Blessings to Friends Near and Far

Holiday Blessings and Best Wishes to All For the Year Ahead!

Happy Solstice and Blessings for the Days Ahead

Happy Holidays (and Longer Days Ahead!)

Vignettes for Happy Holidays

It's winter, and currently, we're warm--warm for this part of the world in December, anyway. The snow is melting after two days with temperatures in the 40sF. But by the time you read this, things will be different: There won't be much snow left for Christmas, and our HIGH temps will plummet into the 10sF. It truly will be a good time to stay inside--warm and cozy.

Tuesday, I ventured out to the garden to take stock, and I found a few fun scenes.



In October, I'd plopped some ornamental kale into my front porch pots, and they're still alive. They really perk up on warm days. I didn't have the heart to clear them out for traditional December decor, so I simply stuck some gold filament curlicue stems in the pots with them.



The Hydrangeas have plump buds that, most likely, will perish in the deep freeze ahead. I guess I should wrap them in burlap, but I never do. Oh well; some years they flower, some years they don't.



This time of year, it's fun to investigate the various red berries in the garden. I saw very few remaining on the Cranberrybush Viburnum (V. trilobum). I don't know what that means?



The Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) always holds some berries into the spring, when the robins come back to nibble on them. 



The Yew berries (Taxus baccata) never fail to offer a cheery holiday vibe.

I need to find a safer spot for the wren house in the spring, but it's cute resting on the rock wall for now.

This new bird house fits well in the crook of the Redbud tree (Cercis canadensis).



One of my favorite vignettes this time of year: the yin and yang of warm green moss and cold, white crystalline snow.



These Juniper (Juniperus squamata) branches appear to be clawing their way out from under a snow blanket.



This English Ivy (Hedera helix) is still thriving and evergreen. Usually, I bring it inside for the winter, but I have other pots full of it, and this one is heavy and difficult to move. It's placed adjacent to a warm, heated pond. Will it survive our subzero days?



Finally, the Mums (Chrysanthemum spp.) illustrate the dramatic transition from autumn to winter so well.

To all my plant- and nature-loving friends, may your holidays be bright and your travels into the New Year safe and healthy!

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Check out Anna's Wednesday Vignettes at Flutter & Hum.

Holiday Blessings to Friends Far and Near

My Wish for You

Christmas Under Glass at The Domes

Recently, I drove over to Milwaukee's Mitchell Park Conservatory, also referred to as "The Domes." I hadn't been there in many years, so I'm glad I devoted an afternoon to exploring the three glass-encased gardens. The Floral Show Dome was all decked out in holiday cheer, with the theme, "Naughty or Nice."

Whimsical scenes of Santa with his elves working hard to prepare toys, check the lists, and plan for travel around the world, were interspersed with lush groupings of Poinsettias, Amaryllises, Mums, and other traditional holiday plants and decorations. The giant Christmas tree near Santa's chair was impressively decorated with snowflakes, ornaments, and the list of good children.

Here are a few highlights, in no particular order. You can click on the photos to enlarge them and see more detail.

It was a bright day, so the sun and the blue sky surrounding the scenes added to the warmth of the displays.

The "Naughty or Nice" display will continue through Sunday, Jan. 7. The conservatory is open weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's a great destination if you live nearby or you're traveling in the area, and it's a pleasant setting for a family outing and a warm, lush escape from the winter winds outside. I plan to share highlights from the other two domes in the months ahead.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All

Squirrel Popsicles!

If you wish, listen to the music

as you scroll through this post:

♪♫♩♫

Have you ever seen a squirrel eat a popsicle? I did the other day. This little guy picked up a large chunk of snow/ice and proceeded to enjoy a little refreshment.

Squirrels are always entertaining, but this particular chunk was about as long as the squirrel's tail.

I wasn't speedy enough to capture the first few moments, but I did manage to snap a series of photos that produced a cute little "auto awesome" Google video. As I was watching it, the Vince Guaraldi song "Linus and Lucy" was playing on the radio, which is why I suggested it at the top of this post. Enjoy!

I'm linking this post to Donna's Seasonal Celebrations at Gardens Eye View and Michelle's Nature Notes at Rambling Woods. Hope you're all having a safe and enjoyable holiday season so far!

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(Thanks to those who've participated in and commented on PlantPosting's "Lessons Learned" meme. The meme remains open indefinitely, and we'd love to learn from your experiences. Click here or on the "Lessons Learned" tab to participate.)