Weathering Winter

You can either give in or give up on the notion that we still have a few more weeks of winter.  In fact, Mr. Groundhog hasn’t even been asked to come out of his burrow, until February 2nd, to predict how much longer it will be before spring!

I must admit, I’m a sunshine kind of gal but I still prefer to embrace the season by honoring it realistically.  No trying to put around fake flowers to pretend it doesn’t exist.  I’ll gather up the textures of the season and pay homage to it in several bowls or containers.  In this case, I’ve used one of my ironstone pieces and sprinkled on some essential oils to welcome me into the room.

But just in case you need a little pick-me-up of the flowering kind, here is a late-blooming amaryllis.  I thought it was being stubborn but I think it sensed when to make its grand entry! 

As the old saying goes, better late than never!

Happy Wintering! ~ Wanda

Christmas Countdown – Day 14

Bright Bulbs – Keeping The Holidays Green - (And Lucky Numbers)

Before I share some lovely ideas to spruce up your holiday decor with a greener kind of “bright bulb” - (and I want to clarify that I’m not referring to the new LED versions) - I’m running an experiment to see if you’ve noticed a “glitch” in the post number sequence.  That’s right . . . number 13 is missing!  

I’m not short-changing you on posts, but if you’ve ever noticed, in hotels and office buildings, they usually skip right to 14, just to ward off any possibilities of superstition.  Now, I’ve personally had some good luck with this number – but – since we’re in the midst of a special time of the year, I just wanted to ward off any possibilities.  This interior designer has your best interests at heart!

Now on to the reason you’re visiting my seasonal posts . . .

It is easy to want to save a bit of time and maintenance with holiday flowers by using silk or preserved blossoms.  There is just something, well, fresher about using the real thing!  If time and attention is getting the best of you, using flowering bulbs can be a way to extend the freshness and with very little maintenance.  Just check them, weekly, to be sure there is enough moisture to sustain them.

Carithers Flowers, of Atlanta, created a beautiful tablescape of paperwhites for a 2009 Southern Living Idea House, in Dahlonaga Georgia.  In some instances, the fragrance of paperwhites can be overwhelming to certain folks.  My husband is one of those people.  In that case, other, less fragrant, forced bulbs can be substituted. 

Amaryllis command your attention, not only due to their brilliant blooms, but with their regal height.  I love clustering other containers, around them, to soften their defined leaves.  Maidenhair fern and moss in mercury glass containers are the perfect compliment. (Photo – Courtesy of Southern Living.)

A pictorial, from Martha Stewart Living, on proper planting of your amaryllis.  (If you click on any of the photos, you’ll be taken directly to the “how to” page on her site.  Easy!)  I’ve also read where it helps to jump start the bulb, if you soak it in lukewarm water, one hour before planting.  I’m trying that, this year, so I’ll let you know the results.

After visiting the site from Antique Hyacinth Vases, I had a strong feeling a new collection was in my future!  Even without the bulbs in full bloom, the vivid colors of the glass vases provide a festive focal point.

More ideas from Antique Hyacinth Vases.  Year round “bright bulbs” are at your fingertips!

Santa’s keeping a watchful eye over the flower bud.  I just potted this beauty, today.  By adding a few willow branches, I created a little “arbor”,of sorts, and secured it with some twine.  The Spanish moss, at the base, adds some contrast to the green stem and helps hold in moisture.

It can take bulbs twenty-eight to sixty days to come to full bloom, depending on the stage in which you purchase them.  Some floral shops have them ready to go, if you are having a party or holiday event in which you need the immediate color.  I like having some potted, at different stages, so that I can enjoy them throughout the winter months.  It can offset the dreary days without much sun!

If you have any added tips for brightening your holiday decor with things of green, I would love to hear about them!

Happy Planting ! ~ Wanda

14 Days and Counting!

Christmas Countdown – Day 6

Taking A Holiday Break – Tea Time

One of the things we have to remember, in the midst of all of the holiday hoopla, is to schedule in time for a little respite from the decorating, shopping, baking, shopping, wrapping, more shopping . . . well, I’m sure you can relate.  It doesn’t have to be like flying away to a tropical island, although, that might be pretty nice with our recent weather chill! 

I look for places, within an hour’s drive, and where there might be a special activity to share some one-on-one time with a friend.  It’s easy to let the holidays overtake our schedules, but I treasure the gift of companionship, more so than having a pile of gifts under the tree. 

Today, I met my friend, Davetta, for an afternoon holiday tea at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, in Belmont, NC.  (Belmont is home to Belmont Abbey College and the Belmont Abbey, which has housed Benedictine Monks since the late 1800’s.)  The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a 450-acre world-class garden located southwest of Belmont.  Daniel J. Stowe, a retired textile executive, set aside the property and established a foundation to develop the garden. The first gardens opened to the public in 1999.

I’ll delightfully take you on a photo tour of my afternoon.  It was a great escape and the tea was wonderful, too! 

Greeting us, in the main hall, was a beautiful 16’ tree.  From a distance, I could tell the colors of the decorations perfectly suited the stained glass dome, above it.

A closer look at the dome.  I almost felt as if I could be in a basilica, instead of a botanical garden! 

As we approached the tree, I realized it was created entirely of live orchids and ferns!  I couldn’t count them all.  Luck would have it, the plaque to the left told the story.  More than 300!

  

I wish I had brought a better camera but I wanted to travel light for the tea.  All of these were taken with my Droid phone’s camera, with the exception of the top photo.

There was a vast display of urns and wreaths.  They were sprinkled in the jeweled tones of the orchids.

 

A couple of side rooms held more treasures.  We had a few minutes before our tea was served so we took a sneak peek!

Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens often hosts weddings and events.  This stately room was open at the time of our tour.

My photo is a little fuzzy.  The flocking on the tree reminded me of stories my husband would tell me about how he and his father and brothers would head to the tree lot, each year, and wait while the “snow” was added to a large spruce tree.  In the south, it’s rare to have snow at Christmas, so this was the next best thing! 

The tree was loaded with ornaments.  Christmas is the one time of year when less isn’t more, in my book!

I wonder how many little ones have to be pulled away from the pile of presents?  It’s just too tempting!

The theme was carried to sconces, flanking the side of the china cabinet.  Lusciously lovely!

And then there was the tea!  Four different kinds!  Vanilla Chai Spice, Berry Fruit Cocktail, Chocolate Rooibos, and Sugar Plum.  The ladies from Savannah’s Room certainly know their tea and shared a lovely tutorial.  The tea sandwiches were delicious and the scones were absolutely delectable with lemon curd and clotted cream.  I swooned!

Although not a part of our tea, I just had to photograph these fun Rudolph cupcakes being sold at another part of the venue.  They were from Brenda’s Cake Gallery and they looked mouth-watering.  (The exception being that I was still sated from the tea treats!)After the tea, Davetta and I toured the orchid conservatory.  Since the temperature was in the low forties, the warmth was most welcome.  A veritable tropical get-a-way!  (Almost like that island idea, I previously mentioned.)

A different kind of window shopping.

A purple bromeliad was nesting cozily in the verdant foliage. 

  I loved this red mesh lantern!  It was one of many hanging throughout the conservatory.

Look what was circling the tracks!  They really covered every detail for the attendees’ interest.

You might be wondering how wisteria could still be blooming.  The ingenious designers clustered purple lights to appear as blossoms.  As it became darker, the pergola took on a magical twinkle.

  It must have taken months to cover so much territory.

A holiday wonderland!

For kids, big and small!

  Back indoors, we enjoyed many trees decorated by local schools.

How proud the students had to be to see their handiwork!  (The cardinal is our state bird.)

As nightfall arrived, all I could think of was this:

~But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."~

Merry, Merry! ~ Wanda

20 Days and Counting! ~ All my best! ~ Wanda

I’m Repeating Myself

It’s my mission, as an interior designer, not to ever take a cookie-cutter approach to my work, by repeating anything I’ve done for another client.  I know it might be the easiest thing for me to do, but it’s not honoring the individuality of the client.  Because I do have quite a few projects, needing that personalized attention and approach, I am going to repeat a blog post, from last year, as the topic is still relevant and the simple act of clipping some beautiful gardenia blossoms, from my backyard, brought back the same memories!

Oh, if you could only enjoy the aroma!

Here . . . I’ll bring them a bit closer.  Is that better?

Click to read:  “Experiences in Design”

Thanks for letting me be a bit redundant, today.  I’ll try not to make it a habit.  After all, you might not think it’s by choice, but rather an age thing!

Experience the best about design!  - Wanda