Holiday greenery

I spent the afternoon of December 8 in the garden as it was unseasonably warm. It was a lovely day to work outside if you didn't assume climate change was responsible for the temperatures in the low 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

I wandered the garden with my clippers cutting evergreens to fan out around the big Mark Skudlarek plate by the front door. There's a long rolled-up tube of chicken wire curving behind the plate to hold the stems of the greenery.

Many of the evergreens in our garden are now mature enough that I had no qualms about cutting a few small branches off of any one of them. I ended up with the most mixed display I've ever had, using clippings from seven different evergreens. 

The mix includes Arborvitae, both Canadian and Japanese Hemlocks, blue Juniper, Scots pine, Russian cypress and an unknown lacy yellow Chamaecyparis. I put the Canadian Hemlock branches in with their silvery blue undersides showing for more contrast. 

I love how the blue tones echo the color of the plate.

I added a string of battery powered mini lights and then decided it needed something more. I tried a few still bright Allium seed heads.

But that bright pink seemed a bit much. So I calmed it down with a few bigger and much less colorful Allium seed heads and am generally pleased with the result. 

The only downside is that I learned via a discussion on the Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society FB page that the professionals said not to do any trimming while it is this warm. They noted the trees and shrubs are not dormant and the fresh cuts could prove harmful.

I love the education I get on that Wisconsin site, but I sure wish the subject had come up before I went clipping here and there. 

Comments

[Kristin]

It's a lovely arrangement. The biggest mistake I made with our garden was popping in perennials without putting evergreens in first. I was so desperate for flowers. I do keep that in mind when things die or just in case I get the itch to move things around and open up a spot for some evergreens. Fingers crossed you won't have any damage.

[danger garden]

Very fresh and full of holiday cheer! Wasn't it cool at your place a few weeks back? Wouldn't the plants have gone dormant then?

[Linda Brazill]

LOREE — We have had a number of frosts and lots of up and down temps since then. So I am not really worried; but it did surprise me to hear the comments from those in the know. Maybe the continued warm temps are a problem that is keeping things from true dormancy. Who knows?

[Linda Brazill]

KRISTIN — The advantage of having snow for a chunk of the year is that it made us put in evergreens early on. Took a while to realize what a good idea that was.

[Chavli]

It's a most suitable and gorgeous ceramic plate for the display! I love the variety of shapes and colors of your conifer collection. I'm sure it smelled amazing too.
(I doubt you clipped enough to do any damage at all.)

[Linda Brazill]

CHAVLI — I'm sure I didn't hurt anything either but when the pros in our Hardy Plant Society send out warnings I tend to pay attention.