Monday, December 11, 2017

danger garden Christmas — 2017-style

You guys, I finally did it! I've been tossing around the idea of a cactus Christmas tree ever since I saw this image way back in (maybe) 2014. This was the finally the year...

It's kinda crazy but all sorts of fun.

I'd hoped the correlation between the ornaments and what they represent was fairly obvious, however the first two people who saw it were oblivious — and they both should have known.

Do you see it? (hint, hint)

I'd planned to use an Agave as the star, but all the plants I lifted (as part of winterization) had either too large a root-mass or the plants themselves were too small. I went with an Aloe, it works wonderfully.

This year's mantle decorations play a supporting role to the spiky star. I mean they're important, but they're not a Christmas tree made of cactus pads...

My conical tree collection, and the tarnished silver pieces acting as vases for Poinsettias and cuttings from the garden, play that role wonderfully.

A few extra cuttings from the wreath making party adds festive greenery, like a garland but without the work.

Included are olive branches and Cryptomeria japonica 'Sekkan-sugi' (I think).

The olive wreath is holding up well.

The bottle-brush forest sits on a side-table.

In the evening I light the mercury glass votives...

And turn on the battery-powered tiny lights on the star (ha! Look at the mantle...this photo was taken early when I was still figuring out what I wanted to go where).

An Amaryllis rescued from the everything store (it was falling out of it's pot) is blooming beautifully to coordinate with...

The pink holiday wrapping paper I bought from my talented friend Kate Blairstone.

The gift tags were 3 for a $1 at Target.

If you're curious, I'll be sharing process photos of how I made the cactus-pad Christmas tree tomorrow...

Weather Diary, Dec 10: Hi 45, Low 27/ Precip 0 (27F should indicate there was a killing frost in my garden but none of the plants that should show damage — Banana, Canna, Colocasia, annual vines — do.)

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

50 comments:

  1. If you are sharing how-to pix, that means those are real cactus pads — right? Amazingly cool even if they are artificial. Love everything esp. how it all reflects your very specific style. And nice idea to stick in greens for the garland "effect". A real garland is always too big and too much effort.

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    1. Oh definitely real! I'm not a fan of fake plants. Maybe if they were metal pads and obviously not real, but not fake that try to look real.

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  2. Oh my. Cool and different and scary all at the same time! You do know that you'll have to outdo yourself each year now, right? Cholla tree, tillandsia tree, who knows what else? Can't wait to see the how-to...

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    1. Or maybe I'll just start buying traditional Christmas trees? Nah...

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  3. I am very curious about the process. I hope it's wasn't too painful. The 'tree' is beautiful and humorous at the same time. I'm surprised you picked pink wrapping paper, but even more surprised at how well it all fits together. The entires scene is impressive, as usual. Poinsettia and Brachyglottis greyi look really good together; who knew.

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    1. It really wasn't bad, especially once I gave up dexterity (bare fingers work with wire easily) and put on my gloves. Ya pink wrapping paper surprised me too, but I love the design and once I got it home I realized just how perfect it was for what I'd planned.

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  4. I love that opuntia tree with the aloe "star". In fact, I love all that you have made from plants you have at home. Way to go, Loree!

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    1. Well I did purchase the Opuntia pads, I would have had to destroy all my plants to come up with enough pads for this project and I just wasn't willing to do that.

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  5. Only you could come up with something like that. I love it! Did you use opuntia pads from the supermarket? I guess I should wait until tomorrow to find out.

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    1. Yes, these came from a Latin market...so stinkin hard to find!

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    2. It's easier around here. Even (or should I say: especially) Walmart has nopales but I doubt they're as good-looking as the ones you got.

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  6. Absolutely stunning, Loree. You should be decorating the White House. :)

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    1. Well not with the current resident, he doesn't deserve me.

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    2. Not a chance - what a deadly prospect that would be.

      Wonderful to see such a wholly different way to 'do' Christmas - it looks so good!

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  7. Just wonderful. So much talent. So much! You inspire me to try to decorate, Loree.

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    1. Thank you Tamara...but "try" ah come on...you've got buckets of creativity girl!

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  8. Your cactus tree is very clever. I didn't even have to look at the hint to realize your ornaments were meant to look like cactus fruit. The Aloe works really well as a star, and I love the lights on it. I noticed the large Tillandsia xerographica sitting below it, and wondered if that would have worked as a topper too.

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    1. Oh yes, that would have made a beautiful star! And good on you for getting the fruit tie-in right away.

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  9. What everyone else said! This is over the top perfect. Yup, cactusfruit. Please tell me you found a glochid-free variety for this project. Love everything about this and am, as always, blown away by your talent!

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    1. Well I didn't have any choice in the matter but these really do seem to be pretty glochid free. And thank you.

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  10. Brava! It's a wonderful Christmas tree and the cactus "fruits" make it even better! I love the way your reds look with your vintage fireplace tile and the pink Kate Blairstone wrap seals the color deal. I'd also like to personally thank you for rescuing the Amaryllus. Those poor bulbs deserve better than the struggle and neglect they typically get in the heartless big box stores!

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    1. Oh that poor Amaryllis! It was with the potted up bulbs at Fred Meyer, you know the shiny paper around the plastic pot crowd. But I think half the soil had fallen out of the pot by the time I came along. It couldn't stand up straight and was being bumped by everyone who passed by.

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  11. What an amazing and well executed idea - and, along with all your other festives bits and bobs, exactly the sort of thing we have come to expect of you. Brilliant! :)

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  12. The tree is incredible (and, for the record, I did recognize the intent behind the red balls on first sight). I especially love the lighted Aloe tree topper. There's only one omission I could think of: where's the "Danger" sign to protect unwary visitors from the Opuntia glochids?!

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    1. Do the presents as a buffer around the bottom count?

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  13. I can't wait to see how you put this together! It looks AMAZING. Everything looks amazing. Well done! And how am I only noticing the art above your mantle for the first time? SO great. (also: big fan of this frost without the frost business).

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    1. The art above the mantle got changed up a bit for this, as I removed a piece Andrew had made for me years ago (back when we were dating) to hang the picture of the couple in the Opuntia patch.

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  14. Since I have never seen such a tree I am totally impressed. I love the little shiny bits on the end of the pads looking like glorified fruit from the blooms. Those are some BIG pads. You must have a huge plant or two in your garden that you could take so many to make this tree. Just WOW. The entire display is so cheerful and meaningful coming from mostly your garden. Happy Holidays.

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    1. Actually I bought these pads at a Latin grocery store...I would have had to destroy all my plants to come up with this many pads. Thank you!

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  15. Looks wonderful! Especially like the cactus fruit to add a little sparkle.
    I've been waiting for my spineless opuntia to grow up before trying a wreath.

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    1. Oh I can't wait to see your wreath! Maybe next year...

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  16. Oh ! You have been having so much fun ! Wow I love your Christmas tree ! Have a wonderful Christmas ! :) p.s ...don't forget the Mistletoe ......

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    1. I have a vintage (plastic) Mistletoe ball my grandparents used to hang. I need to dig that thing out.

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  17. This should shock all those Bah, Humbug types who shun decorating for the holidays. We can't all be this creative but we can all have your kind of fun, every one.

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    1. Yes!!! Thank you Ricki, fun is what it's all about.

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  18. BRILLIANT and inspired, Loree. I love that Danger Garden tree. It's so YOU! :)
    Your decorating photos should be in a magazine, seriously.

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  19. Please tell me you have Sunset magazine coming over to shoot this spectacular scene??!! Also...it is bad that I thought your inspiration might have been Snoopy? It's a perfect Snoopy head and nose. Just say'n.

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    1. Ha! No Sunset, although they were here last summer. Who knows if the photos will ever surface though, as I hear there's been a big shake up over there.

      I love the Snoopy inspiration! Have you ever seen this book?
      http://www.thedangergarden.com/2015/10/travels-with-my-cactus.html

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  20. The lights on the "star" are brilliant!

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    1. Thank you, that touch was all for my husband!

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  21. Yep... you've gone and done it again! Your Opuntia tree is beyond cool and all of your decorations tell a story about your creative spirit. I can't wait to see how the tree goes together, our grocery stores have opuntia pads by the case! I love it all, Loree.

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    1. Thanks so much Shelia, hopefully the "how to" post will have you running to your market to get some of those pads!

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  22. And so were the cactus pads made for anything else but your tree...? Absolutely stunning...the whole display, love the olive wreath which would look lovely in the middle of your dinner table on Christmas day. Congratulations.

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  23. Love the cactus Christmas tree! Well done!

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