Friday, December 20, 2013

Christmas 2013

I guess it’s become something of a tradition, for me to post photos of my Christmas tree each year. Well I am happy to share that two years after first dreaming of a Blue Atlas Cedar Christmas I finally have one...

It's something of a Charlie Brown tree, but heck, that makes me love it even more. This is my potted B.A.C. from the garden, the one I almost killed last winter...

Since the bright orange container it's in would have killed the Christmas color scheme a basket from IKEA came in handy as a cover. I've been obsessing about these long cones falling from a neighborhood tree and have been picking them up on dog-walks.

They made a nice simple garland for the mantle.

The metal icicles are new this year, from Schoolhouse Electric (the husband's employer). They weigh about half an ounce each, perfect for the tiny branches.

Cones aren't the only thing I've been gathering. Plenty of twigs and moss made it into the gift wrapping.

And since everything else was free (or already owned) I splurged on a couple of Leucadendron argenteum branches...

Every holiday needs a little bit of luxury.

For that lovely cut Christmas tree smell we've got a little table-top wreath.

I know that's supposed to be a candle in the center but heck, isn't an agave so much better?

And of course there is the traditional sparkle wreath on the grinch-green front door.

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

49 comments:

  1. Absolutely gorgeous Loree! Beautifully pulled together, everything looks just right. I'm glad to see you finally have that tree. I remember your quest to find it was one of the first posts I read on your blog.

    Merry Christmas!

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    1. Thank you Shirley! I'm trying to decide if I put it in the ground when the privet comes out, or just let it live on in a container (a bigger one though). Merry Christmas to you too!

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  2. An Agave is most definitely better than a candle! Great holiday decorating. Those enormous pine cones are amazing, I think I would become obsessed with them too. I have a huge pot full of Douglas fir cones in the back garden.

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    1. I should have tried to get a picture of the littlest cones I found too, they're about a quarter inch.

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  3. And the woman who did this magazine-worthy decorating job is worried about some silly fence issue. You are one talented woman my friend! Love the tree, cones, lichen covered branches, agave, all of it. The art deco sconces are gorgeous. Hadn't noticed them before. Are they new or is it just that the detail shows much better in the picture of the tree. You've inspired me. Maybe I'll take a picture of our new Christmas tree. It's in a box in the entryway still - festive.

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    1. Thank you Peter, you are very kind. The sconces came from the antique lighting company I worked for in Spokane. They are very special to me and we had electrical boxes put in before we even moved into the house (there is a third, a different style, in the hallway).

      Will you be pulling the tree out of the box and decorating it? Or just enjoying the (I'm assuming there is one) photo on the box?

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  4. Hi Loree,

    I love your Christmas arrangement and tree. It looks great!

    Today is my birthday. I have reached the age of 43 and I have been having a lovely relaxing day. I will be popping out for a Chinese takeaway very soon and then I will be watching The Smurfs with my children this evening.

    Take care.

    Adam

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    1. Happy Birthday!!! Sounds like you've got a perfect day planned. Except maybe you can work in a trip to a nursery?

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    2. Thanks Laurie :)

      No nursery visiting for me at the moment as we are in mid-winter and the weather is grim - not cold, but persistently wet and windy

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    3. Sorry Adam, I forget how lucky I am to be able to visit nurseries even in the winter (and yes, their stock is drastically reduced).

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  5. You have surpassed last year's decor, Loree, and that's saying something! I adore the Blue Atlas Cedar Christmas tree. It's just the right size and style, and your restrained hand with the baubles works perfectly to enhance its frosty look.

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    1. You are very kind Jane, and thank you for the FB mention!

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  6. I love Christmas at your house! its amazing!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!

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    1. Come on over for a glass of wine or hot cocoa!

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  7. Jean in San DiegoDecember 20, 2013

    Absolutely beautiful! Loree, I enjoy your blog so much! Merry Christmas!

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    1. Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you as well!

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  8. Perfect danger garden holiday decorating scheme! I like the agave centered within the wreath much better than one of those candles no one ever lights for fear of burning the house down. And I love (covet) those metal icicles. Merry Christmas!

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    1. I wish I could tell you that they are mail-order-able but it looks like they're all sold out. Maybe they'll have them again next year?

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  9. i wanna be like you. we don't have a tree, and just stopped to look at uncultured nobles. i think i'd rather get a living tree, but everything seems so hard right now. do you have a living tree/nursery recommendation for me? i haven't been out there, so don't know anything. garden fever or portland nursery you think?

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    1. I see you made the stop at GF, and here I was thinking this was a great idea...last holiday tree at your old house gets moved to be the first planted treasure at the new one. I did hit PDX Nursery today and they had a huge selection - although everything was in really big containers.

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  10. I thought I was looking at a glossy lifestyle magazine! Absolutely beautiful. We haven't even gotten around to putting up the tree yet, let around do much else :-).

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    1. You will put up a tree though won't you? Everyone needs a Christmas tree!

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  11. Merry Christmas Loree and Blogger people from (almost) snowy Victoria, B.C ! Had a dusting of snow this morning but now its washed away. Love the decorating, very Martha..lol, you should start your own design empire. Look forward to reading more in 2014!
    Cheers,
    Neil

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    1. Thanks Neil! I guess the folks up in Western WA got snow today but all we saw was a little slush, fine by me. My own design empire huh...I do like the sounds of that!

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  12. So chic! If that were my house the pinecones would all be under the basement stairs. The ornaments would be too. The ribbons would all have cat-toothmarks in them, and anything dangling would be hanging much lower, possibly on the ground, maybe in another room.

    Anybody else wonder how she got the potted Agave to stick to the wall in the center of that wreath? (before realizing it was a top-down shot) Merry Christmas!

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    1. I am lucky Lila couldn't care less about any of the decor. Although one year when there was food in a gift box she was rather interested in that one. Oh and now you've challenged me to an front door agave wreath center next year. It can be done!

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  13. Beautiful, it really looks as a magazine picture!!

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  14. Oh my gosh Loree, you have such a sense of style and color, I LOVE your choices of decor....NICE!

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  15. On second thot, after a quick trip to GF, I can't do it. First, I'd have to thru the flirtation, then the chase and wooing, and then finally love & commitment, and there's just not time. I'm not very good with evergreens. I guess that gives me time to study them this winter.

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    1. So it's a cut tree then? Or maybe one of those brightly colored ones in the basement of the pottery place!??!

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  16. Oh Loree - your house is beautiful, and so festive! I love the agave in the wreath, and the wrapped gifts with their mossy twigs just exude love. (Feeling mighty pathetic, as I have not bought a single gift yet - no less wrapped anything.Oh well, next year...) And of course, the red-leaved plant that got away from me (on the Kitsap tour) beckons from behind your Leucadendron branches. Love it!

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    1. Thank you Anna, I forgot to mention that plant (whose name I am spacing). It smells really good too!!! (New Seasons if you want a couple of branches).

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  17. Well, what can I possibly say. Picture perfect, down to the pretty co-ordinated gift wrapping. I'm glancing over at my poorly wrapped presents thrown in a pile with messy sticky tape and joined-together paper in shame, haha! It looks gorgeous, and as others have said, magazine worthy. The blue atlas cedar is so beautiful it makes me giddy

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    1. Do you have B.A.C. available in your part of the world?

      Andrew actually asked this year before he wrapped gifts what the "approved" paper was, I've trained him well.

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    2. I am not too sure, I have seen some similar blue tinged cedar or similar around (very few) but don't think it's this - I'd definitely remember. I shall find out.

      HAHA! Love it. Good job Andrew

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  18. HGTV needs to pay you a visit. I love the foraged items and wow, it's so perfect. Bravo. I hope you make a lot of happy holiday memories this year :)

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    1. Thanks Jenni, it's been such a rushed season I'm vowing to really slow down and enjoy the next few days.

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  19. Merry Christmas to you and Andrew...you will obviously be celebrating in style.

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  20. Love the coordinated colour scheme and materials of your Christmas decor Loree, very elegant and VERY stylish!

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    1. Thanks guys! The tree did all the work and I just took it from there.

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  21. love all of the photos - and the Charlie Brown tree is wonderful - and has given me some ideas for our next tree. LOVE it.

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    1. Wonderful to hear that you've gotten ideas!

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  22. I like this edgy / spiky twist on holiday decor! And of course, the green color on the fireplace ain't shabby either...

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    1. Thank goodness I still love that color. I imagine painting over it would be a nightmare...

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  23. Oooo, those splurged for L. argenteum branches add such a nice architectural touch ! Every bit of it looks great . Bravo Loree !

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  24. I've been waiting to see your Cedrus, and so well worth the wait. Mine is at work, decorated with tiny blue balls [you know the kind I mean!] .... one year I would like to use him here at home, but in the meantime resort to Abies concolor. You definitely have a flair for elegance, in and out of the garden, and it really shows well in this post. Wishing you and Andrew a wonderful holiday season and the best for 2014

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