A Gardener’s Epiphany

When we moved from the big city to Cowlick Cottage Farm, we made many changes in our lifestyle. We left corporate jobs and started working in fields that were more in tune with our values. Since our children are grown now, our garden and home are the focus of our daily lives. And when the holidays roll around, the kids look forward to coming home to relax, unwind and spend time together.

This year, as I began to think about decorating for Christmas, I knew I wanted to change our holiday decorations to reflect our country style. I wanted the decorations to be simple and sustainable, while still being chic and elegant. So instead of dragging the old ornaments from the attic and messing with tinsel and garland, I made a quick trip to my independent garden center. I bought three stately Italian Cypress—one for each bay window in our dining room. I had been lusting after these trees for my garden for years, and I knew they would make unique live Christmas trees. The red-haired, bearded man that kindly loaded the trees into my car had a little twinkle in his eye that reminded me of a fit, young St. Nick. We also tucked flats of poinsettias, Snow Princess^® Lobularia, and Diamond Frost^® Euphorbia amongst my trees, and I drove back out to Cowlick Cottage, the scents of fresh pine and sweet alyssum lifting my spirits with each country mile.

Back home on the farm, we planted the slender trees in tall black containers and strung them with sparkly white lights. Bright red clusters of Berry Nice^® Winterberry Holly cut from our garden and a few golden, twirly branches are the delicate ornaments. But the trees really came to life when I under-planted them with poinsettias and Snow Princess^® Lobularia. Cascading over the sides of the containers, the tiny white flowers are reminiscent of snow and beautifully complement the broad red leaves of the poinsettias.  I continued our natural decorating theme by potting up more poinsettias and Lobularia in a pretty white soup tureen for the dining room table.  Old milk buckets filled with red Christmas Cactus and airy Diamond Frost^® Euphorbia greet us at our entry and in the kitchen.

I love our easy, elegant decorations this season, and the best part is that cleanup after the holidays will be a breeze.  No wrapping and packing of ornaments, and no messy needles to deal with!  My cypress trees and Proven Winners plants will be tucked into the gardens, where we will enjoy them in a whole new setting.

From our house to yours, best wishes for an abundant holiday filled with peace and plants!

^© 2012 Proven Winners, LLC.