Just sharing an old photo – taken the last year we held my annual holiday workshop here – before COVID. I love this photo; despite I had a cold that day and was so disappointed I couldn’t enjoy it as much as usual. I stayed away from my guests while they all crafted their holiday creations where they made beautiful wreaths and kissing balls with fresh holiday greens, so they wouldn’t catch it from me. My wine glass held juice that day, but my heart was happy to enjoy a wonderful holiday tradition we had created.
Fast forward to today; this morning, I thought about how my husband, and I created a “tradition.” Yes, the workshop was a big tradition for everyone for many years, and many have said, they miss it, but some decided to hold mini gatherings with their friends and continue the spirit. That makes me happy, that despite I do not hold this big holiday event anymore, others continued to do their own mini version of the day of creating with friends to make wreaths, centerpieces, and holiday kissing balls – to kickoff the holiday season and spirits.
Anyhow, I don’t have much to say today. First snowfall of 2024 is here – light and will melt quickly. Christmas is not too far away, and I’ve done pretty much zero shopping because I was hit with a head cold that lasted over a week! I missed some fun holiday events too, boo! Hopefully I can start enjoying some holiday fun this weekend. Looking forward to that.
In the meantime, stay safe and festive. Enjoy your traditions while they last!
Do you know what the word Buxus is? It is the genus name for boxwood. It’s one of the easier botanical names to remember. Anyhow, boxwood evergreen shrubs have rounded or obovate shaped leaves, on slender green stems. It is a dense evergreen shrub used in landscapes and commonly available at nurseries. It is also a greenery available from floral suppliers or retail locations at nurseries during the winter to make festive arrangements such as fresh greens wreaths and holiday kissing balls.
As with most evergreen shrubs, there are many varieties or cultivars available of boxwood. Some have more narrow leaves and others have oblong leaves. For example, common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) has elliptic or ovate to oblong leaves. Because I am a plant person, I notice the differences in the leaf shapes on boxwoods more so probably than a typical person. The leaves are small and glossy on both sides of the leaves usually, and in arrangements for the holidays, the leaves retain their dark green glossy color very well. Boxwood greens add a nice textural and color element.
I’ve written about the benefits of using boxwood in wreath making before on this blog. For example, there is no sap to contend with as with balsam. After a while, your hands get very sticky when making many fresh holiday wreaths, so that can be a benefit. Also, the boxwood bunches or stems are light weight. I liked using them to make boxwood only holiday kissing balls because of this feature, as other kissing balls would get terribly heavy when I did a mix of greens to create them.
As far as a quality green, I like boxwood on the greens list. It tends to give a classy look to a wreath or kissing ball. Used alone or with a mix of other greenery, it works very well. In my mind, it is a nice benefit or not sure of the word, but a higher-end type of greenery to use and if you can afford it, I say do it!
A holiday kissing ball made with boxwood greens only.
Wreath by Cathy T with Boxwood and Magnolia Leaves
Boxwood ready for a workshop
Typically, the boxwood I would order was packed in boxes or burlap bags, and they were always fresh and good looking. To keep them hydrated, if I felt they needed it, I would take a bucket or bin like the one shown above, fill it with water and drop the boxwood tips and stems into the water to soak them for a bit. Then I would shake off the excess water after they had a good soaking (maybe about 15 minutes or so). I would shake the bunch and then lay them on beach towels to somewhat drain.
As mentioned in my prior posts, the greens need to be kept cold. In the florist trade, it indicates the boxwood greens should be in a cooler at a temperature between 36 degrees F to 41 degrees F. Anyhow, I kept them in the waxed coated boxes or the burlap bags in an unheated garage. However, if I soaked them in water to rehydrate, sometimes I would just place them in a bin after the excess water was removed. Again, rehydrating them was not often needed.
Boxwood on a Wreath by C Testa (with Lemon Leaf shown also)
Another nice aspect about using boxwood is the stems are very sturdy. I would recut the stem ends to a bit of a point to insert into kissing balls center ball foam easily. BTW, you may also rehydrate boxwood before use by recutting the stem ends and inserting them into vases of water, but I usually did not do that or need to. As noted above, if there was a need to rehydrate them, I’d do the soak method in water in a tub for a bit then dry them out a bit so they would not be repacked soaking wet. Outdoor weather like snow or sleet did not bother the look of the greens either once they were in a wreath outside.
For a couple years, I offered boxwood in my box of greens mixes. These boxes of greens were for people who wanted to make their own wreaths at home. Included were many other fresh greens such as balsam or Douglas fir, Salal lemon Leaf (prior post), yew, silver fir, berried juniper, holly, and more. I never harvested boxwood from my own shrubs or others, but these shrubs are common in the landscapes, so if you happen to have a big enough shrub stash of them, they can be harvested from to add to your holiday wreaths. Typically pruning boxwood is done in the spring but taking some minor cuttings for your arrangements is usually harmless for winter decorations.
Of all the greens I would order, boxwood was usually the highest price on the list. Therefore, I did treat it as a quality green to use with a mix of greens, but if I had some left over or someone wanted a boxwood only wreath or kissing ball, I would charge accordingly. The price was worth it because boxwood is an elegant green that makes your arrangements look classy, in my opinion.
Wreath made by C. Testa with a mix of greenery. Boxwood accents shown.
Wreath by C Testa with Yew, Lemon Leaf and Boxwood
Boxwood Only Wreath by C Testa
Another nice aspect of using boxwood is it was a faster assembly as shown above on this wreath with only boxwood. It would take a lot less time than bunching various greens together.
Boxwood Only Holiday Kissing Ball
Snips and tips of boxwood greens are nice in vases or other holiday decorations. For example, if you wanted to make a snow scene in a glass bowl, the cuttings can be used in there and last a long time with no odd scent. And as mentioned good color retention. I really can’t think of any downfalls of using it. I would rate it higher as a good quality type of green to use and hopefully you will have the opportunity to do so in your own holiday arrangements!
Salal lemon leaf is a widely used green in the florist industry, but I didn’t know it. I was first introduced to it by my contact at a florist supply house when I asked, “What other greens hold up well that I can add to my greens list for the holidays?” She mentioned Salal.
Salal – Oval Green Leaves Shown above with other greens
Salal lemon leaf is packaged in bundles with rubber bands. Each stem holds several oval shaped green serrated leaves at the growing tips grouped in an alternating pattern. At first glance, I thought, “Wow, these are beautiful.” I definitely wanted to get some, and so I did.
As I read that linked post above, I didn’t realize it grew by rhizomes and I’ve never seen a picture of this plant in its natural state. Apparently, it grows like an understory plant in the forest. It is noted under the botanical name, Gaultheria shallon. It the florist industry, it is listed and commonly known as Salal Lemon Leaf.
Salal is a wonderful alternative, in my opinion, to holiday magnolia leaves. They have a similar shape, but they do not have the thickness or the brown color on the undersides of the leaves like magnolia leaves do, but they are a very pretty glossy green color, and are smaller sized. Apparently, if you rub the leaves together, they smell like lemon from what one website indicated, but I’m not sure on that. I never noticed any scent or fragrance from the leaves.
Salad used in a Holiday Pot Creation by C Testa
They come packed with the rubber bands and bunched in boxes lined with plastic. Sometimes wet newspaper was wrapped at the stem ends to hold some moisture, and sometimes I would remoisten paper towels to wrap on the ends too, but overall, this plant really held up well prior to use, and on wreaths and in holiday kissing balls, and after. I also discovered that it holds up pretty well in vases of water too by recutting the stem ends, because one year, I had some left over and set them in a vase of water.
Salal Lemon Leaf in Vase of Water
I referred to salal lemon leaf in my workshops as a “premium green.” They are pricier than other greens obtained for wreath making and are used more in floral design. It is not a green commonly seen in traditional wreaths sold in the retail settings and stores. As I began to work with salal more each holiday season, I discovered more about it that I loved. Using salal lemon leaf became a real pleasure to me. I think they are gorgeous.
One year, for the heck of it, I thought about spraying silver paint on them. To my amazement, the silver held on quite well outside. I don’t recall if it rained or snowed a lot that year though, but I was a bit surprised the spray paint did not wash off the lemon leaves.
The stems of the salal are very long and somewhat hard but flexible, but they were strong enough too, if you wanted to carefully insert some into a kissing ball, it would penetrate the Styrofoam or florist foam ball with ease, so long as you don’t jam it in there. I would hold the tip of the stem closely at the bottom and push it into the ball for holiday kissing balls here or there. I like the look of wreaths and kissing balls with a mix of greens so this was always a special touch added.
Kissing Ball with Salal and Other Fresh Greens by C Testa
Salal lemon leaf looks gorgeous in wreaths. I suppose you could make a whole wreath with just salal, but it is pricy, so to me it was a beautiful accent plant to use to add those special touches on the hand-made wreaths. Each bundle comes with many stems, and I would keep them stored as bundles before each use.
As with my other holiday greens, a cold room is best for storage before use, like an unheated garage. I also put a tarp over the boxes. I guess that was my method to ensure they stayed as cold as possible and avoided any direct sunlight from garage windows, but in the floral industry, these are kept in florist coolers.
I never “treated” them with any products to maintain freshness but there may be some out there, I am not sure. It wasn’t needed overall for my holiday creations. The leaves also, to my pleasure, held up very well in the windy conditions for a couple balcony high-rise clients I had. They did not break off which is so important because the wind is very extreme on some days in the middle of winter on the top outdoor balcony floor of a 38-story building, and so I was so pleased this green was good to use in my big wreaths which hung on a wall outside.
I always mix various greens together but at one of my workshops, a lady put a batch of salal on her wreath and alternated batches with other greens. It came out lovely and here’s a photo of her holding her wreath from that workshop, which one of my last workshops for fresh greens wreath making – a celebration year (2019). The year before COVID arrived.
I also sold boxes of various holiday greens and added stems of salal to the mix. One year, a lady made garland with her greens box for her stair railing at her home and shared this photo with me. I thought it was just beautiful and a very useful way to highlight this florist quality green.
I felt salal stood out well in the various wreaths I made. I kind of fell in love with this product and really felt it was a wonderful and long-lasting item to offer. I know all the women, and sometimes men, who attended my workshops loved using it too. I would tell them to disperse the salal lemon leaf in places on their wreath to serve as an accent. It also worked well in holiday pots as shown above in this post.
Salal in a Wreath by C Testa
I never really experienced anything bad about using it or storing it – so long as you received it fairly fresh from your floral supplier. It would sometimes have a smell in the box that would remind me of stem rot, so I was always sure to check on it – make sure it was okay, not too damp in the box at the stem ends and staying fresh. Overall, it was the case and never an issue. I never misted the leaves and kept those dry and cold in the boxes when stored before use.
Salal in a wreath by C Testa
Salal lemon leaf made the wreaths, kissing balls, garland, and holiday pots look more professional and luxury style in my opinion, so it was a keeper on the fresh greens list every year. I’m glad it is one I asked about early on! Hope you will use it too in your creations.
Thank you for visiting and Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Cathy Testa Located in East Windsor/Broad Brook, CT Date of Post: 11/23/2023
Making a Wreath by C Testa
Salal Lemon Leaf Photo by C Testa
Stay tuned as I will continue to go over the various fresh holiday greens used in wreaths. So far, I’ve covered Yew, Holly, and with this post, Salal. See prior posts for more information. I hope you are enjoying this upcoming holiday season.
Note: I am making Ribbon Holiday Wreaths this year for sale – see my www.WorkshopsCT.com page for information or visit me on Facebook or Instagram under Container Crazy CT name. Thank you – Cathy T
I’m sure everyone knows how many days till Thanksgiving 2022! We are looking over menus, inviting friends and family to gatherings, and feeling the chill in the air to signal a new holiday upon us soon.
For me how many days till Thanksgiving is important because I start making custom holiday wreaths and kissing balls, some fresh made garlands, and other holiday gift items starting the weekend of Thanksgiving. So, we have 2 weeks to go before getting to my “start date!” for orders.
There’s quite a bit of pre-planning, such as reaching out to those who routinely order from me, posting various photos, wiring ornaments ahead (to save time while making wreaths), maybe spray painting some items for some outdoor holiday installations, or measuring various items, and checking the stock of my inventory needed is a big task as well. Do I have enough wreath frames in different sizes, florist wire, and other items needed to create? Remember COVID year, things were in low supply. I don’t think supply issues are as big but they do impact costs that continue to rise. Cost rising means more planning and careful to not over do things, which is tricky if you love to decorate!
Also, I usually make some special trips too to sources to find unique ornaments, ribbons, or decor to use – but restraint is also required because, not to be a broken record, but we all know prices of practically everything has gone up. As my SIL said recently, “Can you believe even celery is expensive?!” Yes! I can! However, I can not resist making beautiful wreaths with a mix of greens – everyone needs to at least have a wreath to adorn their door, mantels, or outside windows, you name it.
My wreaths come in various sizes from small, standard, large, and deluxe sizes. Usually, standard is a popular choice for folks, and standard or large sizes fit well on doors. I try to use color choices desired, but this year, I have to say with the rise in prices of greens to ribbons, I will be using standard colors mostly. There are some exceptions for special orders, etc. I do the best I can for everyone. And all is made with fresh greenery.
I also offer “boxes of greens” if you wish to make your own, and also make large kissing balls custom made. Fresh greens are great for your outdoor pots, window boxes, or to adorn a railing inside the home.
It finally arrived here in Connecticut. Frost on our plants. Last week, it dropped into the 28 degrees F range in the evenings of Friday and Saturday (Nov 5-6th weekend).
For months, I was putting away frost tender plants from my container gardens, because I wanted a head start and it takes a lot of time to dig up plants from pots to store underground portions (rhizomes, corms, bulbs) for frost tender plants, as well as move containers into my garage or basement for the winter months, or just doing cleaning of empty nursery pots for use next season.
The frost of fall appeared a bit later than last year in 2020 (it was on Halloween weekend in 2020), but this year, in 2021, it decided to arrive about a week later, and we could feel it. As I walked out of my house the other day to check my greenhouse to make sure the heat was working well, I saw frost on my truck.
Frost 2021 Nov 5-6 weekend
I carefully walked on the frost covered grass and carried my flashlight to point here and there, hoping I wouldn’t stumble upon any wild animals, on my way over and down to my greenhouse. It is kind of pretty to go out at an early hour, think it was like 5 am, and see all the glitter on the plants outside from the overnight frost. But it was very cold and I didn’t stay out there too long in my slippers and PJ’s with a very thick bathrobe!
Later, when the sun was finally up, I got a glimpse of a rose bush near my house and I thought, look how pretty that is with the glittering frost on the roses!
While it may look pretty on the outdoor plants, we definitely do not like seeing our tropical plant toppled from frost, which is why I did all my overwintering chores early. It seemed to take forever. My list pretty much consists of Canna Lily plants, elephant ears (Alocasia and Colocasia), red banana plant (Ensete), some Mandevillas, and of course, I move in all my succulent and cacti plants early as well.
This year, I made a note on my calendar to check my stored tubers, rhizomes, corms in about a month. I want to make sure there is no rotting or problems. Last year, I ran into that and I think it was due to not having some air holes in new plastic storage bins I used, so I drilled very small holes into the covers of my storage bins which are kept in my unheated basement, stacked up in a corner, where it stays cold but not below freezing during the winter months.
And as I noted above, I check my greenhouse in the early part of the winter heating phases to make sure all is going well, that the heat is on, and I will sometimes take the flashlight and look at the plants. Did you know, some critters (insects) come out at night. Not common in the winter months cause the greenhouse is kept at a low temp (around 50 degrees F), just warm enough to allow my low temp tolerant plants hang in through the winter months.
In the winter, I pray for sun during the day hours. Not only for myself but for my plants in the greenhouse, so they may stay toasty warm during the winter days (and not utilize any heat). The cost to heat it is getting a bit too much. But so does a good dinner out! LOL. Choices!
My greenhouse also doubles as a creative space for me to make items with plants for the decorating seasons, such as upcoming holidays. It can be cool in there in the midst of winter however, requiring me to wear a thick coat, etc, but on the days when the sun is in full force with no clouds, it is like a sauna at times and I try to capitalize on those days. It will warm up your bones in an instant. On sunny winter days, it feels like the tropics.
On rainy days, the greenhouse can bring me some relief too. I suffer from tinnitus and the rain pouring down hard on the roof top is the most soothing sound to me, as it drowns out the ear ringing. Also, distractions drown out the ringing, so when I am creating or working with plants in there, it also brings me relief because I am distracted and in the “zone.”
We just did the ol’ “fall back on the clocks,” and this is a time of year of transition. It will be darker out at dinner time and dark out when we get up. I will try to not let that bring me down. The thing that keeps me up is knowing the holidays will be near and that I will be making wreaths soon, right after the Thanksgiving weekend.
Wreath by Cathy T
While times are tough, there are shortages of supplies, and also many prices increases for us all around, I still will attempt to make the most beautiful wreaths possible. If you are looking for a hand-made wreath, kissing ball, or boxes of greens, look me up if you are near me. All is arranged as porch-pick up’s and are noted on my site called, www.WorkshopsCT.com.
Well, not much else to report today. I basically wanted to make sure I record the date of our fall frost, because it is important for next year to remember when it comes around. Each year is slightly different.
I shared this photo yesterday, on a whim, on my personal Facebook page and received lots of comments. Most people wrote things like, “You look so happy!” or “This is a great photo.”
I have to say, I am THE most happy at the moment right then, right before I would be completely ready for my holiday workshops to begin for my annual wreaths and kissing balls attendees.
Cathy Testa right before attendees were to arrive!
This photo, taken two years ago, was on a sparkling, yet brisk cold, December morning. I got up early before all the wonderful attendees arrive, working diligently with my helpful and happy husband to get all the beautiful fresh mixed greens on tables. All this work always took place right before the workshop was to start on the day off.
Boxwood in a Galvanized Bin
From fresh Balsam Firs, so traditional for the Christmas scents we are familiar with, to elegant florals such as Berried Eucalyptus. All would be carefully placed on rustic tables and shelves. Some bundles were placed in red plastic bins or galvanized rustic buckets in wheel barrels. Whatever we had on hand to make all the taking easy for everyone.
Fresh Juniper in a Wheel Barrel
It would be so pretty when we were done setting all the greens up. I would be freezing cold at times with the tips of my fingers being numb even while wearing gloves, and feel like my eyes were tired (why the big sunglasses over my eye glasses in that photo), yet, I always took the time for photos to capture these moments just before guests would begin to arrive. Every minute, from our first sip of coffee that day till the start time of my holiday workshop was consumed with work for both me and my husband.
Decor everywhere
There have been many years where I was completely exhausted from all the organizing type stresses. Will my greens by okay? Will there be enough greens? Will I be able to handle a group of 35-40 very excited women ready to make wreaths?! Will the weather cooperate? Will it be windy? Usually all my anticipation would start to fill my mind, of course, as I laid my head on the pillow the evenings before the big workshop days.
The days or even weeks before the event, I would start to decorate here and there, adding holiday touches in my home, on my property, and in the staging area for the greens. I always wanted to make everything perfect, or as best as possible. It needed to be a cozy, organized, and a welcoming event.
Cathy T’s Holiday Red Hat on the KB Sign
We would stage all the fresh holiday greens, many varieties, in a beautiful wood shed, which my husband built for his wood. For many years, he sacrificed the space on one side for us, for this workshop event, for the ladies. What a man, Mr. KB Claus. He never once complained about that. This year, of course, it is all filled with his stacked wood. And he just happily stacked his wood this year without ever a mention of how he gave up the space all those years prior for my workshops.
Decorations all around
It almost looked like a manger on my holiday workshop days, as one attendee stated one year. It wouldn’t be long before I learned, I need elf helpers because the large group took a lot of coordinated effort, and fortunately for me, I am blessed with three close friends who offered to help me and my hubby.
My elf helpers – They even agreed to wear the festive aprons I got them last year!
But this year is different, very different. My holiday offerings are different, our upcoming family and friend gatherings are different, and our holiday anticipation, in many ways, will be different. All due to COVID entering our worlds. Who would EVER imagine COVID would be here still in the month of November. Into, what eight months, since this all started in March? My goodness!
So this year, as I’ve noted, I am taking custom orders for wreaths and kissing balls, as well as offering fresh greens by the box. All the details are outlined on my site, http://www.WorkshopsCT.com. I have my holiday face mask ready to greet anyone coming by for orders, and my helpful and festive hubby already built a stand for safe zero contact porch-pick-ups. Well, it will be driveway pick-ups this year. The stand he built is from wood limbs of trees around our property, which make it rustic looking. I can’t wait to hang my custom wreaths and kissing balls on it for orders. I think it will look pretty. And this starts next week, immediately after Thanksgiving Day.
Steve, Mr. KB Claus, Holding a Wreath made by Cathy T last year for a customer
So who am I? Well, I guess this holiday season, I am still Mrs. KB Claus but in a different format. Not sure what my title will be but I do know, I thoroughly enjoy working with the beautiful fresh holiday greens creating and it will certainly help ease our COVID situations. Creating with greens is an amazing escape from any concerns we may have as we stay safe at home. And I’m sure my husband will tolerate all my antics along the way!
Cathy Testa 860-977-9473 containercathy@gmail.com
Token Males, I used to call them as a joke, hanging out with Steve by the firepit outdoors while us festive women created our holiday items!
The start of November, as we await Thanksgiving Day, and move quickly into the Holiday mode, is what I feel is a transition zone.
I really don’t want to bombard people with what I will be offering for the holidays until a bit later in the month, but then again, many people plan ahead to decorate and get into the holiday spirit.
We also have a few days of decent weather coming up, so this is when we will wrap up our outdoor clean up for sure. For example, my husband is planning to clean up the gutters this weekend, and I will be removing last minute summer items into my garage or basement during the rest of this week between appointments and orders.
As far as transitioning, the following are some items I’ve been doing:
Updating my Galleries on SmugMug. Been creating a Holiday Folder to show custom orders and my holiday greens coming up.
Updating my 3 sites to be more current. Yes, I have 3. It is a long story but each is dedicated to my service offerings: WorkshopsCT.com, ContainerGardensCT.com, and this blog site, ContainerCrazyCT.com.
Ordering supplies for my upcoming custom holiday wreaths, kissing balls, and loose greens orders. Taking inventory, writing instructional documents, and more.
Taking any last minute orders – still – for handmade Succulent Topped Pumpkins which make beautiful centerpieces for the Thanksgiving decor and your table!
Making hanging succulent filled glass globes to add to the autumn decor for custom orders. Making terrariums with succulents and fall decor too.
Checking my greenhouse daily to ensure all systems are working property, looking over the plants moved in and making sure none have issues. Making sure the heat is working and all that jazz.
Cleaning the house! Yes, part of my fall transition zone. I’m so busy in spring with plants of course that I never have time to do the big clean in spring. It tends to happen in the fall or early winter.
Trying to decide on the Thanksgiving dinner plans. I think it will be just me and my honey this year, and that is the week I start making wreaths and kissing balls, so just as well be home. Just too risky to do large gatherings due to the COVID rises across our country.
Sorting my holiday home decor and donating the old or unneeded to free Facebook pages in my town.
And finally, taking walks in the brisk cool air as much as possible before it gets too cold out there – but then again, that just reminds me – get those snowshoes out so when it is colder, I can transition to that!
Happy Wednesday everyone. Hope you are okay while we wait to hear the results of the election, and transition through whatever they may be!
Is it 8 days till Christmas? Or…8 days till Christmas Eve?
Guess that depends on how you count the days!
For me, I was on a 15 day of a cold – coughing and feeling quite run down. I remember one day, when having a moment to pause, I felt suddenly exhausted. But, I got through it all: The KB Celebration this month, the KB Workshops, and the Holiday Custom Orders, the client installs, but we still have 8 days, and I’m sure many of you are running around finalizing your holiday plans from gift shopping to food shopping.
Gift Certificates or Hostess Gifts
I still have those 8 days for any last minute requests – Need a Gift Certificate to next year’s workshops? I have them in stock. Just reach out. Need a small plant related holiday gift – ask. I have some cute items I make by order, and I don’t even post any photos of them – they are too unique. Great as hostess gifts or for table decor.
What is KB? You may ask…
KB, as most of you know, is my short-cut name for Kissing Balls. I held all workshops of where everyone makes their KBs, along with wreaths and candle centerpieces, except one session, because I just was too sick AND lost my voice. I didn’t want to spread my germs to the private group either – and I will make it up to them next year somehow. Thankfully, they were very understanding. But the workshops held were super fun and festive. I posted lots of photos on my Facebook and Instagram Pages. Everyone’s creations were well-done.
Attendee to our KB Celebration
2020 Planning
Next year – OMG, I took out my first 2020 calendar and started to jot dates down based on last year’s happenings. The season will most likely start with my “Seed Starting Sessions” and Seed Starting Presentations. That can start up as early as February for me. I will start preparing the game plans, outlines, seed calendars, and handouts in February, probably around the same time of doing taxes (ack!) but then the classes (or sessions) on seed starting will most likely be around March 14, March 21st, and even March 28th – but these dates are all tentative. Will keep you updated in early 2020.
I need to review other activity first – but I think those dates above are my targets. In April, there is a part two to my Seed Starting Sessions – called, Seed Monitoring. I think I will follow the same format at last year. I really enjoyed the whole Seed Starting (for tomatoes and peppers primarily) offerings. It was one of my most rewarding workshops. Why? Because it was continuous. I got to see how everyone’s starter plants did over the summer, see their harvest, and it was really a good feeling to see how happy everyone was. Who doesn’t love their own homegrown fresh tomato, right?
May’s Topic
Then, in May, should I do the Succulent Hanging Baskets again? Should I offer a new topic? I may poll my attendees or maybe I will come up with something new. I’ve been focused on succulents the past few years. Maybe it is time to return to perennials, tropical plants, or even houseplants? TBD on all of that. But, if I did offer a workshop on container gardening or patio pots, it would most likely fall around May 9th and May 16th in 2020. I do have some new ideas brewing. Stay tuned.
Summer Months
The summer months are usually quiet in regards to workshops, but my container installs keep me busy during the height of the watering and flowering season, no worries there, but I usually don’t offer any big workshops mid-summer. People are usually on vacation! Even so, the time moves so quickly every summer. In fact, I keep so busy watering my own container gardens at home that I promise myself EVERY year to not plant as many containers and patio pots at my own home, but what do I do? I always plant tons cause the plant passion grabs me. But grabbing that hose was hard on my arms last year. I got tennis elbow in not one, but both arms. I think it was from the hose dragging all summer long. Of course, I usually have various types of plants for sale during this time as well.
Autumn
Fall arrives very quickly after summer, and we move in the Succulent Topped Pumpkins workshops, which I always feel is a keeper. Will I offer it again? I think so. If yes, I’m looking at the dates of Oct 3rd and Oct 10th. All TBD at the moment. Just scanning the 2020 calendar today for the first time. But if you want to pencil them in….
Holiday Workshops
OK, so the big question is – will the Holiday Workshops continue in 2020? I think so on those too. I am toying with the idea of more dates and smaller groups – but I don’t know – it is so popular and I feel like everyone relies on me now to kick off the holiday season with this fabulous and festive workshop. I will have to just wait till I get closer to decide. My tentative dates noted are December 5th and December 12th for now.
End of Year
As I reflect on 2019, I am so thankful for the workshops attendees of 2019 and of past years, and thankful for new clients who found me this year. For the garden talks and presentations at garden clubs and local farmers markets too – great groups this year. I’m also thankful for the inspiration, creativity, and fun we had through it all. It was a very busy year, and I think I said that last year, but this year was busier. In fact, they say it takes 5 years for a business to take off – I disagree – for me it was 10 years of practice, trial, and persistence. My 10th year has been the busiest.
I hope the 2020 year will bring lots of the same fun and maybe a little more controlled hectic schedule. When I finally decide on the exact 2020 workshop dates, I will be sure to post it to keep you updated.
All through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a…
Wait! That isn’t how it goes… Crazy Cathy T is stirring.
Yup, how I wish I could sleep a few more hours this morning, but nope, the 5 am wake up call came.
Heck, I’ll just get up, cause tossing and turning is more frustrating for me.
Today is the day. The 10th year workshop of making kissing balls, wreaths, and candle centerpieces!
My space will be filled with festive ladies, the greens are set to be brought out and placed outside, the decor is up, and I feel relatively pretty good, minus a little sore throat I had last night – but I know what that is – not a cold, but from feeling a bit run down, which happens to people in the plant world during the holidays as we rush to get things prepared. The good news, is it feels good this am. We went to bed early last night to get a good night’s rest.
Yesterday was supposed to be a “rest day” too – before my first workshop today, but kinks happened. Some of my greens arrived late on the Santa truck. We had to rush out to get them at the last minute. I also was planning to be off the hook with holiday decorations but my decorator got injured.
You see, I had big visions for my 10th annual event to celebrate holding these workshops for a decade. I lined up a decorator months ago. I never went that crazy before, but this is special. I even had visions of reindeer and sleigh but we know that would REALLY be over the top!
A couple months ago, my decorator and I had a great plan. Greens and golds upstairs, a winter wonderland theme down stairs in the workshop space, and the bathroom would be filled with bubbles of balloons in whites and blues. My entrance would be decorated too. I left a lot undone, of course, as I had someone lined up.
But three days before my event, my decorator contacted me to say she had a terrible fall. She decorates many big venues for the holidays and she tripped over a black rubber mat on a floor at an install job. She landed on her arm and hit her head too. Luckily no concussion but she got a terrible black eye and broke her arm! Yikes. Poor thing!
She felt terrible to not be able to do what we planned. She offered to come do it with her husband and maybe do less. I made the decision right there. No, you stay home and get well. That is way more important. No worries, we will adjust our plans.
I also told her that my biggest fear is what if I got injured when busy. These things can happen, so I could appreciate her situation. Thus, yesterday, my husband got into action decorating our entrance, putting up more lights. I have to admit, I had some decor out already here and there. I was a bit relieved but then I had to get a little creative. In the end, all looks really great! No worries.
Because I’m a planner, it is hard for me to go with the flow sometimes. It can be a good trait and a bad one too. However, planning helps to be prepared for things that can go wrong. And that is what we did – after all – the decor was going to be a surprise, but it is not mandatory to have fun.
My point being is we have to make due when these unexpected things comes up. And in the plant world, this is usually the case. Sometimes, I think, “Why did I go into plants?” OMG, it can be so stressful.
But the plant passion continues to drive me to keep going. I totally get into the zen mode when I create with plants, and so will the attendees today when they create with a beautiful mix of greenery to make their holiday masterpieces!
Workshop Number One kicks off today and then two more in a week. Rest and restocking will be required.
3 More Days until my first Holiday workshop on November 30th, Saturday. The seats are sold out, the workshop space is set up, the greens are on their way, and the holiday festive music is ready to play!
This year, as noted before, is a celebration year for me. I read it is important to celebrate your accomplishments, and holding these holiday workshops for 10 years, is one for me!
Being a small business entrepreneur, there is not an often ‘pat on the back’ for what I’ve accomplished by people in the business, believe it or not! It is “my attendees” on the other hand who have always thanked me for holding this workshop. I believe it contributes to a community spirit by bringing together a bunch of ladies to enjoy kicking off the holiday, an they do appreciate this.
I feel celebrating this year, as the 10th, is important because if you don’t take the time to do so, you could feel a bit deflated (for lack of better words). Celebrating – Well, it feels good. Overall, this workshop, in particular, I feel has been a success. There have been many, many challenges for me in the background to set it up and make it happen, but in the end, everyone has a good time, learns, creates and best of all get into the holiday spirit. It sets me in the right frame of mind as well. It is a win-win.
Celebrating this event with my attendees, especially those who have attended every year, is a way to acknowledge how important attendees are to my success. Without them, this would not happen – and without me – it wouldn’t happen either! It is a combination that makes it happen. This Saturday’s event is a way to say thank you to them and to myself.
Hopefully, I will be able to add other annual events, like the Succulent Topped Pumpkins workshops or the Seed Starting Workshops, to that 10 year list. These workshops started up a bit later, so they are behind, but we are getting there. They are well received and grow each season.
So, now it is 3 more days until the first workshop, followed by a couple more, and making my custom orders, which I wanted to remind my readers, followers, and customers, I make custom wreaths and kissing balls. If interested, reach out to me soon. You may call or text me at 860-977-9473 or use email noted below. A price list is provided for those interested.
Until Saturday – enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday (which by the way, I have beautiful large globes with succulent and fall themed decor in stock) as a perfect hostess gift or as a centerpiece accent. If interested, there’s still time. They have gorgeous live succulents in them and hang or may be placed on a table. Each is unique with cones, fall themed fruit decor, and lotus pods, etc. Pick up in Broad Brook, CT is required.
Container Crazy CT 