The holidays seem to create a certain type of great energy in people that don’t seem to be as common during other times of the year. In general (if you stay out of the stores) people seem happier and more content with everything around them. Even winter doesn’t seem so bad until after the first of the year. It is just a jovial time for most.
As we are in full swing of the season also comes the decorating fun to make everything festive and fun. We decorate our outdoors seemingly as a welcome sign to invite people in for a quick visit, but this year is a little different and we find other ways to connect. What better time of year than to share a little of your time with those who mean the most to you and even with a stranger or two. The sky is the limit when it comes to the giving of the season.
One of my favorite things to do is to decorate the gardens with various ornamentations. Since we all have different types of gardens, we have different opportunities to showcase certain areas. I love to change all of the urns into Christmas showpieces by adding fresh greens, pine cones, beads, ornaments, stems and dried products. If there is an outlet nearby, the addition of lights adds a warming effect.
The addition of lights will brighten up the nights within the garden allowing a beautiful glow to emit over the scene giving everything a new sense of life. Lights within the dormant trees cast beautiful and unique shadows upon the ground and snow. Lights in the evergreen trees bring some of our indoor decorating outside creating a sort of magical world where we want to spend time. Lights on the outsides of our houses accentuate the curves and angles of our homes that bring out some of the fine architectural features. At night these features stand out as there is a more simplified appearance, yet it remains pleasing to the eye.
The one thing you need to keep in mind when working with lights is to have plenty of patience. Putting up lights can be an art form in itself. The key is to take your time and place them in a secure and uniform pattern. Always check the lights by plugging them in first to make sure they work as there is nothing more frustrating than getting them all up only to find out half do not work. I like to put them up while they are lit so I always feel confident throughout the process.
ADVERTISEMENT
Many of us decorate a tree or two in the house for many different reasons but why not do the same with the trees in our outdoors so you can share these creations with your neighbors or just for people driving by the area. You can find any color of light you may want to decorate with and there are many shatter-free ornaments now that can be used also for that extra flare. It can really dress up the garden in a new way.
Of course, we often use wreaths to accent our doorways and other features of our homes. These can either be with fresh greens or artificial and we can decorate them in any color we choose that fits our tastes. They can be very ritzy with glitter, glass and ribbons or they can be very natural with many dried products from our gardens in the region.
Adding fresh garlands of cedar, pine and fir always soften up our doorways, fences and step railings. Add a few brightly colored ribbons to them and it will look like a professional came and designed your scene.
With any outdoor design, you can make a beautiful scene or you can go overboard and make it look like a collage of everything in the attic. It all depends on what you are trying to achieve in the big picture. Our designs will display a piece of our own creativity to the world. If it is pleasing to your eye, chances are it has been done well.
Enjoy the holiday season with a nice festive feel both inside and out. Create a garden design that appeals to your senses and gives that inviting feeling. After all, this is the time of year we try to catch up and make a difference to those around us. Enjoy the simple gifts of the season with those who make a difference, as that is the true essence of what matters now and throughout the year. Enjoy an amazing Christmas week that lies ahead.
