Most of you know my love of Christmas trees. Large, small, pine, white, flocked, gold, silver--you name it, I likely own and decorate it! Stemming from that fondness, I began displaying a small "thankful tree" several Novembers ago. Decorated with an autumn theme, I tweak it a bit each time. Here are just two examples from previous years.
With an autumn theme, I usually tuck-in artificial leaves and hang both scripture-inscribed and mercury acorn ornaments. Sometimes it is in the kitchen. Last year it was in the great room.This year's tree is a bit different from usual because it has no ornaments. Instead, it's a medley of dried naturals. The inspiration was actually planted in my brain just over a year ago when we attended the annual holiday event, Garden Glow, at MO Botanical Garden. Part of that wonderful event is an inside garden railroad display. Last year's Victorian theme was so enchanting and part of it included Christmas trees. Do you see where this is going? As you have guessed, the ginormous trees were decorated with dried plants and flowers. As I was taking in the beauty there, I made the decision to replicate this type of tree for 2020 and mentally filed away the idea. 😉 I looked forward to creating my tree adorned with dried native plants and flowers and, in anticipation, I began collecting this fall. My mother and I found and snipped wild goldenrod and elephant's foot along deserted backroads.
After earnestly searching for teasel weed, I was delighted to spot some while Randy and I were out of town and so I asked him to pull over...on a dusty country road...in the middle of nowhere in northern MO...while driving our 36 foot long motorhome!I gathered things like hydrangeas (two varieties),
Autumn Joy sedum,
fountain grasses and pinecones from our yard, all of which dried to my satisfaction. Of course, I had to add the wonderful sprigs of bittersweet highlighted in yesterday's tablescape. Not only did I have fun decorating my tree, it is fairly consistent with what I had wanted. I plan to leave it up through the Christmas season.
Have a tree-mendous day!
