By Claire Jones
No flower says Christmas like the beautiful Poinsettia. I was amazed to learn that the Poinsettia is the most popular potted plant by far in the U.S. and Canada. Here are some other interesting tidbits: History & Legends The Poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, means "very beautiful" The showy leaves or petals, called "bracts", are not the actual flower. The …
Continue reading "Poinsettia-Christmas Customs & Traditions"
Located in New Bern, North Carolina, near the intercoastal waterway, you can experience North Carolina's colonial past in a beautiful historic building that dates back to 1770. John Hawks, a London architect, was brought here by Royal Governor William Tryon to build an impressive brick Georgian style structure to house his family and to become …
Continue reading "A Colonial Christmas Tryon Palace"
Volunteering to decorate at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave for Christmas is a bucket list item for many people, and I have posted on this blog in the past about my experiences working there in 2011 , 2015, and 2017. Though I didn't participate this year, I have lots of pictures. Anyone can apply, and to my …
Continue reading "Decorating the White House 2018"
On a recent chilly and rainy afternoon I visited McLean Nursery in Parkville, Maryland, to get my annual inspiration for "decking the halls with boughs of holly". Six cheerful people (and a dog!)stuffed into a cozy shed full of holiday trimmings was a nice respite from the constant deluge of rain. Busy with working on …
Continue reading "Prince of Evergreens at McLean Nursery"
What do you do with a container on your front porch once you have yanked out those sorry-looking frost-killed petunias? Segue into the holiday season with beautiful fall/winter containers using "yard" material. As a landscape designer, my first consideration in planting any tree or shrub is - Can I use it in my seasonal containers? …
Continue reading "Outdoor Seasonal Containers"
