I did not grow up with anything close to a themed Christmas tree. So why I started putting up a second tree for me evolved from a growing collection of beautiful ornaments relating to the garden gifted over the years or acquired during travel. I felt these interesting ornaments were getting lost in our family tree and did not have relevance to the rest of my family members, all non gardeners! So with already an overflowing to-do list, I actually find tremendous joy in decorating “my” garden tree.
Garden ornaments are not that easy to find now that Smith Hawkins has gone out of business.
I treasure many of the ornaments with special significance. The gilded Canadian maple leaf reminds me of home, the ornament hand painted with gardener’s tools touches my artist’s heart,
the botanically accurate hyacinth bulb is stunning.
They are all ornaments given by friends. Some ornaments like the hedgehog with an apple on its head
are finds that highlight an event like the summer when a cranky prince charming trapped 7 hedgehogs from under our shed(I resisted a skunk ornament…..that is a story best told over a glass of wine!).
I string mini white lights, add a multitude of dried hydrangeas straight from the garden( some years these are spraypainted gold), add a garland with vines on it and top the tree with a gardening angel handmade by a cousin. It is a sight to behold.
The best part of my garden tree is that it literally makes me stop the frenzy of the season to smell the hydrangeas. I spend many quiet hours reading by this tree during the holidays with a fire crackling nearby and just slow the pace right down and truly savor the magic of the season. I dream of future garden travel or projects. I think of all the wonderful ornament gifts and their givers which have brought me so much joy. It is a truly special tree just for me.
I hope I have inspired you to consider starting a new tradition of a themed Christmas tree to celebrate a hobby, a passion or to commemmorate a family member’s achievement(a ribbon tree of equestrian wins for example). You will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!
Johanne, I’m always excited to view your creations, another gorgeous one!!! Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2013 22:35:11 +0000 To: bernadettesweeting@hotmail.com
Thank you Bernadette! It always makes me smile when I see the Bahamas light up om the world map in the statistics page on my blog! :)))) I know you are reading. I am sending a card home with Megan for you. Have a blessed Christmas.
Love this tree! I am going right into my snow covered back yard to cut some hydrangeas for my reef as you know I can not put them in my tree with the real candles. You inspire me, girl!
Do you love the hydrangeas? So easy and natural. I had to knock the snow off mine too!
I love your garden themed tree – especially the fact that you made it for yourself to enjoy. I also love garden/woodland themed ornaments and was searching for them when I found your blogpost from last year. So good to know there are other people who like to decorate as I do! I have some wonderful Marjolein Bastein ornaments from years ago that I treasure. Thanks for sharing!
It so nice to hear feom another garden lover at Christmas Starr! I wrote that post when I was just starting to blog so the photos are not the best quality. I have a few Marjorein Bastin ornaments that I really love, especially a bunny by a watering can in the snow. I really miss Smith Hawkins for garden ornaments but have still been finding freat ones in botanical garden shops like Longwood Gardens. Thank you for visiting my site and commenting! It made my day!
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