There's nothing that says Christmas quite like the fragrance of a fresh cut Christmas tree. Somehow, scented candles and air fresheners just don’t have the same natural aroma. Selecting and bringing home a fresh cut tree is just a natural part of the holiday tradition.

You can get the most out of your holiday tree by following a few simple guidelines.

When selecting your fresh cut tree, gently stroke the branches or pick up the tree a few inches and bounce the cut end on the ground; few needles should fall if the tree is fresh and has been properly cared for. Make sure to get the right size tree so you don’t have to do a lot of pruning. Measure the height of your ceilings and the width of the space you plan to display your tree in. Remember that a tree doesn’t need to be perfectly even if displayed in a corner.

Once you bring the tree home cut another inch off the base before setting the tree in its water stand. This will help the tree take up water more easily. Immediately fill the stand with water after setting up. Make sure to check the stand's basin daily and add water as needed. Display your tree away from heat sources such as heater vents, fireplaces, stereos and television sets which can promote premature drying.

Above all else, make sure you use only Christmas lights with a UL seal of approval. Inspect your lights each year for excessive wear such as frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking before putting them up. Never use candles near a tree. Remember to turn lights off before going to bed or when unattended. Finally make sure to use non-flammable decorations on your tree. Homemade paper ornaments are cute, but hang them somewhere else in the house for all to see.

Have a safe and Merry Christmas!

Product Spotlight: Demdaco® Willow Tree and Garden Angels 

The Willow Tree line of hand-carved sculptures by Susan Lordi speaks to us in quiet ways to heal, comfort, protect and inspire.  The very simplicity of these figurines will communicate peace and serenity to you and those you love.

If you want your angel statuary to be the focal point in a garden room, then perhaps these symbolic sculptures, standing at an average of 5 ½ inches, are not what you’re looking for.  However, consider the charm of a stroll in your garden, and the sight of one of these angels from beneath a low-growing evergreen.  If you’re lucky enough to have some forested land, coming unexpectedly upon the Angel of the Garden is sure to bring a smile to your face.  Need a conversation starter?  Plan your next party around a monk’s table under a pergola and group these small yet emotionally powerful totems as your centerpiece. 

The angels most apropos for a garden setting are the Angel of the Garden, and the four figurines representing the four seasons.  Each one carries a sentiment that is sure to bring charm to any garden setting. 

While the poinsettia remains the most popular of the holiday plants, a healthy Christmas Cactus in full bloom is a great gift idea for that special gardener. They are easy to care for and can be grown indoors throughout the year. The flowers range in color from yellow, orange, red, salmon, pink, fuchsia and white or combinations of those colors. Its pendulous stems make it a great choice for hanging baskets.

The common Christmas Cactus that is grown commericially is composed of several closely related species of forest cacti that grow as epiphytes between 3,000 and 5,000 above sea level in the Organ Mountains north of Rio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil, South America.

We typically think of cacti as being heat tolerant, but Christmas Cactus will keep their blossoms longer in cooler temperatures. It is important to keep plants in a well-lit location away from drafts of heater vents, fireplaces or other sources of hot air. Drafts and temperature extremes can cause the flower buds to drop from the plant before they have a chance to open.

The Christmas Cactus is a tropical type plant, not quite as drought tolerant as its desert relatives and, in fact, may drop flower buds if the soil gets too dry. Water thoroughly when the top inch or so of soil feels dry to the touch. The soil should be kept evenly moist for best growth.

Christmas cactus will do best in bright indirect light. They don’t need to be fertilized while in bloom, but most gardeners enjoy the challenge of keeping the plant after the holidays for re-bloom the following year. While plants are actively growing, use a blooming houseplant-type fertilizer and apply monthly until blooms set the following season. If taken care of properly, a single plant can last for many years, providing many seasons of enjoyment.

There's something about the taste of fresh, home-grown herbs in cooking that is hard to beat. The flavors are so much more flavorful and aromatic than using something dry out of a shaker bottle. Most home gardeners lament the coming of winter since it usually spells the end of the outdoor growing season. But it doesn't have to be that way. Many herbs can be grown indoors quite successfully in the winter months and then be transplanted into the garden the following spring.

With the right location and care, many herbs can be fooled into thinking that summer is still here. If you're a little nervous or skeptical about growing herbs indoors, use some tried and tested varieties such as chives, coriander, dill, mint, oregano, rosemary, parsley, and thyme. Most of these can be started by seed, while mint and rosemary can be started by seed or cutting.

Most herbs are sun lovers and will require a southern facing window that gets at least six hours of sunlight per day. For less sunny locations, mint, parsley and rosemary will get by with less sunlight. You might also consider hanging a grow light 6-9 inches above your plants to provide light on cloudy days. Make sure to also rotate your containers at least once per week in order to help your plants grow evenly.

Start your plants in seed trays and then transplant them to window boxes or larger containers once the plants become rooted. Use a good quality potting soil and make sure the containers you use have drainage holes. If you use water trays under your pots, make sure that you check them after watering and drain any standing water in them.

The herbs listed above will do fine provided temperatures are maintained between 55 and 70 degrees. Feed with a water soluble plant food every 2-4 weeks just as you would any other indoor plant, and don't water until the soil surface becomes dry. The use of a small fan will also help herbs survive the stuffy air conditions that can occur indoors in winter.

Plant pests are usually less prevalent during the winter months. Nevertheless, visually check your plants at least once per week, and treat your plants with an insecticidal soap before pests actually become a problem.

So don't let the winter doldrums get you down. Spice up your life and your winter meals with the addition of fresh, homegrown indoor herbs!

A basket of blooming narcissus is the perfect gift for anyone — teachers, coworkers, friends or family.

To make your own narcissus basket you will need premium bulbs of paper-whites, Chinese sacred lilies, Grand Soleil d'Or, Cragford, or germanium narcissus.

• Choose a suitable flat basket (about 6-9 inches in diameter and 3-4 inches high).
• Line the basket with a circle of heavy-gauge (4 millimeter) plastic sheeting and cut to fit. (You may also line the basket with any shallow container with no drainage holes.)
• Fill the plastic (or container) halfway to the top with pebbles or gravel.
• Add 6-8 bulbs, with the pointed side up and with their sides touching.
• Fill in with more pebbles to hold them upright.
• Cover the pebbles with sphagnum moss (optional).
• Add water to the base of the bulbs.
• Continue to water as necessary to keep the water at that level.
• Cover the basket with an upside-down cardboard box.
• Place in a cool spot for one and a half weeks or until sprouts are 3-4 inches tall.
• Uncover the basket and place it in a sunny window until the flowers open.
• Turn it daily for even growth.

Enjoy the narcissus basket in the house during winter or give it as a gift!

Allow six weeks for fully open flowers. Discard the bulbs after flowers fade. Bulbs forced in water cannot be reused.

Tip: For a succession of flowers, plant up more baskets monthly.

No Christmas season would be complete without the fragrance and beauty of fresh evergreen wreaths and greens. Here we stock an excellent selection of plain and decorated Christmas wreaths. We have a variety of sizes to fit any door or entryway.

Our garlands can be cut to any size and are perfect for wrapping around stairway banisters, bookshelves, and fireplace mantels. Our table centerpieces make the perfect Christmas accent for dinner tables and coffee tables.

We pride ourselves on offering only the freshest. So don't delay, hurry in and pick up the freshest greens in town today!

Do birdhouses have to have bird seed in them? How do you make it comfortable enough for birds to nest in them?

Answer:
Bird feeders have seed in them, bird houses have birds in them! Hellooooooo!

As long as the entrance/hole is proper size and the birdhouse has ventilation openings without letting in rain, the birds will be happy. Unfortunately many bird houses not approved by the National Audubon Society (usually the small, painted "cute" looking ones) have no ventilation. The birds nest, lay eggs, the eggs hatch, and then the babies die because they overheat. You don't want to make the birds "comfortable" by adding stuff for the birds to nest in, because the house will then smell like a human and the birds won't want to nest. They're perfectly capable of finding everything they need to build a comfy nest inside all on their own.

Happy Birding!