Candy, Belinda, Kelly and I went to the Botannical Gardens Friday morning to take part in a workshop to make a Christmas centerpiece. Here is my centerpiece.

It turned out okay, but I wasn’t thrilled with it. Because it was my first time, I didn’t know how to make it “interesting.” But, when I got home I replaced the tall glass chimney that was supplied, with this ornament-looking dish that has a candle inside. Because it was so plain, I think the colorful candleholder gives it a little “bling.”
Just as a side note, Belinda has participated in this centerpiece workshop for six years, and her centerpiece shows that experience (totally discounting talent!) really makes a difference.
She had a tea party at her house yesterday for a few of the neighbors, and when I sat down at her table and had a chance to really look at her centerpiece, it struck me how beautiful it is! It’s unfortunate that all that beautiful food got in the way of getting a really good picture of it. As you can see, she just threw some lunch meat and bread on the table for this little “do” (tongue firmly planted in cheek!).
You know, there are people who entertain, and then there are people who ENTERTAIN! Belinda is definitely one of the latter.
Belinda’s dog, Bailey, was even into the Christmas spirit in his festive little sweater. He is sitting on the back of the sofa. We were standing around talking near-by, and I think he just wanted to make it easy for anyone who got a sudden urge to pet or hold a cute little dog.
But I digress, so at the Botannical Gardens, after scrubbing the black gunk off our hands, from handling the greens while making our centerpieces, we did a little walk-through of the gardens and I took a few pictures.
The poinsettas were really beautiful with the backdrop of all the lush green plants. And they are all raised there. I found that out from talking to a woman in the gift shop. She said she is one of many volunteers who come in August and cut the poinsetta plants all back so that they will bloom for Christmas. What a fun volunteer job — to see the “fruits of your (August) labors” in such glorious bloom in December!
I have no idea what the curlique plant is. But it was all around.


These reminded me of peonies. Candy called them ruffled poinsettas.



I don’t think there is any Christmas-related significance to gardenias, but I had to take some pictures of them, because I have always loved their scent. I loved their scent even more before I was a high school girl who received a gardenia corsage for a formal dance. While the scent is charming as you walk past the flowers in the Botannical Gardens, take it from a girl who knows — if you wear one on your shoulder for several hours, it can be pretty overwhelming.
I loved this picture because of the red poinsettas behind the gardenia.
The “desert” area was interesting. I’m not used to seeing cacti decorated for Christmas!
With lights that look like peppers — how appropriate!
In case you can’t tell, these are blue lights wrapped around this palm. Very exotic!
This cactus wasn’t decorated but I thought it was interesting because it looked like it had been sewn together with black thread!

A nice day at the Botannical Gardens.