Pink Hollyhocks ~

Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are an old fashioned cottage garden favorite.  They grow to be quite tall so they make great background plants in your beds. Mine are  planted around a birdhouse on a tall column in the middle of an island bed. They're easy to grow and they have a long blooming season. These are a few pictures of my pink hollyhocks from last summer ~

 

 

 

Decorating for Christmas Using Vintage Pieces ~

 

 

Oh my, where has December gone? I meant to do a Christmas post but  things got really busy around here and as they say "Life happens!". Even though it's a little late, I thought I'd at least share a few pictures of how I used some vintage pieces in my decorations.

 

 

 

 

 This old scale, hanging in my window is filled with greens, pinecones and pomegranates.

 

   An old Dietz lantern is displayed as part of my holiday decorations .

~ Old enamelware pieces & jars filled with greenery & dried fruit ~

I used an antique tool box to display a small tree in a crock. Old keys and locks were hung by twine on the tree.

 
The antique telephone box was filled with  pine, fruit and a star to dress it up for the holidays.

          ~ ~ Old crock filled with holly sits in the window ~ ~

I like to dry apples and oranges to use in my displays and garlands .

 Some of the dried apples and oranges were strung on twine to make the little garland, hanging on the back of the toolbox.

 

My husband surprised me with some branches of holly that he cut from his Uncle's bushes. I had fun spreading them throughout the house. I hung this branch of holly on a door of the  Shipwright cabinet.

Cranberries were added to an old canning jar and placed along side a sprig of Holly on the window sill . Such an easy way to add holiday color to the room!

Old mason jars on a vintage enamelware tray with cranberries and holly, to add a little color.

One of the wreaths I made using the dried fruit, pine cones, berries and burlap ribbon.

~ Small milk bottles filled with cranberries ~

The old Coca~Cola crate was turned on it's side and used it to display my Santa & Snowmen. I attached a candle ring to the crate to use as a wreath.

 

 

Branches of berries were added to the old milk can for the holidays.