Christmas Bells and Wedding Bells

Irvin Etienne — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 03:07:18 +0000

I’ll be blunt. This post isn’t heavy on outside horticulture. Hell, it isn’t even heavy on horticulture. But you have to follow the muse. And the muse wanted sparkly, shiny, and glittery.

If the calendar isn’t sufficient to let you know we are close to Christmas, then the weather should give you a clue. Apparently, nature decided all those above normal temperatures needed to be balanced by some below normal temperatures. Then, just to drive the point home, there was the dusting of snow.

But the cold temperatures aren’t all bad. It’s a great excuse for finding some inside activities after you spend some time outside. For instance, we just finished picking up the lumanaria from last night’s Open House (there is another the 16th) so it is good to be back inside. We got the wreaths and lights up a couple weeks ago when it was pretty good weather.

But enough about me for the moment, what about you? Say for instance you come over to the IMA and walk about the gardens or 100 Acres, then, to warm up, you drop in at the Lilly House to experience Christmas at Lilly. Bradley has outdone all previous years of decorating for the season, in my opinion. This is my favorite of all the ones I can remember. Okay, it is true, I don’t remember that many of them. But this is still my favorite. Here are afew highlights you will find:

The mirror at the top of the entrance stairs has been transformed into a lovely winter scene using construction paper. It’s amazing. The mirror shows through where the windows of the buildings are along with the moon.

It would be reasonably simple to do at home. Maybe start with a small project (bigger than a compact) before you get to that huge mirror over the sofa.

The various arrangements are appropriately sparkly.

Love this green based one.

Nothing, and I do mean nothing, says classy elegant décor like a bowl full of shiny sparkly balls. Anybody can do this and always look like a professional decorator.

I like these three tiered plant stands as well.

The Calamondin oranges have been replaced by ‘Meyer’ lemons this year. The glossy foliage looks great and seasonably appropriate.

There are a few fruits but you could hang faux-lemon ornaments on instead or to enhance.

But my absolute favorite room is the dining room. I stepped into this room and I just became weak in the knees. I’d never seen anything so scrumptiously elegant and gaudy at the same time.

I love blue and silver and white for Christmas and this room’s blue paint pretty much demands that color scheme. The touch of purple just makes everything pop. And the paper bells. Oh my gosh. The paper bells. I love them most of all.

They make the room all Christmasy and June-wedding at the same time. I told Bradley that if I got married this winter I wanted it to be right here in this room. And for the record, he agreed to hosting it there. I think it would be the most glorious place to profess your love before one and all.

Of course you can’t think about getting married without thinking of a song about getting married. And you can’t think about a song about getting married without thinking about “I’m Getting Married in the Morning”. And you can’t think about “I’m Getting Married in the Morning” without thinking about Lypsinka…

I’d be horribly remiss in not mentioning the other toasty spot to find some respite – our Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse. The plants are gorgeous, the air tropical, the shop welcoming. It’s a great place to warm up before heading home or out for another stroll.

: Just posted the TAP instructional video for Sacred Spain starring @katefranzman on Flickr, check it http://bit.ly/uareh

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Christmas Bells and Wedding Bells

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