The debate that divides co-workers, friends, siblings and even spouses....A lovely real cut Christmas Tree or a 'Made in China' plastic beauty (tongue firmly in cheek). I've been in the Christmas Tree Selling part of the industry for over 20 years and have heard many reasons why for both sides. Here are the key points.
Fresh Cut Christmas Trees, by far, have many more redeeming qualities then an artificial tree.
Fresh trees allow you to bring a small part of our great Earth into your home. The fragrance of many varieties are just simply outstanding. From the great evergreen scents from a Fraser or Douglas Fir to the tropical citrus aroma of a Concolor Fir. You can buy the scent in a spray bottle for your your fake, plastic tree, but it smells just that...fake (and it only lasts for a short time).
Fresh trees are a recyclable commodity. The growers replant every year to keep the earth healthy - true sustainability. Once the Christmas Season is over, your tree can be taken to many Garden Centers to be chipped for wood mulch. Ever try to recycle an artificial tree? They don't fit in your bin and with all the processes needed to make it, who knows what type of plastic it is (if it's even plastic). And then there's the wire branches....
I have heard many a spouse say 'it drops needles and makes a mess'. Well, most of us use a vacuum once a week anyways, so that's a non issue. And, just for point, a fake tree 'sheds' too....ever try to glue the needles back on for the next year?
The fresh tree only takes up space in your home for about 4-6 weeks. The artificial tree takes up space in your closet, garage, or attic all 52 weeks a year!
'Real trees cost more and more each year' is another great comment. Stop being a Scrooge. I'm sure your Christmas Gift budget can handle that $30-$50 each year. It's likely you spend that much (at least!) on your favorite beverages each month. And each year the new tree is fluffy and full. I watched my father spend 1-2 hours a year trying to 'fluff' that plastic tree every year for 5 years...and each year the artificial tree started looking more and more like Charlie' Brown's!
Be Green. Love Mother Earth. Keep the tradition of having a Fresh Cut Christmas Tree each year.
Happy Christmas. Todd.
p.s. What does the title of this blog mean? Its the Latin name (all plants, like all living things are classified in Latin) given to Artificial Trees.
06 December 2011
26 November 2011
Wreaths, Naturally!
My husband tells me I was born 100 years too late. My dream house throws out the notions of a 2-car garage and white picket fence in favor of a lofted barn and 19th century stone wall-like the very 1820 farmhouse of my childhood in Maine, the Pine Tree State.
My parents had eyes for antiques, and our house was designed around furniture and clocks they found in nooks and crannies of New England, and had reupholstered, refinished or restored themselves-with no 2 pieces matching- Early Attic decor, my Mom called it. Mom enjoyed gardening and taught me the basics, using methods which these days would be lauded as "green" or "organic". She just listened to advice from other Maine gardeners and farmers as to what worked and what didn't.
My mother was also a gatherer. Stopping on roadside with her trowel in the trunk she would dig up tansy or yarrow and transplant it to our yard. She and I would start collecting pinecones weeks before the holiday season to make wreaths. "Collect only the short,fat ones, Beth." I remember her neglect of the long,pitchy White Pine cones- I always felt badly for the ugly duckling left-behinds. Then we would scour the woods for anything else natural to use for accent:acorns,butternuts, teasel, milkweed pods, etc.. When all we had was collected then cleaned (heated in a warm oven for 30 minutes or so to kill any tag-along bugs) Mom would patiently wire each cone to a metal ring base for her Christmas wreath or white glue (glue guns are SO appreciated now!)our naturals to Styrofoam cones to form tabletop Christmas trees. The end result, we imagined lookingsimilar to pieces from Sturbridge VIllage or Colonial Williamsburg.
We lost Mom in 1986, but her love of all things simple stays with me , and each Fall as I get geared up for the garden center wreath season I fondly recall those times together with my Mom.
This year, perhaps you too, can create some memories as you design a natural wreath of your own. Start with a plain evergreen base. Then, think cones,grasses,nuts, hollyberries, rose hips, juniper and spruce greens. Dried apple and orange slices, dried yarrow, hydrangea blossoms, and other flower heads: twigs from grapevines, red twigged dogwood or curly willow also add a rustic flair. Either hot glue or florist-wire your items to the wreath. Bows are optional. Your wreath will sport its own personality.
So, this holiday season invite some family and friends over for an afternoon. Gather up some unique naturals, put the kettle on for tea or cocoa and make some good old-fashioned memories. Merry Christmas!
by Beth Warren
My parents had eyes for antiques, and our house was designed around furniture and clocks they found in nooks and crannies of New England, and had reupholstered, refinished or restored themselves-with no 2 pieces matching- Early Attic decor, my Mom called it. Mom enjoyed gardening and taught me the basics, using methods which these days would be lauded as "green" or "organic". She just listened to advice from other Maine gardeners and farmers as to what worked and what didn't.
My mother was also a gatherer. Stopping on roadside with her trowel in the trunk she would dig up tansy or yarrow and transplant it to our yard. She and I would start collecting pinecones weeks before the holiday season to make wreaths. "Collect only the short,fat ones, Beth." I remember her neglect of the long,pitchy White Pine cones- I always felt badly for the ugly duckling left-behinds. Then we would scour the woods for anything else natural to use for accent:acorns,butternuts, teasel, milkweed pods, etc.. When all we had was collected then cleaned (heated in a warm oven for 30 minutes or so to kill any tag-along bugs) Mom would patiently wire each cone to a metal ring base for her Christmas wreath or white glue (glue guns are SO appreciated now!)our naturals to Styrofoam cones to form tabletop Christmas trees. The end result, we imagined lookingsimilar to pieces from Sturbridge VIllage or Colonial Williamsburg.
We lost Mom in 1986, but her love of all things simple stays with me , and each Fall as I get geared up for the garden center wreath season I fondly recall those times together with my Mom.
This year, perhaps you too, can create some memories as you design a natural wreath of your own. Start with a plain evergreen base. Then, think cones,grasses,nuts, hollyberries, rose hips, juniper and spruce greens. Dried apple and orange slices, dried yarrow, hydrangea blossoms, and other flower heads: twigs from grapevines, red twigged dogwood or curly willow also add a rustic flair. Either hot glue or florist-wire your items to the wreath. Bows are optional. Your wreath will sport its own personality.
So, this holiday season invite some family and friends over for an afternoon. Gather up some unique naturals, put the kettle on for tea or cocoa and make some good old-fashioned memories. Merry Christmas!
by Beth Warren
12 November 2011
What goes up must come down :)
Fall is a great time for long, leisurely drives to leaf-peep and enjoy the natural beauty
of the season. Alas,what goes up must come down, so grab those rakes, pruners
and other garden tools and let's get cracking.
It's a good idea to remove the fallen leaves from the grass to minimize damage to the lawn over the winter. Take those raked up leaves and recycle them into your landscaped beds as mulch to improve soil texture and add nutrients.
While you've got the momentum going, now is the time to cut down, transplant and divide most perennials. Empty out and thoroughly clean any containers of spent annuals. Finally get those spring bulbs in the ground before it freezes.
Once you've taken the time and made the effort to properly put your garden to bed for the winter, relax and enjoy- you'll be glad you did come next Spring.
By Hope Fox
of the season. Alas,what goes up must come down, so grab those rakes, pruners
and other garden tools and let's get cracking.
It's a good idea to remove the fallen leaves from the grass to minimize damage to the lawn over the winter. Take those raked up leaves and recycle them into your landscaped beds as mulch to improve soil texture and add nutrients.
While you've got the momentum going, now is the time to cut down, transplant and divide most perennials. Empty out and thoroughly clean any containers of spent annuals. Finally get those spring bulbs in the ground before it freezes.
Once you've taken the time and made the effort to properly put your garden to bed for the winter, relax and enjoy- you'll be glad you did come next Spring.
By Hope Fox
27 October 2011
Bird Feeding that turns into wildlife watching....
When the cold weather arrives it always motivates me to
start feeding my feathered friends.
Of course, the plethra of birds is always a joy to watch, but I find that what gives me the most pleasure is the additional wildlife the bird feeder brings in.
The always in a merry-mood chipmunks put a smile on my face
as they scurry along with their frenzy.
The abundant squirrels don't keep my interest for long as they are so ordinary and so monopolizing of the feeder.
The rare specimens seem to put a smile on my face more easily...
such as a family of deer that arrives at dusk for a snack
or the even rarer cackle of the ring neck pheasant
that struts in for a treat.
Tell me, what fun hapens at your feeder?
18 October 2011
It's Fall y'all!
Van Putte Gardens is brimming with your favorite autumn decor!
Whether it's stunning mums
pumpkins for carving
cornstalks for your lamppost
smiling scarecrows
berry covered wreaths
or colorful Indian corn...
Van Putte Gardens has what your home needs to add color and creativity to
your Halloween or Thanksgiving.
Plus there is still plenty of time to plant bulbs for a showy spring.
Come in soon for the best selection of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and more!
By: Beth Warren
10 October 2011
Go Native
Go Native!
With the recent emphasis on “Going Green”, landscaping with native plant species has become popular and is great for the environment.
Native plants, by definition, grow naturally in a region and have not been introduced to the area by humans.
Native plants are ornamental, being both colorful and fragrant. They require little or no maintenance since they adapt well to a region’s soil conditions and climate. Best of all, native plants are environmentally friendly because they attract various wildlife by providing food and shelter.
With the recent emphasis on “Going Green”, landscaping with native plant species has become popular and is great for the environment.
Native plants, by definition, grow naturally in a region and have not been introduced to the area by humans.
Native plants are ornamental, being both colorful and fragrant. They require little or no maintenance since they adapt well to a region’s soil conditions and climate. Best of all, native plants are environmentally friendly because they attract various wildlife by providing food and shelter.
21 May 2011
Are your Wellies wet yet?
My goodness, my wellies have been soaked through lately. If you're wondering, wellies are a line of decorative waterproof boots. But as much as my feet kept getting wet, imagine your poor plants.
I am seeing so much wilting of plants, perennials especially, that is simply due to the excessive amount of rain. It does allow you to see low parts in your landscapes that can be trouble spots. We also early onset of some fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew.
But on the bright side, The growing season has been a slow pace and the early spring flower colors have been vivid and long lived. Half of May has been cool and cloudy and half of it sunny.
Maybe today will be the start another stretch of dry, warm weather. But don't give up hope if it rains a bit more. You've got your wellies to keep your toes dry.
I am seeing so much wilting of plants, perennials especially, that is simply due to the excessive amount of rain. It does allow you to see low parts in your landscapes that can be trouble spots. We also early onset of some fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew.
But on the bright side, The growing season has been a slow pace and the early spring flower colors have been vivid and long lived. Half of May has been cool and cloudy and half of it sunny.
Maybe today will be the start another stretch of dry, warm weather. But don't give up hope if it rains a bit more. You've got your wellies to keep your toes dry.
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