Have you heard about the Washington Park Arboretum's Gifts and Greens Galore? I'm realizing that I'm going to have to live in Seattle a while, see each season's activities and note what I want to attend next year. I keep stumbling upon things a little late.
This really neat one-day event at the Washington Park Arboretum gift shop sells pre-bundled greens from the arboretum and members' gardens. Pricing is $5, $10 or $15 per bundle and is marked with colored zip ties. There wasn't much left when I arrived just before the sale closed, but I could get an idea of what they offered and I love it. I can see myself fashioning a wreath from these fresh greens or even a circle centerpiece to ring a large candle.
The arboretum has a terrific gift shop year-round. This event showcased a selection of nature-inspired jewelry, laser cut wood candle holders, felted ornaments, bird seed balls and packets as well the item that got my attention: honey!
This is honey collected from hives inside the Washington Park Arboretum! Isn't that interesting?
The countless blooms and blossoms of the season distilled into a natural wonder. I had to have a jar. I am so pleased that they use hexagonal jars in a nod to the honeycomb shape and I was interested to notice that the honey came in a variety of shades. No doubt due to when and where it was collected. I chose one that was darker, as most of my honey is pale amber in color.
Make note on your calendar that the Washington Park Arboretum's Gift and Greens Galore event will be early December next year - check their website next fall. I'll see you there!
As you know, my husband and I am in a small apartment in Seattle this year and my grand holiday style had to be downsized considerably.
The kitchen table acts as a hub for eating, frosting cookies, Christmas card writing, bill paying and the like. So I wanted to have a holiday centerpiece that I could move easily. This year, the answer was a fresh bunch of juniper (look at all of the gorgeous dusty blue berries!) tied with some ribbons and a trio of glass votives. It is simple and festive. I bought the greens at our local super grocery store (I know!) and the cost was around $4. Oh, and the scent of pine was won-der-ful.
What do you use as a holiday centerpiece this year?
I've made a new friend here in Seattle (yea! She has made my stay here so much more fun) and she invited me to her home to see her garden. I knew that she loved collecting blown glass and that she often attended art shows, but I really learned about "her eye" when I saw how artfully she has designed her outdoor living area. I loved it!
It was a little too cool and misty to sit outside that evening, but I fully intend to walk around on the patio and spend some quality time talking out there when I get the chance. I was particularly drawn to the woods behind her garden. Enormous pine trees with long smooth trunks surrounded by fern - I could see into the woods for a long distance and there were a million shades of green. I kept commenting on the woods and I realize now that I probably sounded funny to them.
It reminded me of when we had a friend who had been living in Kazakhstan visit us. When we were leaving for dinner, I was telling him about the "signature pasta salads" at a restaurant we were going to. He said he really just wondered if they'd have a salad of green lettuce. Um...yes? He said that it was hard to get fresh produce that time of year in Kazakhstan and he couldn't wait to have "green lettuce." I felt the same way in this beautiful Washington forrest. I was supposed to be noticing the garden art (which I did love) but I couldn't stop talking about the trees.
Look at these glass flowers! Perfectly at home in this natural setting and a brilliant way to bring year round color to an outdoor space. I had never seen art pieces like this on display in a private setting. I had only seen them at art shows and when 50 pieces are together, they are beautiful but the color and movement is too overwhelming for me. Here, when they are artfully arranged, I can see them exactly as they were intended and I love it!
(2/19/16 Update: I just met the artist that made the flowers (in the first photo) at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle. Her name is Katy LaReau and you can buy her work here.
It is a fairy garden for grown ups. Bravo!
