We are madly making gorgeous Christmas wreaths and also selling the raw materials to do your own. It is easy and fun ! The fragrance of the cut evergreen foliage is like a drug – you can’t stop once you start !
I used to give classes in wreath making at my former flower shop and also here at Southlands. They were always sold out, and a tradition for many fun gals every year. Now, we don’t have enough room . So, here are some tips to create a gorgeous, professional looking wreath without me !
First of all , buy a nice fresh wreath that is the size you like, that is fairly plain. This way, you aren’t paying for needless ‘decor’ (crap), mindlessly installed by a wreath making zombie. Make sure it is fresh and not dried out whatsoever. Drop it once or twice to see if any needles fall off. Keep your wreath outdoors as much as possible, as with no water supply, everything cut will dry and turn crispy very quickly indoors.
Looking at the photo of the wreath above, notice that everything is in a group of either 3, 5 or 7. Notice the yellow/gold evergreen bunches ? There are five of them. Fabulous glass egg highlights are glue-gunned on. How many egg ‘incidents’ are there ? Three. Odd numbers look random and natural. Invest in some ‘better’ goodies to work with. Eucalyptus in imported and is not that inexpensive…..but nothing else has the wonderful glaucous blue/celadon colouration it has. ‘Seeded Euc’ is what we like, with lots of textural seeds in mini-grape like clusters. ‘Pepperberry’ is indispensible. This import adds pink and red to the pallette of materials to use. I avoid Holly – it is soooo hostile to work with and too cliche.
Go for a walk and see what nature is offering…. you’ll be amazed. Rose hips , seedheads, cones, mossy bits and unusual evergreens are all waiting for your secret nips… but be gentle.
November 30, 2010
Wreath making Tips
Christmas Creations
At Southlands, we are having a very green Christmas ! It is our favourite season to be creative, using as many types of fresh cut greenery, twigs, mossy branches, berries and cones as we can find. This very natural look is this years strongest trend – no ribbon in sight !
I have also incorporated lots of driftwood pieces into door and front porch decor . For this year’s ‘Homes For The Holidays’ charity house tour , I invented the ‘Hoo-Ville’ trees in pots for the front door. From the photo shown here, you can see that all it takes is a pre-made driftwood ‘tree’, and three wreaths. I added bits of ‘pepperberry’ for some red accents. These whimsical ‘trees’ will last well outdoors all winter. The driftwood cone tree base can be saved from year to year. We sell these driftwood cone trees in three sizes at the nursery. I’d love to say that they were made by local hippies on our Gulf Islands, but they come from China. What doesn’t ?
November 15, 2010
Vintage Ceramics
In my never ending need to offer something ‘different’ at Southlands, I have now created a ‘Vintage’ showcase of early American ceramics. Almost all are 1930′s to 1950′s, from now-defunct factories such as Weller and McCoy. I have been collecting botanical ceramics for several years, and have many that I would never sell. At Southlands , I have concentrated on cache pots and quirky animals, pixies and a few English pieces. Prices range from $25.00 to $150.00…. the vast majority are in the $45.00 range. Less than a dollar a year !
The American art pottery ‘scene’ was centred in Zanesville, Ohio . It was the source of the clay used by all the big companies (like the nearby Roseville Pottery), and also was quite central for shipping all over North America by train. Weller Pottery (my favourite !) employed 700 people at one point, and had their own railway line connection to the factory to ship out their products by the boxcar load !
This new addition to our retail mix is a labour of love, not profit. I hope to re-awaken childhood memories in some, and to some extent, showcase what we’ve lost…..
All these pots are functional and well- used. All except one are in perfect condition . Consider one or two for your favourite orchids or succulents on your windowsill, just like June Cleaver had !
November 11, 2010
Peony planting time?
Late autumn is an ideal time to move or plant herbaceous peonies. They are fully dormant and ‘feel no pain’ at this time of year. At Southlands, we have just received a shipment of extra-large peony roots that we have potted into big nursery pots. These divisions were all locally grown here in British Columbia and have at least six ‘eyes’ (dormant shoot buds) instead of the usual two. That means six flower stems the very first year !
Peonies like a ‘hard life’ – poor soil and full sun. Nice rich soil encourages leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Too much shade creates floppy stems and few flowers. The happiest peonies are usually seen in old church or farm gardens, blooming away with absolutely no care. Fussed over peonies usually disappoint…..just like some people’s children.
Varieties in stock right now include the lovely single white ‘Krinkled White’ , a reliable benchmark peony that all other single whites are compared to. The showy yellow stamens in the centre of each 6″ flower form a bushy pincushion tuffet, surrounded by pure white ruffled outer petals in a single layer. The flowers look much like the rare ‘California tree poppy’ ( that is hard to find and sometimes hard to grow), Romneya coulteri.
I also like the variety called ‘Top Brass’. This double peony has a pile of multi-hued pink and ivory petals in chiffon-like layers. The colours change as they age… faded gold, pink and ivory all in no particular order. The outer petals are larger than the overall flower, and create a plate for a yummy sundae to sit on.
We have many others in stock, also. Old favourites like ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ , ‘Duchesse de Nemours’, ‘Shirley Temple’, and ’Bowl of Beauty’ are waiting to thrill you next spring with their fragrance and beauty !
Peony ‘Krinkled White’
