More Than Just A Holiday

I was thinking today about what makes Christmas time so special.  Is it the presents, the decorations, the hot cocoa, the tasty treats, or the Christmas carols?
No...I have decided that none of those things are what makes this time of year so special.  I think there are two very important things that make this holiday season so magical.

The opportunity to believe in something and the hope of new things to come. 

This time of year encourages us all to believe in the good in people, in a real life fairy tale, our family and friends, the power of words, memories, and true joy.  This time of year allows us to believe in our own ability to make a child smile, to show a friend know how much they are loved, and show our family how much we cherish them.

This time of year helps us hope for the new year and what it might bring, what it might mean, and the possibility of a new or better beginning.  This time of years shows us where we have come from and where we can go.  It shows us that we have accomplished something and are strong enough to make through the hard times and that the good times keep us going.

This time of year is a magical, enchanted time of year because of something much deeper than gifts and Christmas trees.  This time of year is sprinkled with fairy dust because we take time for gifts and Christmas trees because we believe in the delight of the season and in the hope of the year to come!

The History of the Christmas Tree

 

CHRISTMAS TREE HISTORY

Did a celebration around a Christmas tree on a bitter cold Christmas Eve at Trenton, New Jersey, turn the tide for Colonial forces in 1776? According to legend, Hessian mercenaries were so reminded of home by a candlelit evergreen tree that they abandoned their guardposts to eat, drink and be merry. Washington attacked that night and defeated them.
The Christmas tree has gone through a long process of development rich in many legends, says David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture, with the Springfield Extension Center.
Some historians trace the lighted Christmas tree to Martin Luther. He attached lighted candles to a small evergreen tree, trying to simulate the reflections of the starlit heaven -- the heaven that looked down over Bethlehem on the first Christmas Eve.
Until about 1700, the use of Christmas trees appears to have been confined to the Rhine River District. From 1700 on, when lights were accepted as part of the decorations, the Christmas tree was well on its way to becoming a tradition in Germany. Then the tradition crossed the Atlantic with the Hessian soldiers.
Some people trace the origin of the Christmas tree to an earlier period. Even before the Christian era, trees and boughs were used for ceremonials. Egyptians, in celebrating the winter solstice -- the shortest day of the year -- brought green date palms into their homes as a symbol of "life triumphant over death". When the Romans observed the feast of saturn, part of the ceremony was the raising of an evergreen bough. The early Scandinavians were said to have paid homage to the fir tree.
To the Druids, sprigs of evergreen holly in the house meant eternal life; while to the Norsemen, they symbolized the revival of the sun god Balder. To those inclined toward superstition, branches of evergreens placed over the door kept out witches, ghosts, evil spirits and the like.
This use does not mean that our Christmas tree custom evolved solely from paganism, any more than did some of the present-day use of sighed in various religious rituals.
Trees and branches can be made purposeful as well as symbolic. The Christmas tree is a symbol of a living Christmas spirit and brings into our lives a pleasant aroma of the forest. The fact that balsam fir twigs, more than any other evergreen twigs, resemble crosses may have had much to do with the early popularity of balsam fir used as Christmas trees.
Written by: David Robson Extension Educator, Horticulture Springfield Extension Center

~Deck the Hall With Boughs of Holly~

According to Wikipedia- In many western cultures, holly is a traditional Christmas decoration, used especially in wreaths. 
So how do you make on of these wreaths?
Well...

Holly wreaths are "the" traditional Christmas decoration. These evergreen favorites are durable and - with a few added bows, bells and berries - a colorful addition to an entryway or mantel.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wide Ribbons
• Wire Wreath Frame
• Floral Wires
• Garden Shears
• Holly
• Pine Cones
• Small Apples
• Craft Wire

1. Cut a large shopping bag full of holly (Ilex) from your garden in 6-inch-long trimmings.
2. Use a wire wreath frame or make your own frame from a wire coat hanger. (Simply unbend it from the familiar shape into a circle - you can use the hook to hang your finished wreath.)
3. Attach number-24 floral wire (sometimes called paddle wire) anywhere along the wire wreath frame.
4. Select several stems of the 6-inch holly pieces and place them together in a bunch with the stems at one end.
5. Place a stem that has some berries on top of the bundle of holly.
6. Place the bundle on top of the frame where the floral wire is connected.
7. Hold the bundle in place and wrap the floral wire around the bundle and frame. You will need two hands for this: one to hold the bundle in place against the frame and one to wrap the wire.
8. Wrap the floral wire around the bundle a second time and then pull it tight. Make sure to leave the wire attached to the frame - you have a long way to go.
9. Gather another bundle of holly and place it so that the leaves overlap the first bunch and cover the stems. Make sure that the stems on both bunches face the same direction.
10. Continue overlapping the bunches of foliage and wiring them to the frame until you complete the circle.
11. Lift the first bundle that you wired onto the frame and tuck the last one under it.
12. Twist the wire tightly around the last bundle. Knot the wire onto the frame, leaving 1 inch of wire to hang the finished wreath.
13. Cut the wire with scissors or pruning shears when you're finished                                                                                                                                                                                           

Hope you enjoy it!!Read more: How to Make a Holly Wreath | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6923_make-holly-wreath.html#ixzz17U4jCqf1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly




http://thehollyberry.com/

An Announcement!

Holly Berry is changing things up a bit.  Evergreen, Colorado, is considered a destination location for weddings and we here at the Holly Berry specialize in weddings.  We do everything from centerpieces, bouquets,Boutonnieres, and overall floral decor for everything wedding!  We, however, know that flowers are not the only thing a bride needs for her wedding so... we are going to join together with several other companies that also specialize in weddings.  We will all be on one blog- us (flowers), a photographer, a venue (here in Evergreen), an event planner, and a cake baker.  We together will become the greatest wedding blog there is!!
This is a very excited step!  This blog will be officially up by Wednesday! 
More info to come!

~A Walk To Remember~

The Holiday Walk was tonight in Downtown Evergreen.  It came complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot cider, Christmas lights galore, and even bell ringers that performed at Evergreen National Bank.  This event is small town at its best.  The Holiday Walk has been known to make a vacationer into a local and Scrooge into Saint Nick himself.  There is a true sense of joy and the holiday spirit in every store you walk into.  Seasonally Yours has elves selling fudge and taffy, the Ice House hosts Santa and Mrs. Claus for picture taking, and the trolley strolls main street, pulled by two beautiful Clydesdale's.
Evergreen turns into a fair tale this time of year, it truly looks like the movies.  The people are all bundled up, the dogs have on Christmas sweaters, and Christmas carols fill the air.  This sidewalks are so packed it's hard to even move and hugs are all around.
We love the Holiday Walk, it's one of the greatest events our little town has.
Christmas is finally here!!
Merry Christmas Everyone!

Gather Around the Perfect Table This Year!

When it comes to the holidays, it is all about the decorations here at The Holly Berry.  We love decorating the store for Christmas, all the poinsettias, the reds, the green, the gold, the evergreen wreaths, the Christmas bows!  We love it all and have it all, however, one of the most important parts of holiday decorating is the table centerpiece.  A centerpiece can make or break the look of your table and your table can make or break the look of the entire house.  The table is where family and friends gather the eat, visit , and the table is where so many holiday memories are made.  So... we know that some times our budgets can be a little thin this time of year but when you have the family over for Christmas Eve or a holiday dinner party for friends, put your efforts into your table presentation.  
A tall centerpiece bursting with color and holiday cheer sitting in the middle of a perfectly set table, complete with Christmas dishes and Grandma's silver, will be sure to draw the eye of each of your guests.  
At this time of year we are centerpiece gurus.  Whether you would like us to put it all together and have it ready for pick up or to ship it or help you collect your goods to arrange at home yourself, we are here and excited to get involved.  
This year bring your friends and family home for the holidays and watch their smiling faces as they sit down for a perfect Christmas dinner!! 

The Christmas Tree Ship

I was looking around today for some history about Christmas and came upon this story.  It is about the history of the Christmas Tree Ship.  It a great little story that I thought I would share.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!  What a great tradition!

At the close of the nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth, schooners on the Great Lakes were a staple of the shipping industry. They transported lumber and other goods from port to port around the lakes. Before winter set in and froze the lakes many of the schooner captains would load their boats with pine trees from the north and take them to the larger ports along the lake. They would sell the harvested Christmas tree right from the deck of their boats. It became a family tradition in many households to go down to the docks and pick out a fresh cut tree for Christmas. It assured the captains a financially successful last voyage of the year. The cost of the trees ranged from 25 cents to a dollar. One of those Christmas tree ships became a legend.


I got this story from http://www.suite101.com/content/rouse-simmons-the-story-of-the-christmas-tree-ship-a310572 .

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

The Christmas Traditions of the Poinsettias

Every Christmas we fill The Holly Berry with fresh Poinsettias that will grace the homes of Evergreen and surrounding areas. The Poinsettias are a Christmas tradition, but do you know why?

Poinsettias are believed to have originated in central and south America and were recorded, described, and revered by the ancient Aztec peoples.  This flowering plant eventually became a symbol of Christmas to the Mexican culture and it became a tradition to use poinsettia plants to decorate during Christmas time.

 In 1824 the American Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett attended church service on Christmas Eve and was impressed with the bright red flowers used to decorate the church alter.  Poinsett took seeds with him when he went back to America and shared the plants with local churches during Christmas celebrations over the next several years. 

 Because Joel Poinsett was so closely associated with the plant in the United States, people who bought them started calling them Poinsett’s plants or Poinsettias.  Today, millions of Poinsettia plants decorate homes throughout the world.  The colors of the plant, red to represent the blood shed for human redemption and green representing the promise of new life and rebirth tie in with the religious teachings of Christmas and the preparation of starting a new year.

Holiday Thoughts

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. - Oren Arnold

Deck The Halls!

The Holly Berry is filled with the Holidays, and boxes and boxes of garland, greenery, glittering trees, ribbons and surprises. The Holly Berry in The Heart of Evergreen -303-674-4821

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.  William Arthur Ward.



The Perfect Hostess Gift

We all strive to be the perfect hostess, to offer our guests a well prepared, delicious meal accompanied by good wine and conversation. We should approach being a guest with the same eye for detail and graciousness. The perfect hostess gift throughout the decades has been a bouquet of flowers. The staff at The Holly Berry hand picks each bloom for your bouquet. At The Holly Berry fresh means 'freshly picked". We are conveniently located in The Heart of Evergreen.

A Touch of Autumn

 The beautiful autumn foliage is gone. Bring the warmth of the season's colors to your entry hall or buffet table with a floral arrangement. The candles will add an ambiance to your holiday gathering. The staff at The Holly Berry will design your floral arrangement to compliment your style of entertaining.



Thanksgiving Centerpieces

You have planned every detail of your Thanksgiving dinner, it is an extensive "to do list." Allow us to make it a little easier by delivering your holiday table centerpiece.
You may order on line at http://www.thehollyberry.com/ or call
 The Holly Berry at 303-674-4821.

Evergreen Garden Club

While demonstrating "how to create a Fairy Garden" for The Evergreen Garden Club, I had the opportunity to have some great treats, this was a recipe worth sharing. Thank you, Pam Hinish, for sharing it.

 My friend Rena Kuberski gave me this recipe about 30 years ago and it's still my favorite!
Wheat Germ Zucchini Bread3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup oil
3 teas. maple flavoring
2 teas. baking soda
1/2 teas. baking powder
2 teas. salt
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup walnuts
2 cups shredded zucchini
1/3 cup sesame seeds
Beat together until thick and foamy - sugars, oil, eggs and flavoring.  Stir in zucchini; add remaining ingredients except sesame seeds, mix well.  Spoon into two well greased loaf pans.  Top with sesame seeds.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until tooth pick comes out clean.  Cool before removing from pans.
Enjoy!

Fresh Flower Friday

Just a reminder that it's Fresh Flower Friday. All cut flowers are half price from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at
The Holly Berry in the Heart of Evergreen.

The Evergreen Garden Club

 Pam, owner of The Holly Berry had the pleasure of demonstrating how to make Fairy Gardens at The Evergreen Garden Club's monthly meeting at the Fire and Rescue Training Center in Bergen Park. The Evergreen Garden Club was established  in 1965. It is a charitable and educational organization focusing on mountain horticulture and conservation of natural resources. The club members have continuously responded to community needs for beautification at numerous public spaces.  Members volunteer many hours each growing season by planting, weeding and watering.  The Club and community benefit from working together. By helping out on projects members gain valuable information from other members on what grows where in our mountain community. Their website http://www.theevergreengardenclub.com/ is great source of information.



How to attract Fairies

Place bells and fairy wind chimes in your miniature fairy garden to hear them magically tinkle as fairies pass by your  enchanted garden. The Fairies enjoy music and dancing and will be attracted to the tinkling. Add sparkling glitter to your fanciful Fairy houses and paths. Fairies are naturally attracted to sparkling items and will transform your ordinary glitter into magical fairy dust. Magical stone paths will entice fairies to roam throughout your gardens and perhaps leave tiny fairy footprint.

Fairy Folklore is charming and sweet. Making Fairy Gardens with children is enhanced with a bit of fanciful folklore making lasting memories. Let your little ones choose their own Fairy from The Holly Berry's Fairy drawer.

Making a Fairy Garden Part 2

The plants you choose for your Fairy Garden may inspire you in your choice of fairy garden sets. Curly Chives or Creeping Savory can be used to form a hedge. Herbs work very well in Fairy Gardens.  Plants for your indoor Fairy Garden can include small ferns, like the Asparagus Fern or Maidenhair Fern, English Ivy, Purple Heart, Nerve Plant, and Gold Dust Plant to name a few. The staff at The Holly Berry will help you select plants that will provide various heights and colors to create your Fairy Fanasty. We enjoy giving our Colorado fairies a small Buddhist pine or a touch of Evergreen. And, of course a touch of Holly. Once your plants are placed you can begin adding small pebbles and stones to create pathways and walls. We found our pebbles at the local feed store in Kittredge. The Holly Berry carries tiny bridges and garden sets, and can order other miniature accessories. Craft stores carry doll house miniatures that can also be used in your Fairy Fanasty. Decorate your Fairy Garden to reflect the season and the holiday and indulge in this delightful whimsy!

Making a Fairy Garden Part 1

 A Fairy Garden is a garden, or section of a garden, or an indoor potted garden, with miniature houses, furniture, or accessories that create the impression of a tiny world htat fairies might inhabit. Potted Fairy Gardens make delightful and are a fun hobby and project to involve children in.

When making Fairy Gardens, there are a few decisions to make upfront. You need to decide whether you are going to have your garden outdoors or indoors.  Outdoor gardens provide more room for your fairy world to expand, but may limit the accessories you can use, as some may be damaged by weather, and trampled by Elk and Deer. indoor gardens are easier to maintain, but are limited as far as the space they can take up.  Another issue you'll want to think about ahead of time is how much you want to leave to the imagination. You can choose to put actual miniature fairy statues in your garden or simply use furniture and ornaments (and hope real fairies come to stay)

If you are doing an outdoor Fairy Garden  create alongside plants that are smaller in scale, with fine detail. If you have an herb garden this would make a perfect place for the Fairy Garden. If you are doing an indoor Fairy Garden choose a container.  Window runners or large terra cotta pots work well.  Alternatively, you can use a series of small pots in a row on a sill or counter top.  This is fun because you can easily rearrange the garden or an an extra pot to expand your fairy's world. Once you have your contain, you need to decide upon what plants create the garden. We will go into types of plants tomorrow.

Corners and Nooks.

The Holidays are creeping into every corner, and nook. The walls are beginning to look like Christmas, with greenery, garlands, red balls and holly. Candles scented with Apple Cinnamon, Fresh Pine, Lavender, Lemon Grass, and Butter Blossom are tucked in glittered twigs and Poinsettias. Everyday more boxes arrived - It's being to look a lot like Christmas.

A Winter's Friday.

It is never Winter in The Holly Berry, we are always surrounded by Summer.
 Friday is 50% OFF ALL FRESH FLOWERS, from 2:00 - 5:00.
Indulge yourself in an inexpensive luxury. Indulge yourself in the rich warm colors of Autumn.
The Holly Berry in The Heart of Evergreen.

Christmas is Arriving Daily

Boxes and boxes of Christmas greenery, decorations, and ribbons are filling our tiny shop. Let us create a holiday wreath for your front door that will welcome your neighbors and guests.

In Remebrance

The staff at The Holly Berry would like to remind our clients and friends, that in this month  of Thanksgiving, today is a time for remembering those who served and are serving our country. We are truly Thankful for all the brave men and women in our armed forces.

House Plants

We are in that transition period when the beauty of Autumn has faded into a monotone of browns and the beauty of Winter is just a thought. Brighten up your home with live, healthy, "happy" plants. The Holly Berry always has a variety of plants and sizes to select from. Our staff will advise you on the best care for your new plants and help you with creative containers and plant combinations. Stop into The Holly Berry in the Heart of Evergreen, 28165 Highway 74, 303-674-4821

Add a Touch of Style to Your Serving Table

It has always been popular to use a buffet table or serving table for Holiday Parties. It is more informal and allows the guests to mingle in comfort. You want your buffet table to make a statement and to be visually pleasing as well as functional. The centerpiece will set the theme and add a more pulled together look. Who knows better than Martha Stewart, so we have borrowed some tips from her for the holiday buffet table.

 1. Choose dishes that can be cooked ahead and warmed for serving, or dishes that can be assembled at the last minute.

2. Position the buffet table away from the wall, so that guests have access from all sides.

3. A few days before Thanksgiving, take out serving pieces and utensils for each dish. Map out what will go where, to be sure that it all fits neatly on the table.

4. Mix and match coordination dishes and serving plates.

5. Protect your linens by placing empty saucers around the table so guests can rest serving utensils on them and not on the tablecloth.

6. Lay out food in a logical order: entrees before side dishes.

7. Save space for food by displaying low arrangements

Read more at Marthastewart.com                                                                                

Table Centerpieces for Holiday Parties

Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude and gathering together. It is the one holiday that evolves solely around food and the table. To add a more festive touch to the decor of your home we suggest the addition of an Autumn wreath to your front door or your entry hall. The staff at the Holly Berry will work with you to find the silk flowers and foliage that compliments your colors.  

The Thanksgiving table is the centerpiece of the Holiday, keep the decoration simple, rather it is elegant or woodsy. The floral arrangement for the center should be low, as not to hide guests, and in the warm colors of the season. This is a great opportunity to use a vintage gravy boat or other mismatched piece of china for a vase. At The Holly Berry we encourage our customers to bring in their vases and we create the perfect fresh flower (or silk) arrangement in it. 303-674-4821

TO DO: Send flowers to MOM, to thank her for all the Thanksgiving dinners she cooked for you!

Saturday Thougths

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.  ~Claude Monet

Is there anything other than flowers, that have graced the marjority of our art, poems and our tables, and have been used to express our happiness, sorrow, and special moments of life?

Our Signature Design

We specialize in creating custom floral arrangement, bouquets and centerpieces to suit each and every taste. Our experienced floral designers at The Holly Berry can help you select the perfect flowers, designs and colors for special occasions and events. Some of our bestselling designs feature square

glass and rectangular glass vases in an array of colors.  These have become a signature Holly Berry design element!

Our small cubes are approximately 4 x 4 x 5 inches tall in come in red, black, clear, pink, purple and blue. Our small rectangle comes in bright green glass and our tall rectangles are available in black, clear and green. Pick you favorite color and let us create a beautiful array of flowers to match. 

 We also have an assortment or rounded and convex shaped tall vases. Just ask to see what is available.

Custom Designs (the "fly swatter")

"Mom and Dad" were in town to help with the move. The movers continually left the doors open and soon the house filled with flies. This became a source of aggravation and humor throughout the day. The young family are settled into their new home and "Mom and Dad" have returned home and wanted to send a special house warming bouquet. They asked The Holly Berry if they could add a fly swatter to the arrangement. The staff at The Holly Berry is known for custom designs and customer service. 

Now finding a fly swatter in November in Evergreen is another story!

Go to our website for more on our custom design services. http://www.thehollyberry.com/