The Winter Garden

I'm afraid winter is not my favorite time of year.  I feel the cold weather go straight through to my bones and tend to be more tense and less active.  I miss my long walks at the park and working in my garden.  Yesterday I decided to make an effort to kick the winter blues and get outside more, for goodness sake, I own an abundance of coats and a pair of long johns, so put them on and get out there.
There are lots of  things that can be done in your garden even in the winter.  First and foremost, of course, is to put out a new winter garden flag for an instant cheering up.

 Now its time to get our hands dirty. This is the time to get rid of all the dead debris.  This will help with insect control so they can't winter over as easily. Plus, a nice clean garden is just much more pleasing to look at.  Adding some sort of garden décor this time of year also helps make your view more merry.  Decorative garden flags are of course the first on the list of easy versatile garden décor. 

There are very nice decorative birdhouses that can also add personality to your yard.  If you want birds to take to these decorative bird boxes be careful of what you buy.  Pay attention to its construction and the size of the hole to make sure it is actually functional.

 There are lots of sites online that sell all kinds of decorative items for your outdoor décor.  Browsing these sites can be another fun winter activity when you are ready to come in to the warmth of your home.

Happy winter gardening and thanks for reading.
Josie and Marilee
Custom Flags and Gifts

Cheering up a Winter Yard

The holidays are gone and so are the dazzling light displays, lovely wreaths and eclectic decorative Christmas flags.  The winter yard is not usually a cheery one and unless you are an avid gardener that has planned ahead with camellias and other winter friendly shrubs, a winter yard can often times use some help. 


Winter garden flags are an easy solution.  Winter yard flags come in many designs and their color and subject matter will draw your eyes to them and away from the drabness of the flower beds.   Snowmen garden flags are always a fun choice like this Snow Couple Garden Flag that can also be a personalized flag.


 There is also this Let it Snow Garden Flag that is a high quality double applique flag that will hold up to the wicked winter weather.

For something totally unique there are Custom Winter Flags.  This is a Snowflake Monogram Flag but there are many available from a variety of companies.

For those that prefer, there are also Winter House Flags which are the larger size of the decorative flags like this Cardinal and Holly House Flag that can also become a personalized flag.

Along with the decorative winter flags, depending on where you live there are also great amazingly hearty plants and evergreens that can add beauty to your yard during the cold weather.  I found this great site for the United States National Arboretum and it has a handy zone map that will help you find what plants are winter hardy for your area.  In our area, pansies are used a lot this time of year. It always amazes me that for such a pretty and delicate looking flower they are really very tough.

These are just a few ideas to liven your winter landscape.  There are so many things you can do.  If you have any ideas you would like to share, please do.  We may come up with a few more ourselves in a future post.

Happy New Year to you all.
Josie and Marilee
Custom Flags and Gifts