Promises for 2010

With 2010 just around the corner, let us recall the wise words of Mark Twain: "New Year's Day…now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual." Still, what fun it is to make -- and then break -- a series of promises for the New Year. Here are my garden-related resolutions for 2010:

1. Grow annuals and vegetables exclusively from seed
2. Replace roses with lower-maintenance perennials (your hints are welcome)
3. Design a circular lilac garden
4. Order -- early -- a mountain of free mulch
5. Screen, with evergreens, the only remaining view of a neighbor's house
6. Find a level area on the property where croquet may be played (we received a croquet set for Christmas)
7. Enlarge the frog pond in the Woodland Garden
8. Incorporate videos into the A Garden for the House blog
9. Faithfully deadhead, disbud, and pinch back all plants that require it
10. Finally, spend more time sipping cocktails -- not working -- in the garden!

What are your resolutions -- breakable or otherwise -- for 2010?

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The Poinsettia Has A Future

You might have heard that poinsettias naturally drop their leaves and colorful bracts immediately after Christmas. This is not true! My own plants, when provided a cool (not above 65 degrees), sunny window, always keep their looks well into May. Would you like to see how I display these great gift-plants after the holidays, and rebloom them year after year?


Decoratively speaking, the small, single-stemmed poinsettias in 4-inch pots are far more useful in the window garden than the giant, multi-stemmed (and very expensive) subjects that most florists sell. I give mine center stage on the music room sill during the holidays, and then bring them to the guestroom window (above) afterwards. There, set on glass shelves, they flourish in the bright eastern sun, and in temperatures that range from 55-65 degrees. (It is dim light, high heat and low humidity that cause leaves and colorful bracts to prematurely wither and drop.)

In June the poinsettias are brought outdoors. I cut their tops back to 3 inches at this time, and then repot the plants into fresh soil. To fit them back into 4-inch pots, I prune the roots a little. Plants thrive during their summer sojourn in light, open shade on the front porch, and I pamper them with regular watering and weekly feeding. As new leaves form, stems are pinched back frequently to keep growth low.

In mid-September the poinsettias are returned to the sunny, cool guestroom window. Since these are short-day, long-night plants, to bloom they must have definite darkness for at least seventy days, without so much as the gleam of a street lamp. Mine go into the guestroom closet -- 8pm to 8am is the dark schedule -- then back to the cool, sunny window.

With this schedule, your own gift plant of one Christmas can become your permanent houseplant for Christmasses to come. And let me tell you -- the satisfaction of reblooming a poinsettia is substantial indeed.

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Merry-Merry, Gardeners!

Tiger, who is heading upstairs for a nap, wants to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. And, I'd like to thank you for sharing your time and thoughts here at A Garden for the House!

Here is a final glimpse of the Christmas decorations in the parlor:


Christmas tree, 2009

Here's a bouquet you can make from a sprays of white pine and a handful of tulips. My friend Sue brought this arrangement to the house earlier this month.

Mantel, adorned with greens, fresh fruit, and candles.

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Forcing: Update on the Hardy Bulbs

Are you forcing hardy bulbs this winter? I wonder...did you find yourself leaping through hoops to find a 35-45 degree location for their cold, dark, contentment?

My own bulbs, as you might recall, were planted in October. They occupied 21 clay pots and 12 assorted vases. I initially hauled the lot down to the root cellar. But when the furnace kicked on, the cellar grew much too warm. Thus the pots and vases were brought back upstairs and then outside, to the unheated shed. But when daytime temperatures dipped into the 20s, and nights the teens, the shed became much too cold. Frozen bulbs will not force properly. But I finally found quarters that seemed just right: the spare refrigerator, pictured up top. And there they have busied themselves, making roots in a thermostat-controlled, 40-degree environment.

Some of these bulbs have made ample roots, and can now be brought to the window garden:

Snowdrops (Galanthus). Mine have exceeded their required 8 weeks of cold storage. I shall move these next to a sunny but cool window (55-65 degrees), where they will bloom in 2-3 week's time. If your window is outfitted with glass shelves, it's wise to set galanthus on the highest shelf. Then you can look up to see the fanciful green stripes inside the nodding, snow-white bells.

Iris Reticulata. Have you tried forcing these little gems? They are easy to force, and early to bloom, just like snowdrops. The flowers, unfortunately, do not last long, even in a cold window. But if you have several pots in cold storage, as I do, you can bring them out at weekly intervals for a lengthy parade of violet-blue, gold-touched flowers.

Dutch Hyacinth. Not potted but vased are my 'Blue Jacket' hyacinths. They require 12 weeks in cold, dark storage, and then another month in a cold, sunny window to perfect their flowers. I've already placed two vases in the music room window. By January's end, they will fill the air with their legendary scent.

The other hardy bulbs in my fridge include tulips (species and Dutch-types); daffodils (including the fabulous 'Erlicheer'); aconites, anemones, frittilarias, crocuses, and muscari. I'll write about these colorful creatures when they bloom in February.

Are you forcing any hardy bulbs this year? Where are you keeping them?

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Winter Solstice & The Approach of Spring

Today marks the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. We who garden indoors ought to celebrate the occasion. For in our windows, the miracle of spring is at hand.

Yesterday's sunset, pictured above, occurred at 4:26pm. Today, it shall recline at its earliest -- 4:25pm, to be exact. Tomorrow, however, a change will begin, when the sun starts to descend with ever-lessening haste. Will we notice this scanty, gradual increase of light? Hardly. But our houseplants will. The Rabbit's Foot fern will turn a deeper shade of green. The philodendron vine will unfurl new, heart-shaped leaves. Wax begonias and geraniums will bud with increasing fervor. Hardy bulbs, after their lengthy autumn sojourn in the cold, dark cellar or refrigerator, will begin to sprout fragrant bouquets in the warmth and light of the window garden.

Yes, the calendar informs us that December 21 is the beginning of winter. But indeed, it is the season of rebirth.

Are you ready for the lush greenery, the brilliant blooms, and the exquisite perfumes that shall fill the window garden...even as snow blankets the outside world? I certainly am!

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Thunbergia Grandiflora "Blue Sky Flower"

Spring is never out of sight when you have a window garden. Today, for instance, during a snow flurry, and with temps in the low 20s, my Thunbergia grandiflora decided to bloom. This is one of the loveliest vines I possess, for it captures the blue of the Cote d'Azur in each of its large, lustrous flowers.

A successful adventure with Thunbergia begins with full, direct sun, moderate humidity (50 percent), and cool temperatures (60-65 degrees F.). Other essentials are a clay pot and a trellis of some sort upon which the vine can climb. My plant thrives on the broad sill in my library, where it receives direct sun from late morning through early afternoon. The pot rests on an oversized saucer filled with pebbles and a quantity of water, which, with evaporation, produces beneficial humidity around the plant. Two lengths of wire, bent to form arches and inserted into the pot, provide a decorative trellis for the vine.

Next to insufficient humidity, overwatering is the biggest threat to this Mediterranean tourist, but a clay pot greatly reduces the chance of death by drowning. Wait until the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, and then water thoroughly. I fertilize thunbergia with every watering, just as I do most of my other houseplants, at the rate of a 1/4 teaspoon of high-phosphorous food to a gallon of room temperature water.

Like the poinsettia and the kalanchoe, thunbergia sets its flower buds in the fall, as the days begin to shorten. If your plant resides in a room that receives lamp-light in the evening, move it to a closet from 8pm until 8am for three weeks. There, in complete darkness, flower buds will begin to form.

When in May flowering ceases, cut the plant back to two inches. After all danger of frost has past, bring it to a semi-shaded position on the porch, where it is sheltered from strong winds. And be sure to check the plant regularly for water. Outdoors in a porous clay pot, moisture might be required daily. As the vine grows -- and it will do so with surprising speed -- twist the vining lengths around the wire arches. Further pruning may be necessary in July, but withold all further cutting by the first of August.

Labor Day is the time to bring the plant indoors. But before it enters your house, give both pot and plant a thorough insecticidal spraying. Also, scrape out as much top soil as you can, and replace with a fresh mixture. So treated, this Blue Sky Flower plant will never require a larger pot.

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'Tis the Season for Saintpaulia

We all know the beauty that African violets, or Saintpaulia ionantha, bring to a window garden, but have you considered their value for Christmas centerpieces and mantel displays? The picture above (click to enlarge) shows a "tower" of African violets that I crafted from various silver objects: a round tray, an inverted vase, a wine holder and a pierced basket. Holly, ivy, and fresh fruit give the assembly a festive appearance. But the piece de resistance is the collection of luscious, deep-purple African violets which surround the arrangement's base and adorn its crown. This arrangement graced my dining table one year. It also received a glossy spread in African Violet Magazine. Read on, and I'll show you other holiday-displays that you can easily make with the world's favorite houseplant:

Here, purple, blue, and white African violets make a pleasant centerpiece in association with quince, blue spruce, pine, and yew.

In a setting of wild, red rosehips and sprays of yew and pine, a pale-blue African violet makes a shimmering presence on the left end of the dining room mantel (above), while 'Happy Trails,' a pink, trailing variety (below), creates balance on the right.

Saintpaulia 'Special Treat,' with huge, purple blossoms edged in white, makes a festive presence for my parlor. The plant's small pot is hidden among pine branches inserted into a silver vase.

Why limit your Christmas flowers to such temporary delights as red poinsettias? African violets shimmer not only during the holidays, but year 'round, too!

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A Spring Bouquet with Protea

Are you like me -- do you want flowers to greet you when you walk through the front door? This month, as if to spite the dreary cold of the outside world, the blue urn on my entrance hall table (click to enlarge) features a spring symphony of pink lilies, blue delphiniums, white snapdragons, and a very interesting trio of red Protea. I have two good reasons for using this exotic flower:

First, there is protea's alluring appearance. Before bloom, its blossom resembles a fist, with finger-like petals tightly closed around a mysterious central cone. When the petals open -- and they do this slowly -- they reveal a spectacular core of stamens. The stamesn are remarkably soft, like plushest velvet you can imagine. Few cut-flower enthusiasts - including me - can resist the chance to "pet" the cone of a protea.

Next, the flower is incredibly long-lasting. It's a good thing, too, because protea is incredibly expensive. Cut a quarter-inch from the stem each day, and protea will keep its looks for at least a month.

Protea is properly pronounced Pro-TAY-ah, although florists mangle it in a number of ways. The name comes from the minor Greek god Proteus, who was a servant of the very major god of the seas, Poseiden. Proteus could change his form at will. Yes, he was a "shape-shifter," just like Sam Merlotte in the HBO series True Blood. Protea, too, has many different forms, each one more fascinating than the next.

If you live in zones 8 through 10, you can grow any number of shape-shifting Proteaceae right in your garden. But if you live where winters are cold, as I do, then its enjoyment must be restricted to your finest vase. Just three stems are all you need for a beautiful, springlike picture that includes lilies, delphiniums, and either white snapdragons or alstroemeria (another beautiful, long-lasting cut flower).

H/T Anne Schomaker, who procured and arranged the flowers for my entrance hall.

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Heirloom Christmas Recipe: Mildred Gleason's Brown Sugar Cookies

Do you have an heirloom cookie-recipe? Brenda Johnson does. She confessed to me that in her family, "it isn't Christmas without my grandmother's Brown Sugar Cookies." Well, her grandmother, Mildred Gleason, must have been a no-nonsense baker. For these cookies are not only delicious to eat, but scandalously easy to make! Here's the recipe:

Mildred Gleason's Brown Sugar Cookies

Ingredients for about 4 dozen 2-inch round cookies, or about 2 dozen "shaped" cookies, such as stars, stockings, trees, candy canes, etc.

1/2 lb. brown sugar
3/4 lb. butter, softened
4 C. flour
1 egg yolk (reserve white)

Mixing. In the bowl of an electric mixer (use the paddle attachment), cream together the brown sugar, butter and egg yolk. Add the flour gradually, one cupful at a time.



Rolling and Shaping. Form the dough into a ball with your hands, and then roll it out to a 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured towel. I say "lightly," because the dough is mercifully not sticky. Cut with desired cutters, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush tops with the reserved egg white, and sprinkle, if you wish, with colored sugar.

Baking - 15 minutes at 350-degrees. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and shiny. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, and then transfer to wire racks.

According to Brenda, these cookies freeze well. I wouldn't know; my cookies were consumed within an hour of baking. You might have more self-restraint than me. Good for you.

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What Do Gardeners REALLY Want?

Thorn-proof gloves? Patio pots? Gift certificates? What gifts do gardeners really want?

In the comments section below, let's put together a list of gifts that the gardeners in our lives would appreciate. Who wants to go first?

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Merry Mantels

Adorning mantels with evergreens, candles, fruit, and ornaments is a holiday tradition that dates back to the Victorian era. My own mantels are swagged with boxwood, cedar, juniper, and white pine, all thoroughly coated with Wilt-Pruf. Would you like to see how I decorated the boughs? (Hint: click pictures to enlarge.)

For the mirrored mantel in my green and cream parlor (above), a tall, fresh pineapple takes center stage, with green and yellow apples playing secondary roles. Red pomegranates provide bright accent, while clusters of green and red grapes give a feeling of opulence. Silver candlesticks, placed at each end of the mantel, complete the picture.

Over the mantel in the rose and white dining room is an old Dutch painting, presumably called "Still-life with Fruit." The painting features orange and gold tones, which are echoed on the mantel by Clementines, golden-delicious apples, and tan Bosc and reddish-green Seckel pears. Sprigs of Winterberry provide crimson accent. For the black urns at each end of the mantel, designer Dorothy Raymond made two miniature flower arrangements, using my purple-toned African violets and sprays of cedar and yew.

If you don't have a fireplace, you can always make a colorful arrangement on the top of a low bookcase, or on a broad windowsill. As an alternative to fruit, you can use sparkling, choice ornaments, and even live houseplants, such as purple, white or blue African violets, pink and white poinsettias, orange kalanchoes or a green, orange, and red Christmas Cherry. You will not go wrong if you weave a gold or burgundy ribbon throughout the boughs. Light candles there in the evening, and you'll have an exuberant winter portrait.

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Photo Gallery: Silhouettes in Snow

The season's first snow fell steadily yesterday evening, as if on cue for today's blog and my birthday. How I love to wake up to a white, frosty morning! Above is the view from the Woodland Garden, facing south toward the pool (click to enlarge). And here are other snow-cloaked forms and traceries at A Garden for the House, captured today, at sunrise:

A giant sugar maple proudly displays its burden of white

View of a fountain from the back door (click to enlarge).

One of 8 boxwood borders in the Rose Garden (click to enlarge). Never leave snow on boxwood; fragile branches bend and break under the weight. Before the snow turns to ice, knock it off with a broom.

Trees of weeping form, like this Malus 'Red Radiance,' always provide winter interest. (Click to enlarge.)

Draped in snow and silhouetted against a blue sky, the branches of a sugar maple make a lovely winter picture. (Click to enlarge)

A study in light and shade are the young Red Buds and Crabapples on the North Hill. (Click to enlarge.)

In winter, the moon dares the rising sun to chase it away. Click the photo for a better view.

Ancient maples and oaks form a pleasing backdrop for the house and its wings. (Click to enlarge.)

Statues, of course, are a delight in both winter and summer. Here, my Venus de Milo, warmly clothed in a tunic, surveys the snow from her frosty grove of sumac and arborvitae. (Click to enlarge.)

There is nothing like virgin snow to showcase how desperately your house needs a paint-job. That's the Music Room (an 1870 addition) on the right. (Click to enlarge.)

Here on the east lawn, three ancient sisters -- pine, locust, and beech -- model their winter-wear. (Click to enlarge.)

Do you enjoy your garden in winter, too?

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Eureka!

It's snowing here, and heavily, too. Time for an eggnog...with extra rum!

That's the rose garden above, as seen from the guestroom window. Click the picture for a better view of the falling flakes.

Any white stuff falling where you live?

UPDATE (6pm): the snow isn't letting up. We've had to bow out of a dinner engagement in Sharon, CT, because 1.) it's 90 minutes away, and 2.) because that part of CT is expecting 6 inches of snow. So I'm cooking instead. Trout fillet... fettucine al fredo...brussels sprouts. And lots of red wine.

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Decorating Wreaths

This week, I had great fun decorating wreaths with creative friends Randy Hinz and Patricia Decker. We turned a series of plain, balsam-covered rings into one-of-a-kind door hangings...and so can you!

Pictured above is a wreath that we decorated almost exclusively with gleanings from my garden. You can make this wreath for own door, too, using the following materials:

A double-sided, balsam-covered wreath, 22-inches in diameter
Hand pruners
Green floral wire
Wire cutter
Sprays of white pine and cedar
Sprigs of rosehips (winter berry is a nice addition, too)
Three medium-sized pinecones
A length of ribbon, one-inch in width (for the bow)

1. Grooming. Using the hand pruners, trim off any exuberant bits of balsam to give the wreath a fairly circular shape.

2. White pine and cedar. Insert sprays of white pine and cedar, to enhance the wreath's color and texture.

3. Pinecones. Wrap a 10- to 12-inch length of floral wire around the base of each pinecone, tucking it between the cone's open scales (if the scales of your pinecones are tightly closed, bake them for 30 minutes or so in a 300-degree oven; the heat will cause the scales to open). Use the tail of the wire to attach cone to wreath. I arranged one cone at the wreath's top, and one at each side, to form a triangle.

4. Rosehips. Tuck sprigs of rosehips (or winterberries) along the upper two-thirds of the wreath.

5. Ribbon. Tie the ribbon into a bow, and wind wire around its center. Use the tale of wire to attach the bow to the bottom of the wreath.

6. The Hanging Ring. Push a U-shaped, 12- to 18-inch length of wire through the top of the wreath, twisting it over itself and around your finger to form a secure loop.

Patricia Decker made her own wreath from the same basic materials described earlier, but she gave it a whimsical flourish by adding a collection of miniature ornaments. You can find such ornaments at a thrift shop. In lieu of a bow, Patricia wove a thin strand of ribbon through the works. I love the playfulness of her creation. What do you think?

And here is Randy's wreath, a luxurious composition of white pine, cedar, clementines, dried yarrow and wild rosehips, with a cream-colored finishing bow. He has donated this masterpiece to our local historical society, who will auction it off later this month at a fundraising event.

Odds and ends from the winter garden, perhaps a collection of miniature ornaments, and a colorful bow -- these are the easily-obtained objects that can transform a plain, balsam-covered ring into a glamorous holiday wreath that is uniquely yours.

Questions? Comments? Post them below!

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Tips for Treating, Lighting, and Decorating a Christmas Tree

O, Christmas Tree! A nine-foot Frasier fir entered my parlor on the first day of December. This might seem a tad early to you, but frankly, I can't justify such an expensive, temporary decorative item unless it gives me at least one full month of pleasure. Here are my thoughts on treating, lighting and decorating this venerable holiday-symbol:

Treating. To keep a tree fresh through the holidays, first spray its branches with an anti-dessicant, such as Wilt-Pruf. I spray mine before it comes indoors. Next, saw off at least one inch from the tree's base, if the tree seller didn't already do this for you. Thirdly, set the tree in a stand with a good-sized basin, and fill the reservoire with at least a half-gallon of water. As evaporation occurs -- and this will be daily -- top with more water. Finally, turn off nearby radiators. Even a tree that has been sprayed with anti-dessicant can't be expected to hold onto its needles in a room that is hot and dry.

Lighting. I asked Herminio Ramirez, whom you've met before, to arrange the lights on my tree this year. You might like to copy his rather unusual, two-step system for tree-lighting. First, he drapes the lights vertically, starting at the top of the tree, as illustrated above. Then more lights are arranged horizontally. As you can imagine, this strategy produces the grandest illumination.

I use clear lights, although I'm not opposed to the multi-colored sorts. And I never use twinkling lights. The rhythmic blink gives me a headache. You might have a different opinion.

Decoration. As for decoration, I love the sober look of a tree that features all blue, all gold, or all silver balls, providing that tree is in the lobby of a hotel. Otherwise, I say go all out with ornaments. There are no rules. Use whatever you've collected over the years, including the ornaments you or your children were forced to make in elementary school. In the 1960s, I made such a bauble in the first grade. It was a little snowman, crafted from marshmallows, with green sequins for eyes and a cone of red construction paper for a hat. My mother kept this relic until 2006, and then foolishly sent it to me. How I would love to show you what 40-year-old marshmallows look like! Unfortunately, the little snowman crashed to the floor last December, and was promptly eaten by Lily, the wonder-beagle we wonder about. She wiped out 4 decades of history in a single gulp.

I'd love to hear about your own, special tree (even if it's an artificial one), and its ornaments and lights. Do you prefer blinking lights, or those which give a steady effect?

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What To Do In December

No question about it, December is all about decorating, both within and without. But it's also the time to reflect upon the year's past achievements. Let's pause each day to enjoy the winter views from our windows, the silhouettes of trees, the colorful birds. And let's keep most of the work indoors:

Christmas Tree. To get the biggest bang for your Christmas tree buck, select early the freshest possible specimen, and treat it with an anti-desiccant -- such as WiltPruf -- in order to reduce moisture loss. Keep the tree well watered, too, and as cool as possible, by turning off nearby radiators.

Evergreen Decorations. Spray with anti-desiccant all of your evergreen wreaths, garlands, and mantel swags. This will keep them fresh-looking for the entire month.

Holly, Boxwood, Yew. Prune older shrubs freely for decoration; drastic side pruning results in thicker central growth later.

Cold Protection. After the first hard freeze (not just a touch of frost), mulch perennials that require it. The goal is to keep them cold and unstimulated by ocassional midwinter warmth.

Window Garden. Make your window garden a dominant portrait. First polish the glass and wash the shelves and give the plants a good showering before you get too holiday-crazed. Then place candles there for evening burning. To you and all who pass, your window will give great joy.

Florist's Plants. The florist has a bevy of beautiful blooming subjects this month. Add a few seasonal plants to enhance your own colorful houseplant scheme...a pink poinsettia with your white wax begonias, or a red one for your rosy impatiens, a pink kalanchoe to compliment your purple African violets or a Christmas Cherry among the green ferns or vines. As with all florist's plants, remove foil wrappings immmediately -- they are death traps.

Bulbs in Cold Storage. Don't forget the potted bulbs or the vased hyacinths in your refrigerator, cold cellar, or slightly-heated garage. These must not be allowed to dry out if you wish to enjoy -- as I do -- a private, indoor spring that begins on New Year's Day.

A Random Thought. Don't forget to polish the silver...nothing beats the gleam of silver serving-pieces and candlesticks during the holidays.

Another Random Thought. If you have propagated your houseplants -- African violets, scented geraniums, vines, etc., why not give your extras away as host or hostess gifts, or Christmas presents? Plant in an attractive pot, and include a hand-written tag that describes the plant, its uses, and culture. Attach tag to plant with a colorful ribbon.

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