A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas is over the corner and if you didn't buy a natural tree probably you have an artificial one or you just get a few fir or pine branches. Maybe it's time to think of something new this year? I want to show you a few ideas from the internet of a room, table, chandelier or window decorations.
Take a few lemons, oranges, apples, etc. In a wide bowl, basket or box set spruce, pine, juniper or any other coniferous twigs, add candles and put between them whole or sliced lemons, oranges or tangerines. We have beautiful and tasty decoration, especially for children:

 Let's try to decorate a room with cones. If walking in the park or forest, you have collected cones, now you will be able to use them.

Fasten coniferous twigs with thread or wire in the form of garlands and secure cones in any order. To make it easier is necessary to make a flat cone surface cutting off the lower scales.

Another option is to higher hang cone ornaments. To do this, attach a beautiful colorful ribbons to cones. Hang them on a chandelier, a window or on the Christmas tree:

 

You can paint the cones using any nail polish. They can become completely silver or golden sparkling, or to paint only the edges, also turned out beautifully. And if you add beads ....

If there is a "boot for gifts", then you can fill it with twigs, berries, beads. Any coniferous branches can be painted perfectly.

 

Then we find a fallen branch in the park or in the forest, separate the piece and the basis of our decorations is ready.

Now you simply brush or paint varnish this branch, sprinkle it with any white powder (chalk, flour, salt) and it will turn "snow-covered". Secure the branch in a vase or glass jar and start to decorate it. What to take as decorations? Beads, balls, cookies, candy, favorite Christmas decorations, handmade stars, snowflakes, hearts, berries and so on.

Now the special flowers! Let's look ornaments with "Christmas Star". White, red, pink poinsettias look great in a vase, in a deep dish, in a tall glass. You can add a candle or a branch of rowan, hawthorn, spruce, and cones:

 Having inspired ideas, I took red and white poinsettia and have made a composition with flowers, a basket and candles:

We will meet in  New year and I'll tell about Russian Christmas on January, 7th.  

 A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I wish each of you peace, joy and love in this holiday season.

Feliz Navidad y Feliz Año Nuevo!

Een Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!

 En riktig God Jul og et Godt Nyttår!

Häid jõule ja head uut aastat!

Hyvää Joulua ja Onnellista Uutta Vuotta!

 Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Ευτυχισμένο το Νέο Έτος!

 

 lan Sugeng Warsa Enggal!

  Wesołych Świąt i Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku!  

С Рождеством и Новым годом!     

The Conservatory of the Bergius Botanic Garden

              After the Drottningholm palace and park I went to the Bergius Botanic Garden, it's not far from there. The garden is a part of the city’s national park and is ideally situated at Brunnsviken, near Baltic Sea, Sweden.

 

I went right away to the Edvard Anderson Conservatory. It's a wonderful place for a visit all year round. I was pleasantly surprised of flower scents that drifted through the the house. 

I strolled through fascinating landscapes, ranging from lush rainforests to dry deserts. The Conservatory has several rooms: Mediterranean Hall, Australian, Californian, Fern room (was closed), South African and Palm hall.

In the center of Mediterranean Hall is a small garden with Italian marble and rose-colored sandstone columns, it is framed by a green myrtle hedge. Here Bougainvillea climbed close to the old olive tree, figs, almonds, oranges and pomegranates.

In the Australian room are many eucalyptus, acacias and the characteristic grass tree (Xanthorroea). In the Californian room are plants from the Californian and Mexican deserts.

The Mojave and Sonora deserts have very rich floras. The landscape displayed in the Californian room contains many species such as agave, jojoba, and mother-in-law's cushion.

About South African and Palm hall I will tell you the next time, to be continued...

Here is my video about Bergius Botanic gardens:

The Drottningholm Palace and Park, part 2

           Walking further through the Drottningholm park I found myself in green walls, narrow corridors and numerous arches. Sculptures appeared unexpectedly when I walked along the alleys.

The purpose of the statues was to surprise a visitor by their unexpected appearance in a green area or as a focal point for a vista. Many fountains also were in this part of the park.

Then I came to the English informal garden.

The English garden section of Drottningholm was laid to the north of the Baroque garden and consists of two ponds, bridges, large open sections of grass and trees in groups. 

 Many walkways were made in this large part of the park. Most of the antique marble statues throughout the gardens were purchased by Gustav III from Italy. 

Since the palace and the park is located on a small island, it is surrounded by the Baltic Sea bays. When I got to the shore, I was amazed by beautiful views.

 

Gulls, geese, ducks, pigeons were flying and floating on the water. In the distance white yachts were visible. Bright blue evening sky completed the picture of peace and tranquility.

Here is my video about this park:
 

 

What style of such park do you prefer: formal, baroque or informal, English style ?

The Drottningholm Royal Palace and Park

Late autumn, the weather is cold and rainy here, sometimes is sleet. At such moments I recollect the warm and sunny days of this year. These memories are always pleasant and especially nice to look at the photos.

Today I want to tell you about my visit to the Drottningholm Royal Park in Stockholm, Sweden. It was September warm afternoon. 

Despite of St. Petersburg and Stockholm are not so far away and nature is very similar.  There are a lot of cliffs and bays, small islands and lakes in Sweden. On one of the small islands the Drottningholm Royal palace and the park is located. The palace was originally built in the late 16th century, served as a residence of the Swedish royal court. Apart from being the private residence of the Swedish royal family, it's a popular tourist attraction.

The palace has been the permanent residence of the present Royal family since 1981. In 1991 Drottningholm was the first Swedish attraction put on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.

The oldest part of the gardens a Baroque garden flanked by thick tree avenues was created right outside the main palace at the end of the 17th century. There are many statues scattered throughout this area. Later the Baroque garden was neglected along with the rest of the grounds and was restored in the 1950s -60s.

 

A large terrace adjoins to the palace. I saw dahlias, asters, red leaved perennials planted at the other side of terrace wall. 

In the park a few urns of flowers were set, they were decorated with royal symbols.

There are many big and small fountains in the center of the front garden. All trees and bushes were pruned, they reminded me artificial installations.

Then I noticed other wall that completes a front part of the park, along which small waterfalls are set. I liked their design and a pool shape.

I think you're surprised that visitors of the park are not visible, it's because the palace and the park is the permanent residence of the present Royal family and the tourists may walk along certain paths of the park.

I've made the video about this park:

To be continued....