Poinsettias are the most popular potted plant during the holiday season. For millions of us, it's not the holidays without a few brightly colored poinsettia plants in our homes. That's why we all need some tips on how to care for poinsettias. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are excellent plants for natural decoration, and they will easily look great throughout the holiday season with minimal care. Fortunately, they thrive in warm indoor growing conditions. To keep your poinsettia plants alive and well during the holiday season and beyond, just follow the expert tips on how to care for poinsettias listed below. If you follow these easy steps, your poinsettias will look healthy and happy throughout the holidays. Tips on How to Care for Poinsettias During the Holidays 1. Start out with healthy plants. When selecting poinsettias for your home or office, choose the plants that have lots of leaves. Avoid the plants that have dried out so much that the leaves are drooping—or … [Read more...] about 7 Expert Tips on How to Care for Poinsettias
holiday
Festive Holiday Drinks for Fabulous Celebrations
There’s nothing like festive holiday drinks to make holiday parties come alive. It's no wonder that cold weather makes us want to snuggle and keep warm, and hot beverages certainly help. So, I've taken some favorite recipes and changed them up a bit to delight your guests. (It's also perfectly acceptable for you to enjoy these festive holiday drinks during an intimate evening with your special loved one.) I have also included my favorite eggnog recipe for when you want a cold and refreshing holiday beverage. Enjoy! Grand Marnier Hot Chocolate (Serves 8-10) Delicious hot chocolate might be the queen of all festive holiday drinks. This hot chocolate gets its kick from Grand Marnier. But if you want a non-alcoholic drink, leave out the liqueur and instead add 4 strips of orange peel (½ inch wide) to the liquid as it is heating. Ingredients 2/3 cup natural, unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch-process cocoa powder or dark cocoa powder such as Droste, Ghiradelli or … [Read more...] about Festive Holiday Drinks for Fabulous Celebrations
Decorate with Simple, Sustainable Holiday Containers
What do you do with containers on your front porch or deck once you have yanked out those sorry-looking, frost-killed petunias? Now is the time to welcome the holiday season by decorating with holiday containers filled with seasonal arrangements of greenery and other natural material from your yard and landscape. It’s easy to forage for material from your property on or around your home for your holiday containers. With pruners in hand, I venture into roadside edges and woods and gather lichen-covered branches, fall-colored foliage, pine cones, and seed heads. All of these make amazing accents for my arrangements. Be sure to get permission from the landowner if you are roaming around to avoid anyone chasing you off their property! I always ask neighbors permission to browse on their property—and I promise them a beautiful holiday arrangement in return. Holiday Decor from Your Own Yard As a landscape designer, my first consideration in planting any tree or shrub … [Read more...] about Decorate with Simple, Sustainable Holiday Containers
