a large pretty white candle that fit in the center of the wreath nicely. I was delighted that it all just came together. The arrangement is sitting on a clear plastic plate.

aerial view – groups of threes!

We didn’t have any red berries last year, yet this year there are so many! I just had to use them. 🙂

Clove & Orange Pomander Wreath

You can see the lights to our Christmas tree in the background.

Finished candle table arrangement made of clove & orange pomander with cinnamon.

I hope your Christmas preparations are going well and that you are able to enjoy the process! Slowing down is the hardest part for me. I just need to speed things up for a couple more days and THEN, hopefully, I can slow the pace down!

Merry Christmas!
Dana

The Cake is baked and a Traditional Christmas Wreath is made.

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Mominthegarden

Handmade (not by me) Santa

It is December 16th and I am feeling a wee bit behind with my Christmas preparations. The kids have been doing really well with their swimming and Irish dancing, which has kept me busy. Yes, indeed, I am trying to make excuses/figure out why I am so behind this year! I had been hoping for an extra week to somehow work its way into my schedule, but alas that has not happened. So it is time to really get going! Maybe it isn’t as bad as I think it is. Sure, I have the Christmas cake baked!

baked Christmas cake (traditional fruit cake)

The batter tasted delicious!

Beer soaked fruit

Wrap that baking pan! 2 layers parchment on the bottom and insides, along with w layers of brown paper on the bottom and outside!

Wrap that baking pan! 2 layers parchment on the bottom and insides, along with 2 layers of brown paper on the bottom and outside!

I actually tried to get out of making the Christmas cake this year. I asked the family if we could just skip it. All but the littlest one said “no way!”. I do like it when they enjoy what I make, so it was a nice affirmation that my time is not wasted. But given that it takes 4 & 1/2 hours to bake, you kinda need time!

Today I finished making our outdoor wreath. Never mind the fact that I usually have it hanging up the first or second week of December. Between my friends Margaret & Fred, I was given the most fabulous greens to use: eucalyptus, holly with loads of berries, and different evergreens. I love making our wreath, especially when it smells so fresh! Our kitty Hobbes had great fun attacking the greens which were obviously quite dangerous sitting in the black bag…

Hobbes helping with the greens.

the greens sitting atop the iron wreath frame

loads of berries!

This eucalyptus smells lovely!

I must get the name of this pretty plant.

These lovely dark leaves are from a Pittosporum called “Tom Thumb”.

Our finished wreath (waiting to be hung outside…)

I didn’t take pictures along the way. I really just wanted to get it finished. I first placed everything on my cast iron wreath frame (which was graciously made for us by Fred!). This way I was able to make sure everything was evenly distributed. Then I used floral wire to tie on the bunches of greens. I went with a simple red bow for garland. My sister-in-law gave me some fabulous outdoor ribbon and it really worked well on the wreath. (Thank you Gail!)

Making my Christmas wreath 2013

I did a quick search on the internet for a video on making bows. I thought the result wasn’t too bad! I think it is best to have wire rimmed ribbon for making bows.

Lots of different textures in this wreath.

I love working with different greens!

Finished Christmas wreath

What do you think of this new item I bought? It is a large red and white Christmas ball. I like it (that is why I bought it!), but the family isn’t so sure about it.

New addition this year. (Huge) Red Christmas ball.

Large Christmas ball.

But there is still so much more to do! I have to run! I hope all of your preparations are going well!

Merry Christmas 🙂
Dana

Crafty Corner: A fall harvest wreath & a crocheted pumpkin

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Mominthegarden

A fall harvest wreath with Chinese Lantern flowers, Annabelle Hydrangea, Indian corn & garlic!

It may be time to take down the Halloween decorations, but my Fall Harvest decorations will stay up until the American Thanksgiving which is the fourth Thursday of November. Orange is the color of choice, as I like how bright and cheery it can be!

Chinese Lantern Flower: Physalis Alkekengi with some Indian corn

A friend of mine gave me a huge bag of Chinese Lantern flowers the other day. What a treat! My intention is to plant the seeds and grow the plant myself. I’ll plant it in a container as I’ve been told that it can be invasive. But for now, I needed to do something with these pretty orange delicate flowers, other than just put them in a bowl. So I hot glued five of them to a stick (“of course!”, right?). They kind of looked like pin-wheels! or maybe a flower? I’ve had a wreath sitting in my back room for a few weeks. I knew I wanted to use a fall harvest theme, but I didn’t know what I’d use. What great timing to get the Chinese lantern flowers!

Chinese Lantern Flower

My garlic was hanging in the back room, and when I grabbed the wreath, I grabbed the garlic, too, thinking “why not?”. 🙂

Adding garlic and Annabelle Hydrangea to wreath

Fall harvest theme in the front hall.

Chinese lantern, garlic, and a scare-crow on a wreath.

What else have I been up to?

Crocheted Pumpkin

A bit of crocheting! This was a very simple pattern. Here is where I found it:

http://janenerenee.typepad.com/expressyourself/2007/09/crochet-pumpkin.html

In the beginning…

Every row adds up.

A bit of the stem.

Almost finished!

The little glass pumpkin was what I based this one on.

It was so easy! I probably pulled the string around the outside a bit too tight, which I won’t do with the next one I make. I think it would be pretty with some fancy wool, too. Something to look out for next year!

A country scare-crow

I’m going to keep saying “Happy Fall” until the very end of November! I hope it is still full of lots of pretty fall colors for you. Have you done any fun fall crafts?

Dana

Lavender Wands & my first Lavender Wreath.

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Mominthegarden

Lavender wreath with dried roses – all from the garden.

I love lavender! Better still, I love having lavender in the garden. Even just brushing past it produces the beautiful lavender scent. July is the month for lavender here in Ireland. I have lavender that can be quite showy, especially this month. I was delighted to see 5 established plants when we moved into our home three years ago. I don’t know their exact variety, but I think they are possibly Grosso Lavandin, or maybe Lavandula x intermedia. I will admit that I am really not sure!

My lavender – possibly Grosso Lavandin (or maybe Lavandula x intermedia!).

Lavender prefers well drained soil, and lots of sun. Honestly, I’m not sure why my plants do well. This year, sure, it has been sunny and dry, but this is certainly not the case every year. Last year was exceptionally wet, and I really thought the plants were lost to root rot. At the end of last year’s season I trimmed all of the stems off as I do every year (cutting off about 2/3 of the stem). But I didn’t expect them to survive. In fact, I ordered some more plants!

Lavender angustifolia in a raised bed.

Six new plants! Lavender angustifolia seemed to be a similar variety to my plants. I put them in a new raised bed. They seem quite happy!

My well established lavender plants.

Some of our lavender.

It really is a fantastic amount of lavender. Just this season I’ve made 24 lavender wands, and one very full wreath, and I still have a lot left to dry. Yay!

The first year we moved into the house my sister-in-law suggested that I really should do something with all of that lavender! She was right, and so I started with just drying the flowers. Then with suggestions from friends, I moved on to making lavender wands, and this year I added making a wreath.

Materials for making a lavender wreath: a wreath form, floral pins (some are in the center of the wreath), some floral wire, and a wire cutter.

Small bunches of lavender.

Floral pins to attach the bunches.

Easy peasy 🙂

Making a wreath is easy, once you have the right materials. I like using a straw-form wreath. While I was home in the States, I picked up this small 10 inch wreath for just $2.99 at Jo-Ann fabrics. I first tied the small bunches of lavender with some floral wire, and then I used floral pins to attach them to the wreath. That’s it! You just keep attaching small bunches and work your way around the wreath.

Work in progress.

I have so much more appreciation for lavender wreaths now! It does take some time to cut the lavender, wire it, and fill in the wreath. It is usually helpful to have some Spanish moss, or some kind of filler for the very outside of the wreath. I didn’t have any of that so my wreath is quite full with lavender!

Super full side view!

Some dried roses from the garden.

I’m still not sure about a ribbon. For now, I really like just having the three small dried roses. They are also fragrant!

Wreath with our Failte (Welcome) plaque in the front hall.

I knew that the wreath was going to use up a lot of my lavender, so before making it I made a bunch of wands. They are rather quirky and unusual and I love them! If you are wondering what to do with them, I have a few ideas. They make a nice hostess gift, can go in clothes drawers or closets, a few in a vase are fun, or simply laying on the bathroom windowsill. The lavender scent will last for years. I posted about making lavender wands last year. You can see that post here: https://mominthegarden.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/english-lavender-in-full-bloom-lavender-wands/

Lavender wands.

The trick is to work with the lavender before the stems become woody. Last week was the perfect time for mine. I like to have a couple of stems with some blooms open, but for the most part they are made with lavender that isn’t yet open.

Tie up a bunch of between 21 and 23 stems.

Tie up a bunch of stems. I use between 21 – 25 stems.

You weave the ribbon through the stems as you fold the stems over.

Weave the ribbon through the stems as the stems are folded over.

This year I discovered a new way to finish the wands. I have to give credit to Robb, of the “how’s Robb” blog. I came across it, and loved how he neatly knotted the ribbon on the handle of the wand so it doesn’t unravel. Here is the link to his blog on lavender wands: http://howsrobb.blogspot.ie/2013/05/how-to-make-lavender-wands.html

Knotting the ribbon.

Simple knot.

Then pull it tight, and go in opposite direction.

I just looked at his page, and with a few tries I figured out how he slipped the ribbon through a loop, and then turned it in the opposite direction to do the same again. Easy! And it keeps the ribbon nice and tight. I’m glad I came across his page!

Lavender wands.

I love all of the different colors. Did I mention how relaxing it is to work with lavender? 🙂 Between the weaving, and the scent of lavender, I enjoy my time working with lavender. I discovered last year that I could sell the wands, too. So I’m doing that again this year. Right now I’m just selling locally, €5 per wand. But who knows, maybe sometime in the near future I’ll be selling globally!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my little lessons on working with lavender!

Dana

Some other flowers among the lavender.

A new year is dawning (and a Christmas Wreath).

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Mominthegarden

Early morning fog in Sheepwalk.

Hi there! I’ve been enjoying a much needed break with my family. Our schedules are pretty hectic during the year, so it has been so nice to just sit back and relax together. We’ve watched more family movies this past week than in the entire past year! I think we all needed that time together, and it has been really nice.

I have to confess that I struggled with really getting into the Christmas spirit this year. The Connecticut Killings tore at my heart. As a mom, as an auntie with nephews & a niece in Connecticut, and as an American, it just completely knocked me down. I continue to pray for all of the relatives and friends of the victims. They are in my thoughts as I continue on with my day to day activities. The tragedy has also made me (more) thankful for my family and our precious time together.

O.K., that is a tough topic to write about. I just thought I’d share where my heart has been this holiday season. I took to some of my creative therapy during this time. It really did help me. A friend of ours made me a cast iron wreath frame last year. Not only did he make the frame for me, but he has given me huge bags of holly to use in my wreath. Thanks Fred!

Using my cast iron wreath frame.

It takes a bit of work to give the wreath some life. You can just see the frame on the bottom left side of this picture. This year I also acquired (love that word instead of “took”!) some lovely evergreens from Margaret & James’ garden. James had just trimmed the hedges on their property when I went to get some of their twisted willow for my flower arrangement. I’m sure they think I’m crazy, as I was so excited to get their fabulous evergreens which they weren’t going to use!

Adding some life to the wreath.

A little bit of bling.

I’m still a novice with my arranging. I just love trying, and hopefully improving in time. I’ve learned that holly can be painful to work with! My hands were filled with holes from the very sharp points of the holly! So this year, after getting James’ evergreens, I decided to use mainly the greens and just add a bit of holly as contrast. My son thought that one red bow wasn’t enough, so we threw on a few more little ones. I like having the kids’ input, and I try to incorporate it if I can.

Really, you should always take photos *before* a huge windstorm blows through!

Yes, some of the evergreens decided to go in a different direction after the storm. My husband wasn’t keen on my idea of getting the ladder out again to fix a few greens, so it’ll have to do. 🙂

Christmas wreath 2012.

Because I hope that I am making progress, I’ll show you last year’s wreath (which looks a lot skinnier!).

Christmas wreath 2011.

And I thought it was beautiful last year! Oh yes, it is much more filled out this year! I love the holly and the berries, but I think I need to get a good pair of gloves to work with the holly next year.

I seem to have missed the “weekly view of the garden” boat. I think a monthly view is more my speed. I haven’t completely neglected my garden, well, not if you count taking pictures! Here’s a look:

The garden on a foggy morning in December.

I’ve been placing cardboard and newspapers down every chance I get! It is almost at the final shape. Almost!

The other side of the garden on a foggy morning in December.

A foggy start to the day in December.

So as the start of 2013 approaches, I share with you my new goal of being nice to myself. I’m usually quite critical of myself, and I think I’d be better off not being that way. So I’m going to try “lighten up”! Life is precious.

Thanks so much for being a part of my gardening journey! I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have so far. Here’s to a Happy, healthy, and lots of veggies & flowers in the garden New Year!
Dana

Mom in the Garden

Enjoying life. In Ireland. With my family.

Category Archives: Wreaths

Grow your own/Make your own: A Garlic Wreath with panache!

A lavender wreath with roses and herbs

Lavender Season – a delight to behold!

My “flowers from the garden” Wreath

Making a simple Christmas wreath

Orange & Clove Pomander Wreath

The Cake is baked and a Traditional Christmas Wreath is made.

Crafty Corner: A fall harvest wreath & a crocheted pumpkin

Lavender Wands & my first Lavender Wreath.

A new year is dawning (and a Christmas Wreath).