Christmas

Sights and Sounds of the Holiday Season

With Christmas just 20 days away, anticipation and excitement for the holiday often become wrapped in ribbons of stress and long to-do lists. In between decorating, baking, and shopping this December, I hope you’ll find time to enjoy the holiday season with your family and friends. Just remember you don’t have to go to the mall or a big city to experience the sights and sounds of Christmas.

Every year, my family works together to transform our garden center into a holiday wonderland, so this year, plan a visit to Secluded Acres Farm and Garden Center in Rio Grande.

Growing up, I remember a special Saturday afternoon every December when Santa came to visit with families, friends and visitors gathered together at the garden center. And we’re continuing the tradition this Saturday, December 5th from 1-3 pm.

Santa will arrive in bright red fire truck with lights flashing and sirens sounding. After greeting everyone, he’ll sit and spend time with the children. They’ll have a chance to share their Christmas wishes and talk with him, while families look on, taking the precious opportunity to snap lots of pictures. As each child bounces from Santa’s lap, he’ll send them off with a candy cane in hand.

During Santa’s visit, there will also be train rides for the children and hot apple cider to keep warm, as familiar Christmas songs fill the air and our garden trains run inside and outside.

If you can’t make it to see Santa this Saturday, visit another day to see our model trains carry Christmas cheer around the tracks. As little girls, my sister and I always helped my Pop-Pop and Uncle Tom put out the Christmas train. This year, the red and green set is running around a holiday display in our store. While the Christmas train chugs along the floor, a diesel freight train runs back and forth along the ceiling. These days, my cousin Ryan has become Pop’s assistant conductor. Together, Pop and Ryan will be running the trains around the garden Thursdays thru Sundays until Christmas from 11 am to 5pm.

So before you’re tangled up in holiday stress, we invite you to join us this Saturday at 1 pm for Santa’s visit or Thursdays-Sundays from 11am-5pm to see our garden trains.

As you prepare for the holiday, may you take time to enjoy the season with a glimmer of child-like wonder.

Greens for the Holiday Season

With Thanksgiving leftovers packed in the fridge and Christmas just four weeks away, it’s time to replace your harvest-colored decorations with varying shades of greens…evergreens, that is.

Although Christmas greens can be found in many tree lots that pop-up after Thanksgiving as well as in supermarkets and chain stores, your local garden centers offer a fresh selection of evergreen decorations.

The garden center has many live and cut Christmas trees to choose from. While cut trees such as Douglass or Fraser Fir are more popular, live trees including Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, and White Pine trees have a burlap-wrapped root ball for a base so they may be planted after the holidays.

Now with your tree in mind, you may start thinking about other decorative greens. Most wreaths, swags and grave blankets are made with a variety of evergreen pieces such as fir, spruce, pine, juniper, cedar, cypress, holly, and arborvitae branches. Round wreaths and oblong bunches of greens called swags may be hung on doors, walls, windows, mantles and flower boxes. Wreaths are available in many sizes, ranging from ten to 60 inches in diameter. However, swags are a great alternative to traditional wreaths because they can be hung vertically or horizontally on many surfaces.

In addition to picking out greens for your home, you may take time to remember loved ones this holiday season by selecting a beautiful evergreen decoration to place in the cemetery. At Secluded Acres, each grave blanket is decorated by hand with care for you and your family.

When searching for your Christmas greens, consider your decorative style- would you prefer a natural design with mixed greens and pinecones or a glittery creation that shimmers and shines. A hand-made bow can be added to any blank piece you choose. If you don’t see the combination of greens and decorations you’re looking for, we’ll work on it while you wait or take an order and have it ready for pick-up at your convenience.

Whether it’s your family’s Christmas tree, a wreath on your door, swags under your windows, or a grave blanket placed in memory of a dear loved one, fresh evergreens make beautiful winter decorations. So this December, take time to visit your local garden centers. We look forward to working with you and lots of greens too!