Decorative and gift ware items fill the inside space.
I like the combination of blue lights and white birch!
Red begonias are another nice option for the season!
I have this fountain at home but it's outside and full of water. This treatment is great!
As always, lots of poinsettias, the most purchased plant in the U.S.
They are bright and cheerful during this darkest time of the year!
Hydrangeas and Azaleas. The holiday possibilities seem endless!
Windmill stores quite a few of the plants used in the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in February. Earlier this year, I heard that there was a lot of interest in having roses in bloom for the show. I sneaked into the back greenhouse for a sneak peak of what we might be seeing in a couple of months in the demonstration gardens. The plants have just started coming in and here are a few of them. I'll go back in January to see more. Bougainvillea, huge Mandevilla and Fuchsias trained as standards. Very pink indeed!
Only six more days until Christmas! How are your preparations going? Shopping done yet? Will you be doing any special baking? Do you have special traditions that you never do without?
I hope that you have some time to relax during this activity packed time!
Shopping and decorating not yet complete but getting there. A bit manic at the moment but I'm confident the day itself and following that will be nice and relaxing :)
ReplyDeleteMy family are accustomed to receiving Epiphany gifts from me as I'm such a procrastinator. I wish you a very relaxing season! We always look forward to the Queen's Christmas Message and watching parts of midnight mass from the Vatican.
DeleteI plan to do a lot of relaxing this year. Nigel is taking the week off between Christmas and New Year's, and we might never get out of our PJ's. I'll cook a fancy meal on Christmas day, but after that it'll be turkey sandwiches and leftovers. We don't really bother buying each other presents any more. I baked some cookies yesterday to send to my kid.
ReplyDeleteRelaxing sounds grand! The church job keeps me busy but on the day itself, we go to my sister's place and have a nice time doing nothing!
DeleteI somehow ran across your blog about a year ago and read it every day. Love your pics and your sense of humor and the fact that you unfailingly blog almost every single day, even though it sounds like you are a very busy person. My sweet husband died 4 wks ago and the grief is unimaginable, but I am trying to move forward every day....snail's pace thought it may be. Your blog is the highlight of my day most days. Thank you for your hard work and for making me laugh and/or smile!
ReplyDeleteOh Sandy, I'm so very sorry! I wish I had magic words to ease your pain but there are none for such a loss - sometimes it just hurts. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you find your way in your world so radically changed.
DeleteI'm so glad that you find solace in reading blogs and that you find mine amusing. Sometimes it does get hectic with my jobs and blogging five days a week but it's also a delight to share gardening with folks in the blogging community like yourself. Your comment means so much to me. Thank you for letting me know. I wish you strength for your journey.
Deepest Sympathy to you, Sandy. I cannot imagine how you must feel. I do have a link that I think might be of some small comfort. http://flowerladysmusings.blogspot.com/ -- Flower Lady's husband died more than a year ago and she is helping not only herself but numerous ladies with the same experience. She finds comfort in her garden and in beautiful needlework.
DeleteTo Sandy (above), it's the mundane things that get us through great grief, our favorite blogs included. You have my sympathy and I'm very sad for you. One day at a time.
ReplyDeleteOutlaw, I've loved this series of garden centers all decked out for Christmas. Yes, I'm ready, thanks to Amazon Prime! And thank you for all the Christmas spirit!
It's been fun checking out a few local nurseries during the festive season to see how each of them handles the holiday thing. I'll be visiting at least a couple more tomorrow! Still have a few things to do but am almost ready for C. Day.
DeleteI haven't been to Windmill at Christmas time. Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteYep, I just finished the gift wrapping, cookie baking is done, we're all set to begin the festivities.
Today we visited friends and brought tins of our cookies to friends who are currently housebound, dealing with illness. It was good to have time to bring some cheer to others.
What a beautiful thing for you to do! Glad to hear that you're ready but am not at all surprised as you have a gift for planning and organization!
DeleteAnother fun visit to a fantastic place with plants. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWe already ate the Fruitcake, so are we ahead or behind? I have the making for another if He-Who gets the pecans cracked. LIttle people are coming to see us next week; their gift cards are bought. I baked a ham today. Every day is a Holiday.
I think next year I'll have more begonias.
You're right on time with the fruitcake and it's great that little people will be visiting next week! Every day is a Holiday - Sounds divine. Is that a benefit of retirement or an attitude you've always had?
DeleteWhen you retire every Day is a Holiday, every Meal is a Picnic. Retirement requires careful planning if one is to enjoy it properly. Even old people need purpose.
DeleteThe blue lights and birch- love that combo!!! I still can't believe Christmas is almost here. Time goes by entirely too fast.
ReplyDeleteTime indeed does fly faster every year!
DeleteI have a special fondness for Windmill now, thanks to you and Alison for introducing it to me. It looks beautifully sparkly decked out for Christmas. I always love white birch bark, and with those blue lights - magical! I think I need to find a way to include B. jacquemontii or another of the smaller super-white species in my garden. Not quite ready for Christmas yet - but I will be!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, a Betula in your garden would be stunning! (Promise that you'll name her Betula Clark.) Ready or not, here it comes!
DeleteNever thought of Begonias as Christmas plants, but that's a nice idea.
ReplyDeleteMy begonias usually look pretty ratty by this time of year. Maybe the trick is to go with fibrous begonias purchased at a nursery during the season.
DeleteDear Mr. TOG : )
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for dropping by my blog and we both have that wish to have met each other at the Fling but the fates are working against us (naughty fates that they are!!)
Yes ... so many of these displays are so pretty ... especially the white birch and blue lights!
I wish we had even just one nursery that would put on a show like this ... there were wonderful ones in Holland and Belgium we saw when we were there ... it was amazing to us.
I hope you also have a very merry Christmas and a totally wonderful New Year !
Hope we both have our gardens look amazing this coming new year too : )
Take Care !
Joy : )
I like the way you think (that we both have amazing - looking gardens this coming year!) Thinking of you often as I'm shopping this time of year as I hear "Joy To the World" quite often!
DeleteI like the way they decorated that fountain. No special holiday traditions in my family. It's just a season to spend time with family.
ReplyDeleteMaking panettone today (it's a two-day process) replacing cookies, which are entirely too deliciously dangerous. Your posts leading up to Christmas have done a good job of creating the proper mood to enjoy it all. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete