Holiday Décor from your Backyard | 116

[@mifasola1]

Rick I was a manager for a few years at Frank's Nursery and Crafts in Chicago, and they sent me to the University of Illinois through the Chicago Botanic Garden's Master Gardener program...I got my certification back in 1991. Now I live in Holland and love my soil here! No more clay! I've been gardening since 1985 and I will say that I truly love the smell of cedar, balsam, and speaking of cinnamon pine cones, I understand what you're saying, as they are always set up at the outside of the store doors when you walk into Family Fare. I figure they are best used for deterring mice in the garden and other creatures. So sometimes I buy pine cones and I scent them myself and throw them out amongst my garden and in the back of my house. Mice love to try to get into my laundry room. I have a gauntlet of snapping traps. And I totally didn't know about how paper white smell because I never attempted to force them. But I did buy some at Jonkers and have them sprouting right now along with amaryllis. And yes I have been pulling out pieces of plantings in my garden to use in holiday arrangements. I took a bunch of panicle hydrangeas and spray painted them red. And my Gaura is still very green and I'm going to snip off some of that and maybe a few branches of arborvitae. When I bought some greens a couple weeks ago I asked what they were because I had never seen them before, they were Carolina Sapphire. So I HAD to order one from Home Depot and planted it yesterday! Can't wait to see it grow larger but I'm going to keep it pruned to a height of 6 or 7 feet. And my scotchbroom will make great cuttings as well for a holiday display. Finally I will say that when Frank's went belly up, there was a big gap in the market of crafts and plants. And that gap has not yet been filled, not even by Flowerland or any other boutique nursery or garden center. While employed there I learned more about plants than I ever had along with my supplemental education outside of the workplace.

[@youbetcha108]

I loved shopping at Franks nurseries and crafts! So much to see and you could do all your shopping there for all kinds of things for the home and garden. Alas now we are subjected to the isolated world of on line shopping. Just think of all the nice people you would meet all shopping for the same kinds of things. It was a fun place to shop.

[@Peoniesandpinks]

Have a wonderful thanksgiving!

[@gosianiewiardowski6934]

Hi Stacey and Rick :-) Stacey pronunciation of my name is perfect. Since then I add seven more hydrangeas to my collection. They are puffer fish, and incredible blush. I choose to trim the hydrangea this year in the fall because of the cicadas this year we had three different kinds of cicadas this year. The damage, and all my bushes was significant in the ends of the branches. Thank you so much for answering my question and Happy Thanksgiving everyone

[@elainelight9286]

Stacey, I love when your hair grows. You look so pretty!

[@elainelight9286]

Love the fragrance of paper whites!

[@youbetcha108]

Happy 🦃Thanksgiving!🦃🦃

[@elainelight9286]

Loved Rick’s lim-a-Rick!

[@petegdula4749]

Speaking of cuttings from your own garden ... One winter we had a lot of snow, a lot of work, and very little time to get out into the woods to gather nature's own bounty. We had a few pine trees planted by my sons from when they were in grade school and were given free small trees to plant for Arbor Day. The pines were fairly large by the time the guys got to college. Needing some live decorations, (and a tree for inside) I made sure no one was around and got out the saw. It seemed that the White Pine would be the easiest to get to, and the least likely that anyone would notice until spring. So, I lopped off about the top six feet of this tall White Pine. The upper most four feet made a fairly nice portion to decorate as the main event. We had a cozy little Cape Cod so space was at a premium price. A few other of its branches were combined with a few boughs from a fir tree. They were shaped into a wreath for the front door along with some other notable offerings from around the yard. The summer both of my guys were home for break was great because they were helping me spruce up the gardens. My youngest, about 20 at the time, started to stare at the white pine. Finally, he gave me with a quizical look and said, "Hey Dad, why does that White Pine have three limbs growing straight up from that one spot?" I told them the whole story, we got a good chuckle, and from then on when they came home to visit they'd check all of the trees to see if there were any others that had given their boughs up to be used in our Christmas decorations! 🎄🎀🎁 Thank you all for another great show, and have a very special Happy Thanksgiving!

[@heatherderganc5984]

Hmmm… we have a ton of Cicada here in Texas and damage has not been an issue. My understanding is that they lay their eggs underground. I just love your ideas to bring natural elements into our arrangements. 🌲🌾🍁 It’s a great way to bring elegance to store bought. You’ve given me the inspiration I needed for a garden club table I am hosting in December. Thank you both for annnother great show and I hope you all have a lovely Thanksgiving! 🦃

[@josweatt898]

I always learn something from you two! Thanks so much. My favorite holiday scent is Balsam. I dislike cinnamon!! PS: Love your Pheasant pin Stacey.

[@dianeyoungberg2472]

Good morning! ☀️

[@lilyw.1788]

It is so expensive to buy evergreens from the garden center . $12 for a bundle of 4 branches which a smaller planter still requires about 4-6 bundles at minimum to look full. I always look for a misshapen Xmas tree and ask for discount and just cut off what I need. Some garden centers also offer throw away clippings which you can also use !

[@pc0086]

First one! Good morning Stacey and Rick! Happy Thanksgiving❤, enjoying the show and a cup of warm coffee in hands, looking out to my backyard in this raining morning, ahhh....

[@emkn1479]

Stacey! You should try R. rugosa. I have one and nothing (other than Japanese beetles) messes with it. I have deer in my yard every day. The spines must really put them off. It must be completely rugosa however, as I tried a rose with only partial rugosa parentage and it gets eaten every year. I’m planning to add another that shares the same name as my new baby niece. The shrub has the most fragrant blooms, too. It takes over though, which is what I was looking for. I don’t really give it any special care and only prune when I see dead or damaged canes.

[@28tv.]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@elainelight9286]

I read that broadleaf evergreens should not be pruned in the winter. Would clipping some branches off damage the shrub?

[@elainelight9286]

Right now I have a little quick fire panicle hydrangea in my bedroom. How many months do I need to keep it in the garage so that it will bloom this spring and summer?

[@zeniazenia2787]

Is that ‘shiver me timbers’. ?

[@zeniazenia2787]

Why do people think the pine cones smell like cinnamon? That is the fragrance of CLOVES