First Come Flowers

5 Last Minute Tips for Holiday Outdoor Decor

 

Image:  Martha Stewart

1. Go green. Use lots of real evergreens outside your home.You can leave it out all winter to make your home look elegant and inviting.

 

2. Stick holiday ornaments and branches into existing outdoor plants. The bigger the ornaments,the better. Coordinate the colors. Buy them from your local dollar store. You can spray paint some branches or just buy some.

 

Image:   via Style Estate

3. Put a tree outside your home. Use a real or a fake one. Just make sure it's weighted down so it doesn't blow over to your neighbors place. The ornaments need to be wired to the Christmas tree.

 

Image:    Style Estate

4. Add white lights to stuff you already have outside. Light up your bushes, around your door and windows, etc. You get the idea. White lights or a single color keep things elegant.

 

Image:   Running in Stilettos

5. Put candles in lanterns outdoors. The lanterns should be heavy and appropriate for outdoor use. You can pick these up in stores like Home Goods. 

 

We placed pine boughs, berries and pine cones into the flower boxes in front of our shop. We'll leave those there until it get's warm. They hold up very well here in New York.

What's your tip for outdoor holiday decorating at the last minute?

Mimi

31 Days of Orange: Day 8 Autumn Leaf Pumpkin Centerpiece

 How about an autumn leaf pumpkin centerpiece for your next party?

 
Image:  Martha Stewart - David Monn

 

Here's a simple yet affordable centerpiece you can create. 

David Monn, a New York event planner, created this autumn leaf pumpkin centerpiece on Martha Stewart several years ago.

There's a nice tutorial over at DIY Wedding  if you'd like to learn how to make it.

What other kind of centerpiece could you make using autumn leaves and pumpkins?

Mimi

 

Link to other bloggers in the 31 Day Challenge her at The Nester.

 

 

What is a Moon Garden?

 
 
 
Part 1: What is a Moon Garden?  This is the first of a 4 part  series on moon gardens.

What is a moon garden?

A moon garden is a type of garden design meant to be enjoyed  in the moonlight.

Moon gardens contain white flowers and silvery foliage that seem to sparkle and reflect light. 

A place to relax, see and smell the sweet fragrance of night-blooming flowers.

Moon gardens are great for evening meditation and relaxation after a long day.

Please read the rest of this upcoming series:

Part II    Designing a Moon Garden

Part III   Types of Plants in a Moon Garden

Part IV    Balcony Moon Gardening

 

Beside flowers and foliage, what would you put in your moon garden? A chandelier? Fish pond?

Mimi

Image:   ewainthegarden

Types of Plants In A Moon Garden

 

This is Part 3 in a 4 part series on Moon Gardens. Read Part 1 and

Part 2 here.

Moon gardens are often referred to as evening gardens. Because they are best enjoyed at night.

 

The idea of a moon garden is to fill it with flowers that will almost glow at night.  But what kind of plants should you use? Check out the links below for lists of flowers  and foliage that are spectacular in the light of the moon.

 

Types of Plants in a Moon Garden:

• The Evening Garden
• Silver Herbs
• Hollywoods and Vines
• Night Blooming Plants
• Night Garden Plants
• Flowers for a Moon Garden

Which flower would be the centerpiece of your moon garden?

Mimi

 

Images:   Planting Seeds Blog     Unique Unique Design     Krisbishop

How To Design A Moon Garden

 

This is Part 2 of  a 4 Part series on Moon Gardens.

 

Read Part 1: What is a Moon Garden? here.

 

How To Design A Moon Garden

A moon garden is a special garden design that has only white flowers and silvery-leafed plants that reflect moon or artificial light.  Fragrant flowers are a major part of the design creating a relaxing atmosphere for meditation and quiet contemplation.

But how do you go about creating a moon garden? 

 

Here are some informative links where you can get ideas about how to design a moon garden:

• Make a Delightful Moon Garden Haven: Tips & Ideas .
• A Guide to Gardens That Look Best After Dark
• Design for a Moon Garden
• Under the Spell of  the Moon Garden

 

Which of the moon garden design links did you find most helpful? 

 

Image:  realsimple.com   domino   feefern

Green Ball Garden

"You see things and say,"Why? But I dream things that never were, and I say, "Why not?" George Bernard Shaw

 

You  have a great imagination.  Some of us  step out on faith and go for it.  Yet others just  dream it and then let it float on by like a cloud.  But when you see someone else make it happen you just want to kick yourself.

It may be time for you to just start thinking, why not? As long as you're not hurting anyone, why not give it a try? It could change everything!

You determine where your imagination will take you. For some, that might mean taking that trip to Paris you've been dreaming about. Stop dreaming and start saving.

Perhaps it's painting your room a color that's not a pastel. Or dying your hair blond. I don't want blond hair, but I sometimes wish I had the nerve to do something so radical.

Look at this amazing cliff top garden I saw on the blog, This is Glamorous.  I call it the Green Ball Garden, but I'd love to know what the real name is.

Who ever designed it definitely was thinking why not? Now how about you? What would you like to do?

Mimi

 

Image:   This is Glamorous

Unusual Container Garden Containers

 Unusual Container Garden

You can create container gardens in urns, flower boxes  or in over-sized flower pots. 

But how about taking a more playful approach? Plant your container garden in something quite different. 

Front Porch Ideas and More offers some basic info on planting container gardens. I'm sure there are many other sources online as well.

Thought I'd show you some unusual "vessels" you could plant a garden in.

But be sure to use an appropriate liner to catch the water and allow it to drain properly.  Don't say I didn't warn you!

 

  

This crusty old boot makes a lovely container for these flowers. Okay, perhaps lovely is pushing it. But surely it will be quite interesting once the flowers begin to bloom.

Consider the interests of your family when selecting an unusual vessel. 

If you're a guitar player, use a guitar. If you're a flute player, use a sax. Because getting the plants and soil into those litttle flute holes is going to be quite a chore.

 

If it's sweet dreams you're seek, perhaps this headboard planter will do the trick.

There are all kinds of things you can put plants in.

How about a little painted chest of drawers with the top one pulled out. Found a picture of one, but it wan't cute enough to actually include in this post.

Be creative. Let your imagination flow. Don't feel compelled to stick to those plastic "clay" flower pots. Live a little!

What kind of unusual "planters" have you seen or would you use?

 

Mimi

 

Image:   Modern Country   Daily Green   Guitar   BHG

Ordinary to Extraordinary

 

 

" The ordinary can be turned into the extraordinary." Unknown

                                                                                    

I am often amazed by the ability of others to make seemingly nothing into something. It happens every day. Not just with plants or flowers.

It's about taking something. Almost anything, and turning it upside down. Seeing it from a totally different perspective. Something that an ordinary person like me might never see if not for the brilliance of a creative person. 

You are a creative person.

My son once took a 36" piece of wood and carved it into a yard long pencil. Complete with a point, pink eraser and the words no. 2 written on the side of it.

Briliant I thought.What the heck am I going to do with it? I thought.  But that wasn't really the point. He looked at a simple piece of wood and saw something different. And he went for it.

I'm sure I still have it in the back of one of my closets, unless in one of my moments of Throw Out 50 Things, I tossed it. I really hope I didn't. It would be a prized piece of sculpture in my son's Brooklyn brownstone apartment.

But you get what I mean?

Line up 10 photographers and have them take a picture of exactly the same thing. In the exact same setting. One right after the other. On the exact same day.

You'd be surprised how different the images would be. Even if the photographers weren't told to be creative. Each image would be quite unique.

Every day Martha Stewart takes a very simple thing and makes it different. She and her staff rarely invent something new. Think about it.

They simply tweak what already exists. And they do it exceptionally well. And when they're done, they look for the next thing to make new.

So what's your idea? What's your spin on the ordinary? I bet if you try  it will be extraordinary to someone. Not just you!

 

Image:   Terrarium

                 MLee

Floral Inspiration: Foliage Arrangement

 

 

Foliage arrangements are fabulous! They're not as fussy as flowers. And they make the eye focus on shape and texture. Having the right vase though is crucial. This is an area of floral design I want to grow in. Excuse the pun!

 

What do you think about foliage arrangements?

Mimi

Image:  Martha Stewart

Happy St. Patrick's Day "Flower" Arrangement

 

 

A beautiful green "flower" arrangement made out of foliage to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

 

Image: Martha Stewart