Christmas at our house

It's that time of year again, when I overshare with photos of our Christmas decor. Sometimes I look back at previous year's posts and cringe, why exactly did I think these posts were a good idea? I guess it's nice to know I'm putting it out there that a big fake tree isn't the only thing you can put up to celebrate the season. That said here's a look at what's up here this year...

Heading into the holiday I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do. I knew we were going to be home for Christmas, so that meant I should do something. But I just wasn't feeling like putting up one of the tinsel trees (I have a vintage aluminum model and tall thin one I bought a couple of years ago), or buying a cut tree. Well, that's not entirely true, I did see a cut tree that was gorgeous and would have fit into our small home perfectly, but it was going for $139. No way I'm spending that on something we'll only enjoy for a few weeks. 

Besides that cut tree, nothing really spoke to me until one day when I was scrolling thru posts on Desire to Inspire and I saw this photo. It's not a photo of Christmas decor, but something about it said Christmas to me, louder than anything I'd heard before.

What stood out to me from that image was dark green, brass, and pink. Pink taking the form of tropical blooms. Maybe there could be some silver, as that's how my eyes chose to see the white. It gave me a color palette to work with, one very different from my traditional choices.

But what about the "tree"? I auditioned all sorts of plants; conifers, broadleaf evergreens, the list goes on. I seriously considered a Norfolk Island pine, aka an Araucaria heterophylla. I liked the shape for a stand-in Christmas tree, but I had no desire to add one to my container collection and they were too expensive to buy and give away. I kept coming back to the idea of a tree fern.

This wasn't a new idea, I'd used a Dicksonia antarctica back in 2009, and still have it. The "heat dome" of 2021 really did a number on the poor thing, but it's looking quite fetching once again. Still, I couldn't quite bring myself to haul it inside. I was stuck on the idea of a Cyathea cooperi and after much searching finally found one that I thought would work. It's been fun having a tree that sends up new branches/fronds after you thought the decorating was done.

Speaking of, mom gave me a few old family "heirloom" ornaments last summer, they were her grandmother's. Honestly I'd forgotten all about them until I opened the old steamer trunk that holds my Christmas decor. Some of them were pink. I've never used pink ornaments, yet I'd called out that color as one to focus on this year. Seems like that old Christmas magic was at work...

So there's the Christmas tree fern, decorated. There are presents under the tree now, I just hadn't gotten around to wrapping when I took these photos.

Up on the mantel there's lots of brass, protea, tree shapes and candles.

That large brass tray, as well as the cylindrical planters all came from Schoolhouse Electric back in the day. One of the perks of having a husband who was the VP of Manufacturing.

Besides the cut protea stems, the tree fern, and the potted bromeliads, my favorite part of the decorations is that sparkly stack of glass ornaments on a cast iron receipt spike. 

I brought the metal spike back at the same time as the pink glass ornaments, another vintage item from my mom. Once I'd put ornaments on the tree fern I started threading small ones on the spike, not with any intention of leaving them there, just to see what it looked like. I liked it so much I didn't change a thing.

The silver tree shapes (there are two) have been part of my Christmas for years now, the shorter green tree shapes (two of those as well) are new this year. The chunky green candles (three of those) were gifts from a friend a few years ago. They're so substantial they've provided hours of enjoyment and keep on burning.

Speaking of, there are several layers of light on the mantel; candles, tiny string lights. I've been lighting them every night—love how golden things become.

Three potted (red blooming) bromeliads add to the tropical feel, and the pink "Seasons Greetings" ornament is one I've had for years, but don't think I've ever displayed (back in the 90's when I bought most of my vintage glass ornaments you usually got a box or bag full of assorted styles).

I still love the paper leaf wreath I made last year and it's back on the front door. I didn't realize how nicely it went with the dining table decor until I had the door wide open on a sunny day.

Other than the one on the dining table, the bottle brush trees are all on the bathroom shelf...

I liked the big tinsel wreath on the wall over the bed so much last year, that it's up again this year.

And I did end up pulling out the tall thin tinsel tree after all, it's in the TV room. I kept it simple though and only used the vintage glass tree topper, no ornaments.

So that's Christmas '24 here. Only a week left then it's time to take it all down and refresh things for the New Year! (can you believe it's gonna be 2025!?!)

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All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

A quick stop at Manito Park, in December

How many places feel like home to you? Twenty years after I moved from my house near Manito Park in Spokane this area still feels like home to me. I try to work in a visit whenever I'm up in Spokane visiting my family, which I was earlier this month, helping my mom celebrate her 83rd birthday. 

It was chilly, and we soon discovered a little icy too. 

Thankfully even though we slipped, we remained upright.

Gaiser Conservatory

Duncan Garden, in the process of being decorated for the holidays.

In past years the conservatory plants have been lit with thousands of holiday lights and you could tour after dusk, but that wasn't happening this year. 

Anthurium crystallinum at the base of a large cycad.

Nephrolepis exaltata 'Variegata'

The first of several Phlebodium aureum I would lust after.

It's impressive rhizomes.

I remember this tillandsia sculpture from past visits.

Bananas and leaves and colorful bracts.

I was aiming the camera at the impressive staghorn...

But then noticed the orchid blooms, this plant of many names goes by Angraecum sesquipedale, Darwin's orchid, Christmas orchid, and Star of Bethlehem orchid. I think there's an epiphyllum bloom in the mix too.

Another look at the staghorn...

A peek into the "do not enter" wing reveals an accident waiting to be propagated.

Into the dry wing, which of course is not immune to the need for Christmas color (I wish I knew what Andrew was bent over trying to see).

Euphorbia platyclada

After returning home from our visit I received the Friends of Manito Newsletter which included this wonderful story about the "Christmas cactus".... "The Christmas cactus at Manito Park’s Gaiser Conservatory will once again be in full bloom this holiday season, continuing a tradition that spans over 120 years. Originally propagated in Iowa in 1906, the cactus was a gift for Ellen, a young Norwegian woman who had immigrated to America through Ellis Island in 1903 with her husband, Andrew, and their young children."

"Delores, Ellen’s only living granddaughter, now 96 years old, fondly recalls the cactus as a constant presence in her grandparents’ home during Christmas. “It was always part of the tradition,” she says, noting how it brings back cherished memories of her early years. After Ellen’s passing, the cactus was lovingly handed down through generations—from daughter to granddaughter to great-granddaughter—until it was eventually donated to Gaiser Conservatory. Today, it blooms not just for one family but for the entire community, carrying with it over a century of holiday cheer and timeless memories."

Epiphyllum guatemalense.

Cleistocactus winteri (Golden Rat Tail Cactus), I believe.

Variegated Agave victoriae-reginae.

Heading out now, I spotted another Phlebodium aureum.

And another...

Who says you can't go home again?

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All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.