Sometimes I get these ideas and the vision that forms in my mind seems so achievable. Why wouldn't it work? I rarely stop to ask that (logical) question and just forge on, as though it will. However inevitably, part way in, I'm left saying "what was I thinking! This will never work!" This is one of those times...
Those piles there on the garage floor, that's our Christmas tree, or what I planned to make into our Christmas tree. The greens were picked up around the neighborhood after a particularly windy day (an oddly frequent occurrence this year), the Blue Atlas Cedar branches were pruned from a lovely tree an abandoned commercial lot with a boarded up building. I tried to find some to purchase but none of the local nurseries seem to be selling BAC branches this year.
This is our tree in the making. It's a tomato cage tree!
I know, weird right? But I wanted an extremely conical tree this year. The kind you see in cartoons but not so much in real life, I also wanted it to be a mix of green and blue. I started by wiring on the green branches and then overlaying them with a few BAC branches. I also contemplated tossing the whole thing part way through but instead pushed on, figuring this would just have to be the year of the Cousin Itt Christmas tree.
The finished tree, and yes, it is a bit Cousin Itt-ish, but I like it. It is pretty close to what I envisioned.
If Flora can decorate with succulents then I dibs the leucadendrons.
I'd bought them for the Thanksgiving table and then decided they'd look good on the tree.
I also added the tin icicles I bought last year and a just a few of my vintage ornaments.
Oh, and of course the glittery snowflake at the top...
Yesterday I shared the mantle display...
And told you about the pine-cone light giveaway.
Just when I thought the holiday decor was complete Santa (AKA my dear friend Bridget) showed up with an armful of cut leucadendron stems...
Perfect compliments to the tree ornaments...
She brought a big beautiful banksia bloom too...
It's a nice, natural, counterpart to the amber glass cones on the mantle.
Oh and remember that osmanthus wreath from last week? It looks better with little ornaments on it.
So, that's the holiday trimmings for 2014, what are you up to this year?
All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.