You guys, I finally did it! I've been tossing around the idea of a cactus Christmas tree ever since I saw this image way back in (maybe) 2014. This was the finally the year...
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It's kinda crazy but all sorts of fun.
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I'd hoped the correlation between the ornaments and what they represent was fairly obvious, however the first two people who saw it were oblivious — and they both should have known.
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Do you see it? (hint, hint)
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I'd planned to use an Agave as the star, but all the plants I lifted (as part of winterization) had either too large a root-mass or the plants themselves were too small. I went with an Aloe, it works wonderfully.
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This year's mantle decorations play a supporting role to the spiky star. I mean they're important, but they're not a Christmas tree made of cactus pads...
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My conical tree collection, and the tarnished silver pieces acting as vases for Poinsettias and cuttings from the garden, play that role wonderfully.
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A few extra cuttings from the wreath making party adds festive greenery, like a garland but without the work.
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Included are olive branches and Cryptomeria japonica 'Sekkan-sugi' (I think).
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The olive wreath is holding up well.
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The bottle-brush forest sits on a side-table.
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In the evening I light the mercury glass votives...
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And turn on the battery-powered tiny lights on the star (ha! Look at the mantle...this photo was taken early when I was still figuring out what I wanted to go where).
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An Amaryllis rescued from the everything store (it was falling out of it's pot) is blooming beautifully to coordinate with...
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The pink holiday wrapping paper I bought from my talented friend Kate Blairstone.
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The gift tags were 3 for a $1 at Target.
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If you're curious, I'll be sharing process photos of how I made the cactus-pad Christmas tree tomorrow...
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Weather Diary, Dec 10: Hi 45, Low 27/ Precip 0 (27F should indicate there was a killing frost in my garden but none of the plants that should show damage — Banana, Canna, Colocasia, annual vines — do.)
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
It's kinda crazy but all sorts of fun.
I'd hoped the correlation between the ornaments and what they represent was fairly obvious, however the first two people who saw it were oblivious — and they both should have known.
Do you see it? (hint, hint)
I'd planned to use an Agave as the star, but all the plants I lifted (as part of winterization) had either too large a root-mass or the plants themselves were too small. I went with an Aloe, it works wonderfully.
This year's mantle decorations play a supporting role to the spiky star. I mean they're important, but they're not a Christmas tree made of cactus pads...
My conical tree collection, and the tarnished silver pieces acting as vases for Poinsettias and cuttings from the garden, play that role wonderfully.
A few extra cuttings from the wreath making party adds festive greenery, like a garland but without the work.
Included are olive branches and Cryptomeria japonica 'Sekkan-sugi' (I think).
The olive wreath is holding up well.
The bottle-brush forest sits on a side-table.
In the evening I light the mercury glass votives...
And turn on the battery-powered tiny lights on the star (ha! Look at the mantle...this photo was taken early when I was still figuring out what I wanted to go where).
An Amaryllis rescued from the everything store (it was falling out of it's pot) is blooming beautifully to coordinate with...
The pink holiday wrapping paper I bought from my talented friend Kate Blairstone.
The gift tags were 3 for a $1 at Target.
If you're curious, I'll be sharing process photos of how I made the cactus-pad Christmas tree tomorrow...
Weather Diary, Dec 10: Hi 45, Low 27/ Precip 0 (27F should indicate there was a killing frost in my garden but none of the plants that should show damage — Banana, Canna, Colocasia, annual vines — do.)
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.