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"Possibility and promise greet me each day as I walk out into my garden. My vigor is renewed when I breathe in the earthiness and feel the dirt between my fingers. My garden is a peaceful spot to refresh my soul." Meems






Welcome to my Central Florida Garden Blog where we garden combining Florida natives, Florida-Friendly plants, and tropicals.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Christmas Garden


We're on the home stretch to Christmas day. The family will gather here as we do every year for this very special holiday. All my children and grandchildren here at the same time is sufficient gifting to me.

With only five days left I was sitting on my back porch early this morning ... my Christmas to-do list in front of me. It's a mild day weather-wise but the hot coffee and the chirping birds always has a way of soothing the soul even in the most hectic of times.

So, I'm busily checking things off my list and planning out how the rest of the week will unfold but I'm in the back of my mind I keep thinking how very good the light is for taking photos this morning.

It was not our typical sunny streaked (read: glare) garden morning. On days like this it takes a little time once the sun rises to actually break through the fog when the temps contrast greatly from nighttime to daytime like they have this week. It was overcast just enough that the colors of the garden seem to deepen and come alive.
Mr. Meems even got up to take a stroll in our little haven in the back yard. When he did, I couldn't resist any longer. With camera in hand I joined him and began snapping away.
Look... the Australian Fern has a new fiddle just peering out between the elder fronds.

I love their enormous, lacey fronds and the deep, dark, fuzzy newlings unfurling with new life... even in December.

Yesterday I was in the garden almost all day. There was much to be done in the veggie garden. More on my garden day yesterday in another post (maybe- if I have time). But I needed to mow and tidy up one last time before Christmas Day. Well, that is other than the little matter of watering the pots again and sweeping the front walkway - but that's simple stuff. So the Christmas garden is now checked off my to-do list.

It will be 78 degrees here on Christmas day so the grand-youngins will be playing back here in the afternoon once the presents have been opened. We may even fit in a family game of croquet. I would like that.

Remarkably, the deep orange lantana bush is still producing enormous amounts of blooms and standing quite tall and wide at the back corner of the garden. It remains a favorite for the bees and butterflies during winter.

The plumbago situated next to the lantana keep putting on their bright blue flowers, too.

Impatiens are the mainstay for blooms I suppose. They have seeded themselves in so many nooks and crannies around the garden. I don't mind since they don't require nearly as much water this time of year making them much easier to care for than in the spring and summer.

Afterall, it's a very busy time of year and there is no way I can spend as much time as usual in the garden. Fortunately, as the weather cooperates it is kind of taking care of itself these days with lesser demands for my time.
Thanks for taking a stroll with me this morning. Now I really must get back to that list for the rest of the day.
I'm not sure if I'll have another chance to post before Christmas. If I don't... here's wishing every single dear reader the Merriest Christmas EVER! If I do... I'll be sure to say it again.
Blessings, Meems

27 comments:

  1. And what a beautiful Christmas Garden, it is, Meems. Louis is not well today so we stayed home from church. I'm sorry he is under the weather, but I did enjoy extra time wandering about outside with the birds and fox squirrels. This weather is just about perfect, isn't it? What a blessing to have all of your family right there with you on Christmas Day - I pray that it will be a day that is filled with merriment and joy.

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  2. well you are all going to enjoy the garden on christmas. it will be teeming with life which is wonderful, what a lovely place to spend christmas day with all. take it all in, the big day with your family...being together...out in the garden...special.

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  3. Meems, for me, it's strange to imagine that Christmas is due in your garden in just a few days - it looks like the middle of summer to me! Beautiful plants and gorgeous colours - could we change places?

    Wishing you a lovely Christmas
    Katarina

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  4. Your garden is such a tropical oasis for me at this time of the year Meems! 78 degrees for Christmas???? How perfect for a day to spend with the family!

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  5. What a nice post. Your garden is still so lovely, I know the photos of the grand yougins playing in your yard on Christmas Day will be a delight to see. If you do not post again before Christmas, I pray you and yours will have a love filled, safe time together!

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  6. Meems,

    How special to still have a glorious garden for Christmas!

    You garden is just beautiful, and I'm sure your grandchildren will have such a wonderful time there.

    Cameron

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  7. Meems~

    Merry Christmas!
    Wishing you a splendid day with your family!

    The garden looks gorgeous!

    Karrita

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  8. Thanks for the stroll, enjoyed it much. Love the new header. It looks very festive! Merry Christmas Meems!

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  9. Merry Christmas to you, too Meems, and thank you for getting your camera out so we could enjoy the beauty of your flowers.

    I have had some ferns a friend gave me in a large container for several years, that must have rusted through the bottom. It looks like I am going to have ferns in my back yard next summer. I need to decided if it's a battle I should fight or not.

    Enjoy your family at the holidays!

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  10. Thank you, Patricia. Yes, this weather is divine... actually just a tad cooler would be even more divine but I'm not complaining. Louis needs to get better real quickly.

    Thank you for the prayers and I hope your day is filled with the same.Thank you for the prayers and I hope your day is filled with the same.

    I do think we will be making use of the garden on Christmas day since it is expected to be mild weather. It's always nice for the kiddlings to get out and run out some energy. :-) I'm learning better each year how to "take it all in". thanks for the encouragement.

    Katarina, sometimes I wish I had a snow laden Christmas but then that would mean I'd have to give up my garden... I don't think I'm up for the trade. I wish you a spendid Christmas as well. Enjoy the rest of your week.

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  11. A beautiful photo on your header Meems. It sure shows the feeling of christmas. Your garden looks like our summer though. It is so beautiful. It give me something to look forward to after all this freezing weather.

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  12. Racquel, I was looking back at some of my Christmas notes from past years. 78 and muggy is not unusual here. I sure hope we do without the muggy part this year... I can handle 78 if it isn't muggy. We have had the a/c on for over a week. sigh.

    Thank you, Darla, I pray your family also enjoys every minute of this beautiful holiday!

    Cameron, The little ones make the holidays even more special. Their eyes bright with excitement... Their little voices filling the household with laughter... their hearts always ready to share. I have finally learned to let the dishes sit until later so I can join them in whatever they are doing. It will be a wonderful day to share the garden with them.

    Karrita, Thank you. And I wish you the same very Merry Christmas.

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  13. Susie, Thank you. The header is one of two arrangements I made for the dining room table. I guess it's serving double duty... my table and the blog header. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    Sue, My camera is not usually too far away from me... only this morning I was trying really hard to stay on task. :-) Oh well, the garden seems to have the strongest pull over me on any given day. LOL.

    do you know what kind of ferns you have? Some are not as prolific as others. I've tried to eradicate my boston ferns but the holly ferns are slower growers and that is what you see in the photos.

    Lisa, Thanks for the comment on the header. It is an arrangement I made and adorns my dining room table. Actually, there are two of them on the table. I kind of think out winters are like your summers for the most part. Cool at night, warm in the day. The plants are sighing big sighs of relief from the summer heat. They don't grow so much right now so the garden is much more manageable. Here's wishing you a very special Christmas celebration, Lisa.

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  14. marmee... this one was for you--- I forgot to include your name... (my apologies) I do think we will be making use of the garden on Christmas day since it is expected to be mild weather. It's always nice for the kiddlings to get out and run out some energy. :-) I'm learning better each year how to "take it all in". thanks for the encouragement.

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  15. Hi!
    I hope you will have a ....
    MERRY CHRISTMAS!
    Linda

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  16. One day I'll have a winter garden as pretty as that - one day!!! Have a great Christmas!!

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  17. That looks like some of your handiwork in your new festive header - just lovely. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family - will think of you all playing on the lawn while we're on our boots, hats and coats walk through our snowy neighbourhood.

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  18. Hi dear meems, I do love strolling with you in the garden...I am chuckling over your last mow comment. It was 10 degrees this morning! We are all shocked especially the garden. I do think Phlox p Laura couldn't make it through this freeze. She must be mush by now!

    It's lovely in your garden~~ I hope your Christmas is warm and filled with laughter, love and celebration!

    gail

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  19. Hard to believe everything is so lush and green in late December. We are buried under two feed of snow and the temperatures aren't even going to reach 0-degrees F today. I'd like to spend just 30-minutes soaking up the sun in your garden today.
    Merry Christmas
    Marnie

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  20. Meems, I wish you & your family the best holiday ever. Sooooo

    MERRY CHRISTMAS,
    HAPPY NEW YEAR.

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  21. Oh, we need one more post...a cold weather post!! Don't ya love it? Glad to hear Mr. Meems was taking a stroll in your plot of heaven. And I like your new Christmas header. Do your readers know that you made that arrangement yourself, with your own garden greens???

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  22. Having always been a Midwesterner, it's hard for me to think of having to mow before Christmas:) I'm hoping it will warm up enough here so that I can clean the ice off the driveway!

    Your garden is always such a welcome sight to see, Meems; thank you for taking us on this stroll. I suspect all of us will be spending more time today and tomorrow checking our to-do lists than reading blogs. I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas!

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  23. Happy Christmas, Meems - it's 38 degrees here but thinking of your family together at play in Florida makes everyone feel warmer ;-]

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  24. We will have a warm Christmas,too, but my garden doesn't look as lush as yours after the cold weather we have been having. I hope you and your family have a great Christmas.

    Jan
    Always Growing

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  25. When Annie in Austin posted her comment, it was cold here in Austin. But today it's in the 70s and sunny and beautiful. We're sure to have a lovely, green Xmas tomorrow too. But your garden is much more flowery than most of those around Austin this time of year.

    Thanks for the tour. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  26. Your garden is absolutely gorgeous, Meems. I look forward to seeing it in person soon! :-)

    Impatiens reseeding...I'm not sure that would ever happen here!

    I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas week with your family. Many blessings to you and good wishes for the coming year!

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  27. Hi Meems!

    I just wanted to pop in and and let you know I changed my blog address.

    thecharminggardeninmyhead.blogspot.com

    It's still the same posts, just different name and address. I hope you are doing great and are enjoying the holidays :)

    Susie

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Have a blessed day,
Meems


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