5 More Ways to Dress Up a Basic Evergreen Wreath

Last holiday season I gave myself a challenge: take a basic evergreen wreath and personalize it. I had so much fun with this project, I thought I would do it again this year.

In case you missed it, here's a quick snapshot of I came up with:

Based on page views, your favourites were the Lady Bug Wreath and the Blue Jay Wreath. 

I also did a Partridge and Pear Wreath, A White Rose & Berry Wreath and a Fruit & Berry Wreath (the links will lead you to the how-to's).

This year, the challenge again began with a very basic evergreen wreath, which I purchased at the grocery store for $10.99. 

My wreath came with a rather sad, crumpled bow and a few token pinecones. But the hard work was done for me, so I am not complaining. All I had to do was to dress it up and make it pretty!

So what did I come up with for the 2015 holiday season?

A Snowy Owl Holiday Wreath

(Here's a link to the how-to)

A Holiday Bell Wreath

(Here's a link to the how-to)

An Antique Rose Holiday Wreath

(Here's a link to the how-to)

A Butterfly Holiday Wreath

(here is a link to the how-to)

And finally, a Teddy Bears and Toys Holiday Wreath.

This one is for the children or grandchildren in your life!

(Here's a link to the how-to)

So what's your favourite?

The Garden Mid-August

We were away on the weekend and although we had a nice time, I am glad to be home. 

I have missed Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, but even though a day late, I want to share with you all that has been blooming in the garden. 

August has been kind to the garden and had brought with it lots of rain and cooler days. I find that with the change in temperature, I am more willing to venture out in the garden to catch up on weeding and deadheading. 

The garden hasn't changed terrifically in the last few weeks. Many flowers have soldiered on through the  last hot, humid weeks of July and continue to bloom nicely in mid-August. There are a few new stars in the garden as well. 

I have been collecting different varieties of phlox for years. They take awhile to mature, particularly in the more shaded areas of the garden. Finally, this year they have started to come into their own.

Phlox in the front garden

Phlox paniculata 'Eva Cullum'

Some of the Echinacea is now starting to look a bit scruffy. The butterflies don't seem to mind though.

Disappointingly, there are only a few daylilies still in flower. Next year I would like to 

add a few more late blooming varieties.

'Frans Hals'

A mix of Brown-eyed Susan, Phlox paniculata 'Eva Cullum' and Phlox paniculata 'Laura Bright Eyes'

This is my favourite Helenium.

The Tiger Lilies have been beautiful, but have now have reached the final, top tier of flower buds. 

These 'False Mallow' flowers have also reached the final, top tier of buds. Now they will set seed.

Looking into the distance, you can see my 'Pee Gee' hydrangea by the front door that has 

come into full flower. The Phlox seen here is Phlox paniculata 'Laura Bright Eyes'.

Do I ever get tired of photographing my hydrangea? It appears not.

The way the light catches on the small white flowers never fails to fascinate me. They can look completely different at various times of day.

As you can see, the garden is not all a crazy mix of bright colors. The shaded back garden has a more subtle palette of muted tones.'Oakleaf' hygrangea 

The large hosta by the arbor continues to bloom.

Dogwood berries add small dots of color.

And look what we have here, a few ripe cherry tomatoes! 

The bunnies have gotten just about everything else in the vegetable garden. The other day, I turned around and there was a little bunny munching on zucchini leaves while watching me weed. The cute little devil wasn't afraid at all. 

Do you think he is even grateful that I have been keeping him so well fed?

At this moment, the stars of the back garden are the phlox.

Phlox paniculata 'Laura'

Phlox 'Miss Elie'

I look forward to seeing what has been blooming in your garden.