Hand make Something this Holiday Season

So if you haven't already, take an hour or two and hand make something this holiday season. It could be a centerpiece, a wreath made of ribbon, an ornament, or a handmade tag and bow for a plant. It does take time and we all are busy but it gives our brain a rest from the craziness it usually resides in. It slows us down, gets our creativity flowing, and feels good. The best part about doing this is that you can make something unique and personal. If you really don't think you have anyone to make something for or you do not deem yourself and crafty, make yourself something. Even if it does not turn out how you were expecting it doesn't matter. It is all about the process. Get your supplies, turn on some tunes, and take your brain on a different path.

Everything You Dont Know About The Poinsettia

Time for a little history lesson. Not a boring one however, a really unique one that may be the game winning knowledge you will need in a bar trivia game. Today, December 12, is National Poinsettia Day so we are going to learn about it.


Although the poinsettia has been used in Mexico by the Aztecs to decorate churches, symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and dye clothing since the fourteenth century, it is credited to be discovered by Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett a amateur botanist and first US ambassador to Mexico. He discovered a shrub on the side of the road in Taxco, Mexico in 1828. He thought it strange because the leaves of this shrub were so brightly colored rather than having any noticeable flowers. At the time many botanists brushed the plant off as being a weed. Poinsett did not agree. He took cuttings home and continued to study and breed this plant. At this time the plant had a very short bloom time of only a couple days in the month of December. Because of the time of year it bloomed it and its rich red color it quickly became a Holiday staple. It wasn't until the 1960's the plant was bred to bloom for more then just a few days. The popularity of this plant in the United States however, is owed to the Ecke's family. In the 1900's they developed the grafting technique which made plants full and compact rather than the weedy look they took on naturally. The Ecke Family did not just grow these plants. They went on a marketing tirade across the country sending free plants to news stations to display on air and went on the Tonight Show and Bob Hope's Christmas Special's to promote this Christmas wonder! They owned this market until the 1990's when a university researcher figured out the method the Ecke family had been using and published it in the name of education for all to see. The Poinsettia is known by many names worldwide. In the language of the Aztecs it is called Cuetlaxochitl, meaning "flower that grows in residues." The Aztecs appear to be quite literal. In Mexico it is known as the Flor de Noche Buena, meaning "Christmas Eve Flower," in Chili it is called the "Crown of the Andes," and in Guatemala it is referred to as "The Flower of the Holy Night." The poinsettia has significance around the world and here is the U.S. I think it is fair to say that it represents the holiday season with class.


(Thanks to Dr. Leonard Perry from the University of Vermont and good ole' Wikipedia for all this great information.)

A little thank you...

It is amazing how much a "thank you" means to us. We as humans need to hear it. It means we are doing something right. That someone appreciates us. It is a crucial yet often times forgotten part human interaction. The holidays are a perfect time to let the people in your life know how much they mean to you. The mailman, your hairdresser, your teachers, your childcare professionals, and your coaches. It does not have to be big. It can be a handwritten note or something you have made. A gift card or a plant. Anything that shows them that they are present in your mind. It truly means a lot. And when the holidays are over keep thanking the people around you. There are so many fun, easy, and affordable ways to show a "thank you". Type in "thank you ideas" on Pinterest and you will have days of ideas. At the Garden Center we have pixie poinsettias with a mini chalkboard and apple in it for the amazing teachers out there. Know an owl lover? Create a spruce tip planter with little furry owls and pinecones. Keep it simple yet classic like a wreath with a red bow. And if you are able, hand deliver your "thank you." It just makes it better. Have fun, be creative, and make it personal.

The Perfect Tree

The Christmas season is officially here. You now can blast Mariah Carey "All I Want for Christmas" without judgement...well with less judgement. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is picking out and putting up the tree. I don't know why but there is something I just love about this. First, I am all about real trees. When I lived in an apartment we were not allowed to have real trees which I hated but I bought a pine scented candle and pretended it was real. Now that I can have a real tree it is crucial that I pick the right one. Not too tall but not too short. Not too skinny but not too fat. It needs to have strong enough branches to hold the ornaments and support my cat. All this being considered I don't want it too perfect. It needs to have character and personality. There is something to be said about the "Charley Brown Christmas Tree." After being in the Garden Center this Holiday season I have noticed that everyone has their own process of picking out the "perfect" tree. Some walk around it again and again. Some go back and forth between flocked trees and natural trees. Others pace the aisles slowly eliminating certain ones until they come to last 2. This is where it gets difficult. They are so similar yet so different. They will walk back and forth between the last 2 trees. Committing can be so hard. Finally, a decision is made! They walk up to the counter with unwavering satisfaction. Now picking out the right tree is not the end. It must be decorated. What color lights? How many ornaments. Even for those that decorate their tree the same every year there are choices. Where exactly do the ornaments go? Who gets to put which ones on? But in the end, no matter which tree we choose, how many ornaments we put on, real or artificial, we all take a few steps back tilt or head side to side, move back in for one last ornament adjustment, and then finally make that nod of approval. Enjoy this process. It is that rare time, in our busy lives, that family and friends come together and create something beautiful. Make

Small Business Saturday

It really is an amazing thing when someone has a dream, puts it into action, and commits to making it successful. That is what small business owners do everyday. They turn a dream into reality. It is so hard to compare to the "big box stores" in todays world. They have lower prices, they are open long hours, and they can offer lots and lots of products. But, if you look deeper you may fine that all these perceived deals aren't so great.  Often times these small business not only trump their competitors quality they beat their prices. They have awesome products that are not found anywhere else. To me shopping is a way to express who you are.  Whether you are buying furniture for your house, clothes to wear, or flowers for your front porch planter.  Small businesses understand this. They create products for you. They take the time to talk to their customers to find out what they are looking for. They take pride and ownership in what they are selling so they truly care about how you feel about the product.  When you shop small businesses you get original product, you support local jobs, you keep the money in your local economy, you benefit from expertise, and you make your community a destination. Small business Saturday is important but what is more important is shopping at these businesses year round. Just give it a try.  I guarantee once you experience the small business atmoshphere, you will be hooked!

Farmers Markets

There are so many reasons to buy locally grown produce at Farmers Markets.  First, it is good for your community. There are a lot of big box stores out there and I know they can be super convenient but one day, instead, check out the local farmers market.  What is really cool about Maple Grove is they have an Indoor Farmers Market for local vendors to sell at in the winter.  Second, you know where it came from.  When you buy locally the people selling it are the people know where it came from.  They know what kind of fertilizer was used, where it was grown, how long ago it was harvested.  Those are things you should want to know.  Third, it makes you feel good.  The environment of the Famers Market is really quite refreshing.  They can be crowded but you are surrounded by people that care about the environment, care about their community, and care about their health. Fresh Produce is truly amazing.  It makes life better. Pineview Produce was created to provide you with fresh produce when you can't grow it yourself.  Grown in our greenhouses from start to finish with love.  We sell it at the Maple Grove Indoor Market November through the beginning of January. If you haven't been there check it out and if you are a regular, you know what I am talking about.

Hello Winter.

Winter has arrived with a bang.  Although it can be annoying this is when your winter decorations look the best.  Whether it is your snow covered spruce tip planters or your wreaths glistening with ice droplets, it really is beautiful.  If you haven't put together your winter decor, do not fret.  You still have plenty of time, I mean it is not even Thanksgiving yet.  The porch spruce tip planter truly is an easy way to add color to this white time of year.  Fill it full of red berries or add some glitz with glitter ornaments.  Whatever you do make it your own and try to enjoy this beautiful snow fall.