Saturday, February 13, 2010
Dreaming of spring....
The snow is piled a foot deep, but all I can think of is that it is blanketing my garden, helping to insulate the crowns of my perennials, and keeping the daffodils from coming up too early. This week, we are planning to start our pepper seeds. I have lots of seeds left from last year, and tomorrow I will look through them. Maybe I will have enough without ordering more. One variety I plan to grow is Corno di Toro (Bull's Horn), which is a large elongated mild pepper - big enough to stuff. I always grow Hot Hungarian Wax, Jalapeno, Cayenne, and Peter Peppers too. Peter Peppers are amusing to have, and taste great too - very hot and flavorful. If I have to order any, I have to hurry so I can get them started. Tomatoes can be started in a month or so.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Compost!
We started a real compost pile last fall. By "real" I mean an actual pile. I have always composted, but did it in the "sheet composting" method. I just always put my coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, and veggie scraps here and there in the garden both under mulch or just straight on the ground. Within days, when the weather is warm, the scraps would be digested by earthworms, microbes, and other "critters." But now we have a real pile in a designated area. This morning I went out and tried turning the compost to help it break down faster. My husband had added some shredded leaves and grass clippings on top in the last couple of days. When I began turning it, (not too successfully with a shovel, a pitchfork is better!), steam began rising from it! Our compost pile is now officially hot! This is good in a couple of ways. First, it kills any weed seeds and second, it helps it decompose faster, so one can use it in the garden sooner. The pile should be ready to distribute in the garden soon, the best source of fertilizer and soil conditioner to be had.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Plant sale!!!!
I am going to this plant sale (info below) this Saturday morning at 9-00 in Cincinnati near where I work (University Hospital). I heard about it last year and couldn't go. This year I am off that day and will be there with some cash and my oldest daughter Sarah, who is becoming an enthusiastic gardener herself. I am really looking forward to the miniature plants and whatever else is different and basically cool. I am so excited to go and see what they have. Luckily I just pulled up a bunch of ivy and rearranged some other stuff in my garden so I actually have room for some new things.
I hope to see you there!
Plant, Herb, & Hosta Sale
I hope to see you there!
Plant, Herb, & Hosta Sale
WhenSat, May 2, 9am – 3pm
Where - Civic Garden Center (map)
DescriptionRain or Shine Booths Include: Ask the Experts Awesome Annuals Blooming Shrubs Climbers & Clematis Connoisseur's Corner Donated Perennials Fruits & Vegetables Herbs Hostas Necessary Natives Shade Perennials Sun Perennials Tropicals Troughs an Miniatures Used Books Posy Power Herb Bread & Baked Goods Hand-Crafted Pottery by the Clay Alliance Other Merchandise from Special Vendors
Fritillaria meleagris
These are two photos of Fritillaria meleagris in my garden. This is my absolute favorite spring bulb. Also called Checkered Lilies, Guinea-hen flowers, Leper Lilies, and Snakes Head (according to Wikipedia, this was the original English name). They are so different and understated. Fritillaria have a gentle beauty and don't seem to shout at you like some gaudy tulips or huge daffodils. I am not saying I don't like bright colors, but the delicate beauty of these is simply soothing to the eye and the soul. They do not seem to live for long, returning for at least a few years in ideal conditions. Every year, when they come up, I always wish I had planted many more. This fall I am DEFINITELY going to plant at least 200 to 300 everywhere I can think of. I planted some in my church's garden, but they did not seem as vigorous and large as the ones in my own garden. Now I don't know if that is because of the bulbs or the environment. They like some dampness but not downright wetness. Hmmmm.....Guess I will just plant some more ner where the really healthy ones are this year and some other experimental spots. I love the photo here where one flower alost seems to be hugging the other flower.
Plant some this fall in your own garden. These delicate bulbs are best purchased by mail as then they will arrive in fresh condition. At a store it is difficult to keep them in prime condition. When they arrive by mail, plant within a couple of days if possible. Another day I will discuss Fritillaria imperialis, a sister bulb - it is "imperial" as the name states - it is larger and makes more of a statement.
But the little meleagris or Checkered Lily is to be had for just a few dollars for a hundred, while the imperialis costs about $5 a bulb.
Missing my readers and my spring garden
I decided to start writing on my long neglected blog again. Why? Because my weekly garden column for over ten years was discontinued due to budget cuts at the newspaper. I miss writing every week and I miss being in contact with my readers. Hopefully I can get the word out that I am still here - just not on paper. I have done a lot this year already in my garden. Seeds were started in early March, and bulbs were planted last fall. The spring bulbs are now coming to an end for the year. I have been picking fresh greens for the past week already and my snap peas are several inches high. I have lots of radishes and lettuce that should be ready to start harvesting in a couple of weeks.
My tomatoes and peppers have been growing under lights in the basement and are now outside getting "hardened off" in a morning sun/afternoon shade location. I do need to bring them in tonight as it will dip into the 40's tonight - hopefully for the last time this spring.
My tomatoes and peppers have been growing under lights in the basement and are now outside getting "hardened off" in a morning sun/afternoon shade location. I do need to bring them in tonight as it will dip into the 40's tonight - hopefully for the last time this spring.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Little Women
Here is a vintage copy of Little Women, and The Little Women Treasury -
which is a recently published collection of crafts and activities that
all are related to the beloved classic story about the four March
girls.
Little Women
In the long dreary nights of winter, it is always nice to put one’s nose in a book to pass the time. I have always loved reading since the long ago days of learning how with “Dick and Jane.” Who remembers them with their dog Spot, their cat Puff and their little sister Sally? No one under forty I am sure.
My favorite book in my youth was “Little Women,” by Louisa May Alcott. Through reading and rereading this much loved book, the four sisters became real characters or personages in my mind.
I loved the little part in the book where the author describes the gardens of each sister. The four girls were each given an individual plot to do with as they liked. The ever present housekeeper of the March household - Hannah - says in her thick accent, “I’d know which each of gardings belonged to, ef I see ‘em in Chiny.” Their gardens matched their personalities. Meg, the oldest, ever the romantic with her mind firmly set on marriage and becoming a wife and mother: her garden contained “roses and heliotrope, (very fragrant) myrtle, and a little orange tree.” This was clearly symbolic of Meg’s aspirations – orange blossoms are traditionally carried or worn by brides and myrtle wreaths were worn by brides in ancient Greece. Roses and heliotrope revealed her romantic nature. Jo, the tomboy of the family, who avoided anything romantic like the plague, was very adventurous. Her garden reflected her personality as well - “Jo’s bed was never alike two seasons, for she was always trying experiments. This year it was to be a plantation of sunflowers, the seeds of which cheerful land aspiring plant were to fed Aunt Cockle-top (their chicken) and her family of chicks.”
Beth, the third sister, who was fated to die an early death from her weak heart, was innocent, sweet, loving, and domestic, playing with dolls until she was a young teenager. She was always thinking of others, never herself, which indirectly caused her to get her case of scarlet fever – leading to her rheumatic heart. Her garden was full of nostalgic and sweet delicate flowers – “Beth had old-fashioned fragrant flowers in her garden, sweet peas and mignonette, larkspur, pinks, pansies, and southernwood, with chickweed for the birds and catnip for the kitties.” The southernwood, also known as Artemisia or Wormwood, traditionally known as the bitterest herb – may have symbolized her early death – indeed, bitter tears were shed by many for the sweet Beth after she died.
Amy, the youngest sister, was known as the artist of the March family. Amy’s garden reflected her artistic bent – “Amy had a bower in hers, rather small and earwiggy, but very pretty to look at, with honeysuckle and morning-glories hanging their colored horns and bells in graceful wreaths all over it, tall white lilies, delicate ferns, and as many brilliant, picturesque plants as would consent to blossom there.” The tall white lilies probably represent her pride, which was one of the character flaws Amy struggled with.
Quotes are from the book “Little Women,” by Louisa May Alcott.
Words in parentheses are my additions.
My favorite book in my youth was “Little Women,” by Louisa May Alcott. Through reading and rereading this much loved book, the four sisters became real characters or personages in my mind.
I loved the little part in the book where the author describes the gardens of each sister. The four girls were each given an individual plot to do with as they liked. The ever present housekeeper of the March household - Hannah - says in her thick accent, “I’d know which each of gardings belonged to, ef I see ‘em in Chiny.” Their gardens matched their personalities. Meg, the oldest, ever the romantic with her mind firmly set on marriage and becoming a wife and mother: her garden contained “roses and heliotrope, (very fragrant) myrtle, and a little orange tree.” This was clearly symbolic of Meg’s aspirations – orange blossoms are traditionally carried or worn by brides and myrtle wreaths were worn by brides in ancient Greece. Roses and heliotrope revealed her romantic nature. Jo, the tomboy of the family, who avoided anything romantic like the plague, was very adventurous. Her garden reflected her personality as well - “Jo’s bed was never alike two seasons, for she was always trying experiments. This year it was to be a plantation of sunflowers, the seeds of which cheerful land aspiring plant were to fed Aunt Cockle-top (their chicken) and her family of chicks.”
Beth, the third sister, who was fated to die an early death from her weak heart, was innocent, sweet, loving, and domestic, playing with dolls until she was a young teenager. She was always thinking of others, never herself, which indirectly caused her to get her case of scarlet fever – leading to her rheumatic heart. Her garden was full of nostalgic and sweet delicate flowers – “Beth had old-fashioned fragrant flowers in her garden, sweet peas and mignonette, larkspur, pinks, pansies, and southernwood, with chickweed for the birds and catnip for the kitties.” The southernwood, also known as Artemisia or Wormwood, traditionally known as the bitterest herb – may have symbolized her early death – indeed, bitter tears were shed by many for the sweet Beth after she died.
Amy, the youngest sister, was known as the artist of the March family. Amy’s garden reflected her artistic bent – “Amy had a bower in hers, rather small and earwiggy, but very pretty to look at, with honeysuckle and morning-glories hanging their colored horns and bells in graceful wreaths all over it, tall white lilies, delicate ferns, and as many brilliant, picturesque plants as would consent to blossom there.” The tall white lilies probably represent her pride, which was one of the character flaws Amy struggled with.
Quotes are from the book “Little Women,” by Louisa May Alcott.
Words in parentheses are my additions.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Russian tomato plants
A couple of photos I took of gardens in Russia - a view of a dacha with
a greenhouse, and the inside of a Russian family's greenhouse filled
with healthy looking tomato plants. These were taken in early June,
2004 in a dacha community near St. Petersburg, Russia.
Thinking about Spring
All the rushing around and excitement of Christmas and New Year’s is now over, and one can now settle back into “normal’ life. I love holidays, especially seeing family that I don’t often see – but like many of you I am happy to get back to having time for things like peacefully leafing through seed catalogs, perusing garden websites, and deciding what rose to order and squeeze into my fast becoming crowded garden.
My friend Teresa emailed me and told me that she spent the day in her garden weeding, planting leftover bulbs, raking shredded leaves into place, and also being amazed at how green and healthy some plants look right in the midst of winter. I am always amazed at this myself.
I took a little walk around my garden and spotted tiny new leaves at the crowns of some of my perennials – a welcome sight! I am still tired from the holidays, but did pull up my sunflower stalks to put in the trash, as I don’t have a shredder – yet. They are a bit too sturdy for composting. I also saw that the yearly plethora of wild strawberry weeds are encroaching everywhere – will have to spend a few hours pulling these up this spring. At least wild strawberries are easy to pull up as they are very shallow rooted.
If you plan to order or buy seeds to start, it is high time to begin selecting them. Many varieties tell one to start indoors eight to ten weeks before the last frost date – this tells me that these varieties will need to be started by the beginning of March. Always buy only quality seeds. If you are investing the time, energy, and resources to grow a garden, then it worth your investment in good quality seeds. Send for seed catalogs or study seed company websites and make your selections. Keep in mind your limitations of space and time to start the plants and to place them in your garden. Order soon, as supplies of unusual varieties can run out. Here is a list of some good sources for seeds online - www.superseeds.com, www.seedsofchange.com (organic seeds), www.heirloomseeds.com, www.reneesgarden.com or www.thompson-morgan.com. Renee’s Garden carries some very interesting varieties in attractive and informative seed packets – I have found this brand at a large local garden store. I am going to try a few unusual tomato varieties this year from Heirloom Seeds – they have such a tempting variety. I plan to grow “Lemon Drop,” a small yellow cherry type; “Cosmonaut Volkov,” a supposedly very healthy red tomato; “Black Krim,” a dark Russian heirloom tomato with unusual flavor; “Black Prince,” another Russian heirloom recommended for the “tomato connoisseur” and also definitely “Boxcar Willie,” an heirloom type red/orange tomato I have heard good things about. Russians are apparently very serious about their tomatoes, as when I visited a dacha community near St. Petersburg, Russia I saw homemade greenhouses everywhere with tomatoes growing safely inside in defiance of the harsh climate, where one can need a winter coat in May and one nearly always needs a wool sweater at the ready even on sunny days in June. “Pruden’s Purple” and “Mr. Stripey” were two varieties we grew in our garden last year, and they were wonderful – so they will be included again this year as well.
This weekend if I can get up the energy, I plan to visit Smith Park to pick up some free mulch, as I have a lot to mulch this year and my mother reported they have a good supply right now. I hope I can remember where my little wheelbarrow is, so I can begin to spread this mulch if our mild weather holds out a little longer.
For the next couple of weeks I am going to talk about gardens mentioned in literature – combining two of my favorite topics.
My friend Teresa emailed me and told me that she spent the day in her garden weeding, planting leftover bulbs, raking shredded leaves into place, and also being amazed at how green and healthy some plants look right in the midst of winter. I am always amazed at this myself.
I took a little walk around my garden and spotted tiny new leaves at the crowns of some of my perennials – a welcome sight! I am still tired from the holidays, but did pull up my sunflower stalks to put in the trash, as I don’t have a shredder – yet. They are a bit too sturdy for composting. I also saw that the yearly plethora of wild strawberry weeds are encroaching everywhere – will have to spend a few hours pulling these up this spring. At least wild strawberries are easy to pull up as they are very shallow rooted.
If you plan to order or buy seeds to start, it is high time to begin selecting them. Many varieties tell one to start indoors eight to ten weeks before the last frost date – this tells me that these varieties will need to be started by the beginning of March. Always buy only quality seeds. If you are investing the time, energy, and resources to grow a garden, then it worth your investment in good quality seeds. Send for seed catalogs or study seed company websites and make your selections. Keep in mind your limitations of space and time to start the plants and to place them in your garden. Order soon, as supplies of unusual varieties can run out. Here is a list of some good sources for seeds online - www.superseeds.com, www.seedsofchange.com (organic seeds), www.heirloomseeds.com, www.reneesgarden.com or www.thompson-morgan.com. Renee’s Garden carries some very interesting varieties in attractive and informative seed packets – I have found this brand at a large local garden store. I am going to try a few unusual tomato varieties this year from Heirloom Seeds – they have such a tempting variety. I plan to grow “Lemon Drop,” a small yellow cherry type; “Cosmonaut Volkov,” a supposedly very healthy red tomato; “Black Krim,” a dark Russian heirloom tomato with unusual flavor; “Black Prince,” another Russian heirloom recommended for the “tomato connoisseur” and also definitely “Boxcar Willie,” an heirloom type red/orange tomato I have heard good things about. Russians are apparently very serious about their tomatoes, as when I visited a dacha community near St. Petersburg, Russia I saw homemade greenhouses everywhere with tomatoes growing safely inside in defiance of the harsh climate, where one can need a winter coat in May and one nearly always needs a wool sweater at the ready even on sunny days in June. “Pruden’s Purple” and “Mr. Stripey” were two varieties we grew in our garden last year, and they were wonderful – so they will be included again this year as well.
This weekend if I can get up the energy, I plan to visit Smith Park to pick up some free mulch, as I have a lot to mulch this year and my mother reported they have a good supply right now. I hope I can remember where my little wheelbarrow is, so I can begin to spread this mulch if our mild weather holds out a little longer.
For the next couple of weeks I am going to talk about gardens mentioned in literature – combining two of my favorite topics.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Happy New Year!
Another New Year! I personally cannot believe we are so far past the year 2000 already. As always, the thought of a new start or fresh beginning is heartening. I have made my yearly resolution to lose weight, but have also thought about resolutions I want to make as a gardener.
I resolve to mulch, mulch and mulch some more in my rose and perennial areas to cut back on weeding this spring and summer. Last summer was an endless battle against mostly thistles, and a thick layer of newspapers and a few bags of mulch should go a long way to alleviate that problem.
Speaking of roses I resolve to be more regular with a good feeding regimen – starting in March at least a monthly feeding of ½ cup of Epsom salts and a gallon of fish emulsion/seaweed solution per rose - I have about forty roses so this will take some determination. Also concerning my roses – I also plan to buy some silica gel and this year try drying some of my huge harvest of roses I have in late May/early June. A fellow member of a roses email group I belong to (FortheLoveofRoses – Yahoo Groups)
shared that she dries roses every summer and then uses the dried roses to decorate a rose themed Christmas tree every year. What a great idea! I could also use the dried roses to accent my pine roping, or to make arrangements for homemade gifts. I have air dried many roses but silica gel is supposed to give superior results.
I also resolve not to buy too many seeds to start in the late winter months. I will select a few that I really want to start and stick with those. If one tries to start too many some just get neglected and sadly languish. I will definitely start my parsley much earlier, maybe even in January. Last year I think I started it in April and it didn’t even get going until October. I have some nice shelves with grow lights in the basement for this resolution. Fresh parsley is so good in so many things, especially chopped coarsely and sprinkled on nearly any soup. More on seed starting in the very near future.
I also resolve not to have my yearly collection of unplanted pots of perennials at the end of the season. I had surgery in early November and then had to tell my husband where to plant a few things and only be able to supervise – I dislike not being in control of my garden. Three sad little plants are still in pots under a small boxwood shrub near my front door – maybe they will survive to be planted and maybe they won’t. I had a few dozen bulbs still left and last week I planted them all in one of those large pots made of a foam like material. I think they will all come up – twenty-five Darwin tulips, some random species tulips, and a couple of dozen small Fritillaria bulbs.
I was very happy with my vertical gardening with vegetables last year and plan to do more of that. The tomato and cucumber vines I grew alongside a large garden arch structure did so well that I was amazed. I also resolve to try some okra and tomatillos this year for the first time. I also resolve to plant more cucumbers as I would really like to hae enough to try making a few pickles.
As much as I love sunflowers – I do resolve not to plant any this year, as they take up too much valuable room in my small yard. If I someday own a larger lot – a half-acre for example, I would plant dozens. The three or four I grew last year shaded my sun loving peppers and I could have fit one or two more tomato plants in that space.
I also resolve to keep on gardening organically as I have been doing for the past nineteen years with my present garden– no Miracle-Gro, no weedkillers, no bug killers – as I see the splendid results of organic methods. Every year my soil is richer, loamier, and all my plants healthier with less work.
I also resolve to document better – when I plant things, when seeds are started, names of perennials or vegetable varieties or maybe how many tomatoes are actually harvested, as these facts could be helpful in future years. Next fall I hope to have put into practice some of these “conceived in hope for the future” resolutions. And maybe have lost thirty pounds ?!?!?
I resolve to mulch, mulch and mulch some more in my rose and perennial areas to cut back on weeding this spring and summer. Last summer was an endless battle against mostly thistles, and a thick layer of newspapers and a few bags of mulch should go a long way to alleviate that problem.
Speaking of roses I resolve to be more regular with a good feeding regimen – starting in March at least a monthly feeding of ½ cup of Epsom salts and a gallon of fish emulsion/seaweed solution per rose - I have about forty roses so this will take some determination. Also concerning my roses – I also plan to buy some silica gel and this year try drying some of my huge harvest of roses I have in late May/early June. A fellow member of a roses email group I belong to (FortheLoveofRoses – Yahoo Groups)
shared that she dries roses every summer and then uses the dried roses to decorate a rose themed Christmas tree every year. What a great idea! I could also use the dried roses to accent my pine roping, or to make arrangements for homemade gifts. I have air dried many roses but silica gel is supposed to give superior results.
I also resolve not to buy too many seeds to start in the late winter months. I will select a few that I really want to start and stick with those. If one tries to start too many some just get neglected and sadly languish. I will definitely start my parsley much earlier, maybe even in January. Last year I think I started it in April and it didn’t even get going until October. I have some nice shelves with grow lights in the basement for this resolution. Fresh parsley is so good in so many things, especially chopped coarsely and sprinkled on nearly any soup. More on seed starting in the very near future.
I also resolve not to have my yearly collection of unplanted pots of perennials at the end of the season. I had surgery in early November and then had to tell my husband where to plant a few things and only be able to supervise – I dislike not being in control of my garden. Three sad little plants are still in pots under a small boxwood shrub near my front door – maybe they will survive to be planted and maybe they won’t. I had a few dozen bulbs still left and last week I planted them all in one of those large pots made of a foam like material. I think they will all come up – twenty-five Darwin tulips, some random species tulips, and a couple of dozen small Fritillaria bulbs.
I was very happy with my vertical gardening with vegetables last year and plan to do more of that. The tomato and cucumber vines I grew alongside a large garden arch structure did so well that I was amazed. I also resolve to try some okra and tomatillos this year for the first time. I also resolve to plant more cucumbers as I would really like to hae enough to try making a few pickles.
As much as I love sunflowers – I do resolve not to plant any this year, as they take up too much valuable room in my small yard. If I someday own a larger lot – a half-acre for example, I would plant dozens. The three or four I grew last year shaded my sun loving peppers and I could have fit one or two more tomato plants in that space.
I also resolve to keep on gardening organically as I have been doing for the past nineteen years with my present garden– no Miracle-Gro, no weedkillers, no bug killers – as I see the splendid results of organic methods. Every year my soil is richer, loamier, and all my plants healthier with less work.
I also resolve to document better – when I plant things, when seeds are started, names of perennials or vegetable varieties or maybe how many tomatoes are actually harvested, as these facts could be helpful in future years. Next fall I hope to have put into practice some of these “conceived in hope for the future” resolutions. And maybe have lost thirty pounds ?!?!?
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Merry Christmas!
Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas? There has been a controversy over whether it is good to say one or the other. Personally if someone wishes me to be “Merry” or to be “Happy” – I am glad either way. Our entire Christmas celebration is filled with customs adopted or borrowed from other lands and cultures, so I think we should all be more tolerant and forgiving in the Spirit of Christmas.
The date we celebrate Christmas comes from Ancient Rome, when the Emperor Aurelius declared December 25 as “The Birthday of the Unconquered Son”. The ancient Persians also celebrated Dec. 25 as the birthday of another god –Mithras. Christians did not even note the day of his birth until the fourth century. Even then, many church fathers were opposed to celebrating Christ’s birth, as they considered His death and resurrection much more important, and thought any sort of celebrating God/Christ’s birthday as pagan. “Pagans” typically celebrated the birthdays of their gods, and no mention is made in the New Testament of celebrating the day of Christ’s birth. Was Jesus actually born on Christmas? Not likely, Biblical scholars have varying opinions; they say He could have been born in September, October, or March.
The custom of having a Christmas tree goes back a thousand years to a legend about St. Boniface. It is said he came upon a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger, he chopped it down, and supposedly a young fir tree sprang up in its place. But it was not until five hundred years later that people began to bring fir trees indoors. Martin Luther is said to have started this custom by cutting down a small fir tree and decorating it with lit candles to delight his children on Christmas. It remained a German custom until Queen Victoria married the German Prince Albert and brought the custom to England and then to America. Decorating with evergreens and holly goes back even further. Many ancient cultures, such as the Druids and Romans brought greens indoors during the winter solstice to defy the deadness of winter and to symbolize the hope of returning new life in spring.
I personally love decorating with living plants and fresh greenery. I had a “fake” Christmas tree for some years. I got very tired of it and now I always purchase a fresh evergreen with its loveable imperfections and its wonderful fragrance. If you prefer the convenience of an artificial tree, you can still add living accents to your home for the season. I know that local garden stores have fresh pine roping and wreaths still available. Another wonderful thing to add fragrance and freshness is a rosemary tree. Rosemary is my favorite herb. These are available at this time of year in garden centers and plant departments of large groceries. After Christmas you can cut off sprigs to add to pork, lamb, chicken and beef dishes. Rosemary plants like a cool location in a sunny window, and don’t like to be over or under watered – try once a week. Topiaries of living ivy are also available in wreath and other forms – these are really attractive. I also plant to buy some fresh red roses to put around my home for Christmas – this too looks very festive. I love how one can buy fresh flowers at local groceries very inexpensively. If you purchase fresh roses be sure to prepare them right when you get home. Fill a pot or bowl with water and cut each individual stem underwater before placing it in your container.
Religious intolerance in England actually gave us one of our most loved Christmas songs – The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Supposedly the Catholics in England made up the song to teach their children catechism, when the Church of England between 1558-1829 forbade the open practice of Catholicism. The Partridge in a Pear Tree is supposed to represent Christ. The mother partridge will protect her children by feigning injury to distract predators like Christ sacrificed himself for us. The rest of the symbolism is as follows:
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight Beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the Ten Commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful Apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
(from the Catholic Information Network – www.cin.org)
The date we celebrate Christmas comes from Ancient Rome, when the Emperor Aurelius declared December 25 as “The Birthday of the Unconquered Son”. The ancient Persians also celebrated Dec. 25 as the birthday of another god –Mithras. Christians did not even note the day of his birth until the fourth century. Even then, many church fathers were opposed to celebrating Christ’s birth, as they considered His death and resurrection much more important, and thought any sort of celebrating God/Christ’s birthday as pagan. “Pagans” typically celebrated the birthdays of their gods, and no mention is made in the New Testament of celebrating the day of Christ’s birth. Was Jesus actually born on Christmas? Not likely, Biblical scholars have varying opinions; they say He could have been born in September, October, or March.
The custom of having a Christmas tree goes back a thousand years to a legend about St. Boniface. It is said he came upon a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger, he chopped it down, and supposedly a young fir tree sprang up in its place. But it was not until five hundred years later that people began to bring fir trees indoors. Martin Luther is said to have started this custom by cutting down a small fir tree and decorating it with lit candles to delight his children on Christmas. It remained a German custom until Queen Victoria married the German Prince Albert and brought the custom to England and then to America. Decorating with evergreens and holly goes back even further. Many ancient cultures, such as the Druids and Romans brought greens indoors during the winter solstice to defy the deadness of winter and to symbolize the hope of returning new life in spring.
I personally love decorating with living plants and fresh greenery. I had a “fake” Christmas tree for some years. I got very tired of it and now I always purchase a fresh evergreen with its loveable imperfections and its wonderful fragrance. If you prefer the convenience of an artificial tree, you can still add living accents to your home for the season. I know that local garden stores have fresh pine roping and wreaths still available. Another wonderful thing to add fragrance and freshness is a rosemary tree. Rosemary is my favorite herb. These are available at this time of year in garden centers and plant departments of large groceries. After Christmas you can cut off sprigs to add to pork, lamb, chicken and beef dishes. Rosemary plants like a cool location in a sunny window, and don’t like to be over or under watered – try once a week. Topiaries of living ivy are also available in wreath and other forms – these are really attractive. I also plant to buy some fresh red roses to put around my home for Christmas – this too looks very festive. I love how one can buy fresh flowers at local groceries very inexpensively. If you purchase fresh roses be sure to prepare them right when you get home. Fill a pot or bowl with water and cut each individual stem underwater before placing it in your container.
Religious intolerance in England actually gave us one of our most loved Christmas songs – The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Supposedly the Catholics in England made up the song to teach their children catechism, when the Church of England between 1558-1829 forbade the open practice of Catholicism. The Partridge in a Pear Tree is supposed to represent Christ. The mother partridge will protect her children by feigning injury to distract predators like Christ sacrificed himself for us. The rest of the symbolism is as follows:
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight Beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the Ten Commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful Apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
(from the Catholic Information Network – www.cin.org)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
