Treasures in the Out of Doors

I got the notion to fill a wire tiered basket in the greenhouse with greenery from the garden and a few trinkets from a half century of collecting Christmas.

I clipped greenery from junipers and boxwoods. I decided a few cuts from loropetalum might make good contrast to the greenery. I was surprised to find fringes of blooms on some of the loropetalums.

One dogwood still had red berries but I abandoned cutting berries when I realized the same twigs had next year's buds. Just before I came in out of the wind, I found a last orange rose.

All the treasures went into bottles on my tray where I put bits and pieces to enjoy.

Charisma, the last floribunda bloom.

Dogwood berries and late leaves.

Loropetalum fringes.

... and the Christmas decors for the greenhouse, including

a rose campion plant, pecans and a red nutcracker.

Flowers and text are from the garden of Nell Jean blogged on Dotty Plants Journal in hot, humid Southwest Georgia.

Button Tree in Red and Green

I was so happy with the pink button tree, I made one in traditional colors. I bought beaded straight pins -- couldn't find corsage pins at Walmart. Their last foam styro tree was broken in the package, but all those pins holds the two pieces together.

I've saved two pairs of Sissy's enameled earrings for 35 years, for a special project. Look for the diamond shape with red enamel in the top two, and the little blue enameled flower at bottom.

Tying a Package with a Fall Away Bow

My packages always had a twisted piece on the bottom, and I wasted a lot of ribbon. This is a good thing.

Button Tree

9" styrofoam cone covered with pink felt and tulle
Pearl buttons
Glass buttons
Rhinestone buttons and jewelry
Beads
Pearl Head Corsage pins -- A box of 144 plus more
Round headed pins like shirts are packaged with
Hearts from an old charm bracelet
Rhinestone pin and earrings that I've had for 49 years.