Royal City Nursery - Holiday 2018

HOLIDAY 2018

Making life beautiful, naturally

INSIDE: • Tips from the Pros – Put your garden to bed the right way • All Hearts come home for the holidays • Hostessing made easy

Curly Willow Birch Pole

Milo Berries Ornament Deer

Frosted Glitter Branches

Lata Star Jumbo Pinecone

Birch Slices

Sakai Pod Kambu Balls

Painted Pinecones Mintolla Balls

Buddha Nut

Available at

This winter season, create your own unique winter arrangements with the collection of accents, harvested from nature, available at our garden centre.

CONTENTS

10

4

Pre-Winter Garden Checklist

6

Royal City Nursery Workshops

9

Fashion Therapy to Cure the Winter Blues

10

It’s the Little Things That Count

12

Bring Back the Magic

14

Simply Elegant Decorating with Nature’s Finest

16

Holiday Cookie Exchange

22

Living Trends - Plant Trends for 2018

16 Available at

Joyful Gifts Regular 29.99

NOW 24.99

Acorn Shape Blackoil/Peanut Feeder

360 degree feeding allows more birds to feast simultaneously.

10072

Regular 39.99

NOW 34.99

Regal Style Trellis Tube Feeder - Copper colour polished roof.

- Modern regal design.

- Sturdy metal construction.

10030

22

14

feeding the birds with new ideas™

This publication may not be reproduced, all or in part, without written consent from the publisher and Royal City Nursery. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all content in the publication, however, the publisher will not be held accountable for omissions or errors. Note that products may vary between retailers and regions, and supplies may be limited. Pricing is subject to change and is not valid with any other offer.

HOLIDAY 2018 • 3

FERTILIZE GRASS

If you are a procrastinator like I am and have not yet applied a fall lawn food, do so in early winter. Within the next week or so, I will be feeding my lawn with a slow release lawn food that contains a high dose of nitrogen. A late fall fertilizer will give my lawn a healthy head start in spring.

PROTECT EVERGREENS FROM ICE AND SNOW DAMAGE

PRE-WINTER

If you have evergreens that are subject to damage from ice and snow build-up, it might be wise to tie them up. Use twine, burlap or any mesh material. Stay away from plastic that does not allow the plant to breathe. Cedars and upright growing junipers are especially vulnerable to ice and snow damage.

GARDEN CHECKLIST

By John DeGroot

DIVIDE PERENNIALS

Daylilies, hostas, irises, Shasta daisies and a host of other perennials will be reinvigorated if you dig up, split and re-plant them before winter sets in.

Add bone meal, organic fertilizer, manure or compost to enrich the soil.

Water thoroughly after planting. Roots will continue growing for the next month or so and will be ready to perform next spring.

MULCH YOUR ROSES

Early December is the time to think about hilling up your roses. Use any one or a mixture of the following mulches: manure, topsoil, leaves, shredded bark, or compost. Build a small hill, about eight to ten inches high, of mulch and put it at the base of your roses. This hill will prevent the rose graft from being exposed to too much alternating freezing and thawing. You may also want to prune your roses at this time. Cut them down to two feet in height and do the balance of the pruning next spring. Climbing roses need not be pruned or hilled.

PLANT BULBS

Late fall is a good time to plant fall bulbs.

You will thank yourself next spring when the bulbs bring forth a riot of colour. Plant tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths about six to eight inches deep, and plant smaller bulbs such as crocuses and grape

hyacinths about three inches deep. Mix bone meal into the soil when planting.

Water thoroughly.

fall bulbs.

“Plant You will thank

WATER EVERGREENS

yourself next spring when they bring forth a riot of colour!

Your neighbours might think you are silly to be watering your evergreens before winter, but they will understand next spring when your landscape is greener than the rest. Winter desiccation is sure to be an issue in the coming months, because the soil has been unusually dry this summer. Evergreen foliage needs to build up moisture reserves to prevent dry winter winds from putting stress on landscapes in the coming cold. In particular, yews, boxwood and cedars will be grateful for the extra drink.

WINTER PROTECT YOUR TENDER PLANTS

Plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons and Japanese maples will enjoy the added protection offered by mulch and winter wrap. A layer of compost, peat moss or leaves applied over the root zone of tender plants will provide extra insulation for cold roots. A makeshift tent of burlap will protect tender plants from drying winter winds.

4 • ROYAL CITY NURSERY - 519-824-4998 - ROYALCITYNURSERY.COM

CLEAN UP THE PERENNIAL GARDEN

Years ago, Cheryl and I would pick a nice day sometime between Halloween and American Thanksgiving and we’d chop off all the perennial plant stems. By the end of the day our garden would be whistle clean. But we’ve changed our tune. Perennials actually appreciate the insulation provided by the frozen plant stems, leaves and snow that remain in the garden through winter. We now cut off only the tallest stems in the fall and do another quick spring clean-up early in the next year.

”

TURN THE COMPOST HEAP

Mix all of your compost together a few times before Christmas. You might think that as you put your garden to bed before winter, microbial activity in the compost heap subsides. Not so. Your leaves, grass clippings, plant stems and banana peelings will continue to rot so you can apply a fresh layer of compost to your garden in spring.

From our Family to yours...

Welcome home for the holidays! Dave and I invite you to join us at the garden centre as we transition from autumn to the sights and sounds of Christmas. This Christmas is about you: the Host and Hostess. It is about how we help you put the finishing touches on your holiday home decorations inside and out, or find the perfect gift for someone special.

The garden centre has been transformed into a Christmas Wonderland, where the spirit of Christmas can be found in abundant decorations and innovative decorating ideas. Look for the latest in tree ornaments, Department 56 Village, sparkling Christmas lights and artificial trees.

You want your home to look its best all season long! Using a fresh cut Christmas tree and greens will not only give your home its signature look, they will give your home the scent of Christmas as well. Our designers are busy crafting perfect seasonal arrangements for your porch and one-of-a-kind arrangements for your table. Take a table arrangement as a hostess gift to your holiday events.

If you prefer to create a stunning arrangement of your own, register for one of our popular workshops. You create and we clean up!

Tsuga Boutique is full of exclusive gifts ideas for the Host and Hostess. For the Ladies, we unwrap fashion, comfort and style just in time for the holidays. Look your best with designer fashions, handbags or footwear. A scarf or necklace tied around a wine bottle is an exceptional gift for the Hostess; a thoughtfully chosen ornament is an inspired addition to a package under the tree.

We know it takes a village to create memorable events. We say ‘Thank You’ to our village; to all our Staff who work so hard and give so much of themselves every day. Dave and I also say ‘Thank You’ to our customers and friends who continually push us to become better and to go that extra mile to bring something new and different to the table.

Thank you for the opportunity to help you look your best this season.

May the joy of the Christmas season be part of all your events this year!

Champagne Shopping L A D I E S N I G H T DECEMBER 6 6pm - 8pm First 30 attendees receive Boodle Bags Exclusive after hours shopping and store wide discounts this night only Join us for this distinctive holiday event and enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne while you shop.

6838 Wellington Road 124 Guelph ON N1H 6J4 Royal City Nursery

RCNurseryGuelph

@RCNurseryGuelph

Royal City Nursery

519.824.4998 | info@royalcityursery.com royalcitynursery.com

HOLIDAY 2018 • 5

Workshops!

Making life beautiful, naturally MON NOV

19

WED NOV

21

THURS NOV

22

FRI NOV

23

MON NOV

26

WED NOV

28

FESTIVE FOLIAGE

FESTIVE FOLIAGE

SEASONAL SILHOUETTE TREE

SOPHISTICATED SPHERE

FOR THE BIRDS

LIL LANTERN

6:30PM Cost $65 + HST Our most popular workshop! Craft a beautiful outdoor Christmas arrangement using the best selection of fresh greens, festive berries and accents. First create it then learn how to maintain this beautiful presentation so it will last the entire season and beyond.

6:30PM Cost $65 + HST Our most popular workshop! Craft a beautiful outdoor Christmas arrangement using the best selection of fresh greens, festive berries and accents. First create it then learn how to maintain this beautiful presentation so it will last the entire season and beyond.

6:30PM, Cost $70 + HST You use fresh greens and ornaments to create a beautifully designed feature on a metal tree silhouette.

Use your creation indoors or out. This one will last for the entire season and be a feature when you welcome friends and family to your home before, during and after the holidays.

6:30PM, Cost $65 + HST Fun and refined this arrangement is built around an on-trend sphere in combination with fresh greens and ornaments. Let our designers teach you the secret to creating an exceptional décor piece for your front entryway! Battery operated candle available for purchase.

6:30PM, Cost $65 + HST Fresh fruit and seed pods make this arrangement look spectacular and a feast for your feathered friends. A thoughtful gift for the bird lover on your list or as a marvelous natural display outdoors. Either way enjoy watching the birds enjoy it all winter long!

6:30PM, Cost $65 + HST This display features a delightfully petite lantern as the centerpiece, which can be fitted with battery operated lights or a candle (available for purchase). Light up your front entry way this season with this eye-catching arrangement sure to bring joy to all who see it.

FRI NOV

30

MON DEC

03

TUES DEC

04

SAT DEC

08

TUES DEC

11

SAT DEC

15

FESTIVE FOLIAGE

WELCOME WREATH

SEASONAL SILHOUETTE TREE

TABLES ARE TOPS!

SOPHISTICATED SPHERE

TABLES ARE TOPS!

6:30PM Cost $65 + HST Our most popular workshop! Craft a beautiful outdoor Christmas arrangement using the best selection of fresh greens, festive berries and accents. First create it then learn how to maintain this beautiful presentation so it will last the entire season and beyond.

6:30PM, Cost $65 + HST Create an exquisite outdoor wreath to adorn your front door, entry or window.

Our design staff will guide you through the creative process. You create a welcoming accent for your holiday home.

6:30PM, Cost $70 + HST You use fresh greens and ornaments to create a beautifully designed feature on a metal tree silhouette.

Use your creation indoors or out. This one will last for the entire season and be a feature when you welcome friends and family to your home before, during and after the holidays.

11:00AM Cost $55 + HST Create your own enchanting table-top centerpiece. Enjoy the natural beauty and intoxicating holiday scent this festive arrangement brings indoors. The fresh holiday foliage will help your table to shine and your holiday events be bright.

6:30PM, Cost $65 + HST Fun and refined this arrangement is built around an on-trend sphere in combination with fresh greens and ornaments. Let our designers teach you the secret to creating an exceptional décor piece for your front entryway! Battery operated candle available for purchase.

1:00PM Cost $55 + HST Create your own enchanting table-top centerpiece. Enjoy the natural beauty and intoxicating holiday scent this festive arrangement brings indoors. The fresh holiday foliage will help your table to shine and your holiday events be bright.

Gather a group of friends together and create a new holiday tradition.

If you have a sharp pair of clippers or garden gloves, bring them with you!

Price of workshop includes all materials, unless noted. Additional plants and materials are available for purchase. Sorry only supplies from our greenhouse can be used during workshops.

Come and create with us!

6 3 • ROYAL CITY NURSERY - 519.824.4998 - ROYALCITYNURSERY.COM

Fresh cut

TREES

Let Royal City Nursery unwrap your holiday senses! The Fraser Fir is a majestic holiday favourite. Your tree will be the focal point of your holiday decorating, adding the beauty and fragrance you can only get at this time of year. Your Fraser Fir’s branches retain their two tone needles up to 6 weeks* meaning you will enjoy the holiday feeling longer, with less cleanup. Royal City Nursery has the tree to fit your needs, from 4’ to 12’ and you can choose from Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir and Scotch Pine. We also carry tree stands and the perfect decorations for your tree to help create seasonal traditions to last for generations. * To keep your fresh cut tree longer, make a fresh cut prior to set up, keep well watered and add StaFresh, every time you add water to improve longevity.

DEPARTMENT 56 A meaningful gift or a way to add to your holiday tradition We carry the Dickens Village Series New Pieces in stock now for the Discerning collector in your life or to add to your collection We are the only authorized D56 dealer in the Guelph area

Giving Tree Ornament Be sure to look for our Gift Giving ornament when you are doing your shopping.

100% of the proceeds are going towards the Guelph Food Bank.

GIFT CARDS GET THEM WHAT THEY REALLY WANT!

You can purchase a $100, $50 or $25 denomination.

This card never expires and can be used at the Royal City Nursery Garden Centre or Tsuga Boutique.

Boxed and wrapped. Perfect for gift giving! $6.99 ea.

HOLIDAY 2018 • 7

Royal Winter Wonderland O P E N

H O U S E

NOVEMBER 3

NOVEMBER 4

9am - 5pm

10am - 5pm

Enjoy Hot Cider & treats while you browse this season’s brightest offerings Save 20% on all ornaments, artificial trees and wreaths Special pricing on selected items Watch live “How to” demos Join us for this season launch and enjoy the best selection in a very merry setting

6838 Wellington Road 124 Guelph ON N1H 6J4 GPS coordinates: 43.473708, -80.304282

519.824.4998

info@royalcitynursery.com

Royal City Nursery

RCNurseryGuelph

@RCNurseryGuelph

Royal City Nursery

royalcitynursery.com

8 • ROYAL CITY NURSERY - 519.824.4998 - ROYALCITYNURSERY.COM

Jackets and sweater coats as well as tunics in geometric prints, florals, plaids, checks and houndstooth will make your decision difficult, because you will just want them all. Try adding printed leggings to any of your solid coloured tops for an eye-catching look, or wear solid-coloured bamboo leggings with printed tops.

You are going to notice cozy chenille, cashmere, cotton blends, viscose and rayon in a large number of our styles. It is so nice to see natural fabrics making a comeback.

Boots, boots, boots... What more do we need to say. You will find a generous number of boots in various heights, colours and styles. Both leathers and manmades will excite the most seasoned footwear veteran.

The most important thing is to find the style that compliments your body and stick to it. You can always change up your jeans, leggings, boots, scarves, handbags and jewellery so you never feel ho-hum about your look.

Walk tall and proud this winter with all the confidence you possess and the winter will fly right by.

Courtesy of Orange – Fashion Village

Courtesy of Orange – Fashion Village

FASHION THERAPY

to Cure the Winter Blues

By Donna Moss

O

ur Canadian winters are long and cold. Most of us struggle with feeling our best through these arduous months, which is why we are here to help you look your best. In news that should excite both fashionistas and health enthusiasts everywhere, studies have even shown that looking great and feeling great go hand in hand!

Our fall and winter fashion collections for 2018 are looking fabulous.

Cinnamon and various shades of blue will be strong colours this winter along with pale shades of rose and mauve. Classic blacks, greys and creams remain a strong choice.

Try adding colour to your winter wardrobe with a great scarf or a piece of jewellery.

Cozy sweaters, capes and ponchos still have a strong showing. They are easy to wear and easy to add to any outfit.

most “The important thing is to find the style that compliments your body and stick to it.

”

Courtesy of Orange – Fashion Village

HOLIDAY 2018 • 9

I

t is that wonderful time of the year when holiday preparations are in full swing. You can easily make the festivities extra special with a few simple additions to your decorating, gift giving and holiday party plans.

When planning try not to become overwhelmed and take each phase step by step. After each step, take a few minutes to assess how a few “extra special touches” can take your Christmas festivities to the next level.

Decorating your home is often one of the first tasks of the holiday season.

When decorating, assess each room and visualize where you may need more flickering or twinkling lights. Place a few strands of LED micro lights in lanterns, apothecary jars or amongst Christmas baubles or pinecones in a decorative metallic container.

Adding a flameless candle in a dim corner creates a soft, illuminating glow that will enhance the holiday atmosphere. Use battery operated lights, or electrical ones with a timer, to ensure that they come on at a certain time each day and turn off prior to your going to bed. Scented candles, in holiday fragrances, will greet your senses when you enter your entertaining spaces.

IT’S THE

Little Things

THAT COUNT

By Martha Vandepol

Try gift-wrapping in paper that is colour coordinated, or that matches your décor, to make a decorating statement under the Christmas tree. Adding a touch of fresh evergreen foliage to the packages or a homemade Christmas card will show that you put extra thought into your gift and its presentation.

The addition of fresh flowers to your home is always a welcome touch. Fresh evergreen foliage will last for many weeks and you can later add fresh flowers to live centrepieces on Christmas Eve, which will last through 10

to New Year’s Eve. All of the small flower and fresh berry stems that are left over can be artfully arranged in tiny art deco vases, which you can place in powder rooms, guest bedrooms or tuck into corners on your kitchen counter.

Add some special touches to your Christmas dining room table by scattering glittery stars, snowflakes, pinecones or ornaments through the centre amidst your candlesticks and vases of flowers. These can be saved for use the next season, or placed in different rooms to vary your décor from year to year.

You can make gift-giving extra special by including thoughtful finishing touches, such as adding the appropriate batteries for toys given to children, including extra taper candles for a gifted holiday centrepiece, or tucking travel sized hand cream into a purse for the special woman in your life. You can also follow a timeless tradition by placing a coin in that purse, bestowing good luck to the recipient.

When hosting a festive party, a few special touches will go a long way towards making your celebration fabulous. Serve your guests their favourite beverages, wines or local craft beers while playing popular, current holiday music. Create a Facebook group for the party, where you can post changes to time or location in case of inclement weather, where photos can be added by guests after the event to keep the memories going, or where recipes can be posted for that appetizer that everyone was raving about. A phone call to your guests who do not use Social Media will be greatly appreciated.

Do not hold back, use your special china and silverware rather than paper plates and napkins. Have a holiday game planned, but don’t push this on party

guests who are already having a wonderful time. You will be sure to use it later for another family get together or New Year’s Eve celebration. A parting gift will be the talk of the town and if it is something your guests can use in their own decorating, like an ornament, it will be enjoyed for many Christmases to come. And of course, remember to do something personal for yourself before you start to entertain. Treating yourself to a new fragrance, outfit or trip to the salon will make you feel special for your holiday party.

Don’t forget about your furry friends – they love the holidays and all the excitement of extra guests and Christmas lights. Clothe them in an ugly Christmas sweater, reindeer antlers

or glittery bow tie, and they will be overjoyed with all the extra attention.

Outdoor decorations can be enhanced with twinkle lights added to holiday wreaths and garlands, or by placing bright red decorative pillows on your outside patio chairs. Adorn your willow reindeer with a red velvet ribbon and include some on the lamp posts, ensuring that all who arrive at your home feel the holiday spirit.

These little touches take very little time to implement, but they certainly can add to the holiday atmosphere in your home. It is important to remember that the holidays are about getting together with family and friends, and cherishing the wonderful memories that are made throughout the Christmas celebrations.

HOLIDAY 2018 • 11

Magic

BRING BACK the

By Leah Ruelicke

W

hen I was a child Christmas was, in fact, the most wonderful time of the year.

On Christmas Eve I’d set the alarm for 7 AM on my clock radio, knowing I’d wake up to a holiday jingle. I’d lie there when it happened with a dumb smile on my face, thinking to myself “IT’S CHRISTMAS, IT’S CHRISTMAS!”. Then I’d bolt out of bed, wake up my family by turning that thought into loud hollers of “IT’S CHRISTMAS, IT’S CHRISTMAS!” and we’d all traipse into the living room to open gifts.

When you’re a child, Christmas is magical. I mean, c’mon: New toys! Cookies for every meal! There’s a man named Santa Claus, who exists solely to make people happy and bring presents. When you’re a child, you get to believe in all of that magic.

Many, many, many years have passed since then. I still set an alarm for Christmas morning, albeit for a few hours later. I still wake up to a Christmas tune and lie there with a dumb smile on my face, thinking to myself, “IT’S CHRISTMAS, IT’S CHRISTMAS!”. In that moment, it feels magical.

But apart from that morning wakeup, Christmas, for most adults, can often feel a little more routine and a little less magical. You’re less concerned with waking up to toys under the tree (or maybe you’re the one putting them 12

there), and more concerned with finding the perfect gift for the kids, your partner, or the hosts of your annual neighbourhood gathering. Your mind is on finding an outfit for your holiday work party, about hosting your family for dinner, or about finding the perfect table runner and putting up lights that will make every passerby jealous.

But perhaps that magic we all felt when we were children doesn’t need to seem quite so lost. Rather than worrying about how Christmas looks, maybe we can remember how Christmas feels. Here are a few ideas to help bring back the magic:

Decorate the Tree

This is, hands down, the thing that gets me in the holiday spirit more than anything. I’ll head home for a weekend, my dad will put on the Boney M Christmas CD, and we’ll dig through the boxes of ornaments that we’ve been adding to for the past 20+ years without ever taking anything out. We’ve got the pinecone my sister painted in Grade 1, a construction paper candy cane I cut out in Kindergarten, and the family favourite “tin can lid on a string.” Why not turn decorating the tree into a fun opportunity to dig through some family memories while making some new ones!

Participate in a Cookie Exchange

This doesn’t have to be a recipe contest, but rather a fun reason to crank the Christmas tunes, dance in the kitchen, and end up with some tasty treats to share with your pals afterwards. And hey, it’s kind of a win/win. Even if you wind up baking the worst batch, you still get to EAT the best one!

Organize a Holiday Potluck

Ease yourself off hosting duties and opt to put on a potluck instead. My girlfriends and I do this every year, and what started as an excuse for a group of 19-year-olds to open endless bottles of wine has turned into a civilized dinner party with husbands, babies, Chatelaine-inspired dishes and yes, a bottle of wine or two. It’s low-key, stress-free, and allows us to enjoy our rare, quality time together rather than in the kitchen.

Rewatch Your Favourite Christmas Movies

I like to start in early December, as I have a laundry list of films I absolutely NEED to watch, year after year, before the big day arrives. Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, The Santa Clause, and the list goes on.

Very few things make me happier than cozying up with my family beneath the Christmas lights, and watching a holiday flick I’ve seen approximately 378 times before.

Drive Around to Look at the Lights

This has been a family tradition since before I can remember. We go see the

same light displays every year, and yes, the tradition itself has changed a bit. We’ve lost some family members and gained new ones. Our lives have changed in a lot of ways, but every year we still bundle up, drive to the park, and face the biting cold wind to see that snowball-turning-into-a-snowman light display that, although it is old news now, was mind-blowing as a child. And every year, in this moment, I feel grateful. I feel peaceful. And for a second, I let that snowball-turning-into-asnowman light display blow my mind all over again.

Donate to a Toy Drive

It’s not hard to find ways to give back during this time of year, and it’s a great way to remind yourself of what really matters.

Fill a shoebox with toys and necessities for kids in need.

Donate to a food drive or a toy drive. Focus your time and energy on bringing magic to others and I think you just might find some for yourself along the way.

So, maybe this year we can all try to relax. Dinner doesn’t have to be perfect. Your lights don’t need to make the neighbours stop and stare. And you sure don’t need to hand-knit stockings for every single family member solely because you’ve done it every year prior.

Instead, spend time with your family. Enjoy your holiday brunch rather than stressing over it. Remember that magic you felt as a kid. And who knows, maybe this year, for a brief moment, you’ll even let yourself believe in Santa Claus.

HOLIDAY 2018 • 13

Simply Elegant A Fresh Take on Decorating with Nature’s Finest Elements

By Erin Robbins (Van Raay)

W

hen we think of decorating the outside of our homes for the holidays, natural elements are the first to come to mind. The fresh, clean, crisp characteristics of handcut evergreens, birch poles, berries and pinecones create an elegant holiday welcome that evokes the feeling of a traditional Canadian Christmas. Urns, wreaths, window boxes and bows arranged with accents of pine needles and sprigs of berries are great ways to decorate outdoors. When turning your focus to the inside of your home, these natural elements can lend a similar warmth and elegance.

inspires you to get crafty.

For example, adding a few branches of seeded eucalyptus or fir to the corner of a family photo frame or the top of a clock creates a stunning impact that blends flawlessly with all of your other holiday decorations, in any theme.

Have you ever found yourself becoming attached to the pile of wood that you stacked beside the fireplace to burn? You’re not alone. Wood evokes a feeling of comfort and warmth. Its serenity beside a crackling fire can cause you to reminisce about family time, adventure and the great outdoors.

The simple act of throwing an armful of birch logs into a wire basket with a few pinecones and a white ribbon is an easy way to add a naturally festive feel to any corner of the room with minimal effort.

Try creating a florist inspired evergreen collection. For starters, find a collection of glass vases. You can go for a symmetrical look or feel free to mix and match shapes and sizes. Tall cylinders, mason jars and oval vases are some of my favourites for these projects. Head outside to your backyard or to your local florist or garden centre and pick up a few small bunches of yew, white pine, cedar, fir, boxwood, seeded eucalyptus or holly. These are all perfect fillers, so pick your favourite. As a bonus, the more fragrant evergreens will fill your home with the scent of a real Christmas tree. Add a little bit of water to your vases and insert 1-3 sprigs in each. They are easy to create, so if you like how they look, feel free to keep making more! Place

Accenting your nature infused theme with crisp whites and creams creates a very simple yet elegant look. You can easily continue to add accents to your home if something new 14

them around your home in groupings of one, three or five, depending on space.

Do you find you want to get more creative? Try making a small evergreen bouquet with white roses and thin twigs as accents. Creating a focal point centrepiece for a mantle, buffet or dining room table simply means adding more vases! Create a collage of large and small glass vessels. Fill some with If your fresh floating white tea lights or pine cones and lay large greenery isn’t sprigs of fir, cedar or yew in water, make on the mantle around them. sure you spritz it To top it off, incorporate a down a few times few white or cream festive a week. ‘Wilt figurines, birds or ornaments, Pruf’ also helps pinecones or white berries to preserve fresh as accents. The contrast of greenery, wreaths fresh green foliage against and garlands! clean whites and creams is the perfect blend of the natural and the elegant. Keep in mind that fresh cut evergreens can produce sticky sap. To avoid getting it on your furniture, make your arrangement in a large serving tray or place a thin hidden sheet of plastic underneath as a barrier. Sprinkling a fresh coat of artificial snow around the base is a great way to hide the plastic and add a beautiful finishing touch.

“

”

Boxwood wreaths are wonderful accents to display in windows or on glass-pane cabinets. You can easily hang them with a heavy duty suction cup but to really create an effect, use a long

cream-coloured ribbon or rope. It will add a stunning edge and tie the wreath in with the other cream accents you have incorporated.

If you’re excited to start decorating and would like to begin earlier in the season, think about using artificial products. Your displays will last much longer and still reveal that natural look you are going for. Artificial greens are great for wreaths, mantles and garlands but don’t be afraid to add in natural accents such as birch poles, white berries, grapevine balls, wooden disks and white painted or natural pine cones. If you like to use ribbon in your decorating, white or cream burlap will blend beautifully with this theme. Burlap adds focal interest without taking away from the natural feel.

If you’re looking for more pizzazz, sneak in metal tones such as copper, silver or gold. This can be a useful way to incorporate your favourite bowls, vases, candlesticks, and sentimental figurines. If you have a bowl you would like to incorporate, try making a small evergreen arrangement to place inside. Secure a piece of wet floral foam in the base, fill with water and add sprigs of fresh evergreens, seeded eucalyptus, white or green berries, pinecones and a few beautiful white roses. Do you still want more colour? Add a deep red accent.

It can be a beautiful touch but keep it minimal.

Feel free to mix these natural elements in with a theme you already have. One of my favourite things about bringing in the outdoors to decorate is how flawlessly natural elements harmonize with almost anything. Add just a hint, or go nuts with nature’s finest elements this Holiday season for a simple yet elegant look.

HOLIDAY 2018 • 15

Holiday Cookie Exchange One Santa Cookie Recipe courtesy of Jaclyn Belle, creator of www.cookingclassy.com

Ingredients 2 Tbsp (29g) salted butter 3 Tbsp (42g) packed light-brown sugar 1 pinch salt 1 Tbsp whisked egg* 1/4 tsp vanilla extract 1/3 cup (43g) all-purpose flour (scoop and level to measure) 1/8 tsp baking soda 1/4 cup (60g) red and green M&Ms** 1/2 tsp Christmas jimmies (optional)

Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet (half or quarter sheet) with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

2. Place butter in a microwave safe mixing bowl.

3. Heat in microwave until about 2/3 of the way melted (it should take roughly 20 seconds), remove and stir to melt fully.

recipe... is the easiest “This and fastest Christmas cookie you can make! ” - Jaclyn Belle

4. To melted butter, add brown sugar, salt, 1 tbsp egg, vanilla, flour and baking soda. Stir with a spoon or rubber spatula until well combined.

5. Mix in about 3/4 of the M&Ms. Shape dough into a disk about 3 1/2-inches on a prepared baking sheet.

6. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 of the M&Ms over top along with sprinkles if using. Bake in preheated oven 11 14 minutes, until edges are just golden brown (cookie should appear slightly under-baked in center).

7. Serve warm or allow to cool on a wire rack then store in an airtight container.

Helpful Tips: *To get 1 Tbsp egg crack egg into a small bowl, whisk until yolk and white are blended, then measure out 1 Tbsp. Reserve remainder for another use. **I’ve also made this using a 1.77 oz tube of red and green Mini M&Ms, which is equal to 1/4 cup.

16

White Chocolate Dipped Lofthouse Style Snowman Peppermint Chocolate Cookies Sugar Cookies Find these and more great recipes at www.cookingclassy.com

BOUTIQUE

Gifts for the

Hostess!

Bring a gift that will delight the host or hostess BOUTIQUE

Light up their event! Lanterns are very hot right now. Lanterns come in all shapes, sizes, and colours and are can be found made of wood, metal or glass. A single lantern looks great on its own; a grouping is a real statement!

Everyone loves shortbread especially when it’s Sprucewood Handmade Shortbread Cookies. Your host or hostess will be sure to love this delicious gift of thanks.

A well-chosen ornament can be a most thoughtful gift. Select one that matches the home’s colour scheme or something unique to match your hosts’ personalities. Be inspired by the variety of shapes colours and sizes.

A seasonal planter helps set the table in style. Our designers can make a custom planter to match the host home or you can pick up one that’s ready-to-go.

Either way the recipient will welcome you and love the ‘thank you for having us’ gift.

Can’t decide what to take as a thank you gift for your host or hostess?

A Royal City Nursery Gift card is perfect every time. The card can be used at the garden centre or Tsuga Boutique so they will get exactly what they want. Best Guest Ever!

6838 Wellington Road 124 Guelph ON N1H 6J4 GPS coordinates: 43.473708, -80.304282

519.824.4998

info@royalcitynursery.com

royalcitynursery.com HOLIDAY 2018 • 17

BOUTIQUE

Showcase

your style!

BOUTIQUE The place to help you celebrate your style this season!

We have this season’s latest Designer fashions, handbags & accessories, footwear and home décor. Perfect for the hostess or as a heartfelt gift.

Visit Tsuga Boutique to see the Fall/Winter 2018 collections from Tribal, Simply Noelle, Marble and Cotton Country.

6838 Wellington Road 124 Guelph ON N1H 6J4 GPS coordinates: 43.473708, -80.304282

519.824.4998

info@royalcitynursery.com

facebook.com/tsugaboutique royalcitynursery.com 18 • ROYAL CITY NURSERY - 519.824.4998 - ROYALCITYNURSERY.COM

Making the Season beautiful, naturally

CUSTOM PLANTERS Welcome everyone to your home or workplace.

Captivating design and seasonal colours are always in style. Add the finishing touch to your beautiful residence or office with a custom seasonal planter.

CUSTOM ARRANGEMENTS & SEASONAL FRESH GREENS Your front door will declare ‘Welcome!’ Your dining room table will exclaim ‘Join Us!’ A custom, fresh-made arrangement will complete your holiday home. We make them in a style and colour palette to suit your décor. Just visit with our designers on site and place your order.

Royal City Nursery has the best selection of fresh cut evergreen boughs, branches and accessories in the Guelph area this season! Choose from a variety of seasonal greens including B.C. Cedar, Ontario Cedar, White Pine, Noble and Silver Fir, Scotch Pine, Princess Pine, Oregonia, Berried Juniper and Magnolia.

Select Branches of Red Dogwood, Yellow Dogwood, Curly Willow, Winterberry and others.

Accessorize and personalize your arrangement with berries, balls, bows, pine cones and more.

Royal City Nursery always has a great selection of ready-to-purchase arrangements to take home or to give to the hostess at your next gathering.

Think Royal City Nursery’s Royal Winter Wonderland Christmas store.

HOLIDAY 2018 • 19

FAMILY FUN DAY

VISIT WITH DECEMBER 1

SANTA

DECEMBER 2

9am - 5pm

10am - 5pm

Have a free photo taken with Santa Saturday or Sunday 11am -2pm • Make and take for children • Get a branded activity book • Choose your family Christmas tree or pick a special ornament

6838 Wellington Road 124 Guelph ON N1H 6J4 GPS coordinates: 43.473708, -80.304282

519.824.4998

info@royalcitynursery.com

Royal City Nursery

RCNurseryGuelph

@RCNurseryGuelph

Royal City Nursery

royalcitynursery.com

20 • ROYAL CITY NURSERY - 519-824-4998 - ROYALCITYNURSERY.COM

WINTERIZING THE GARDEN AND POND

When preparing for your pond and garden for winter, prevention is the best medicine. Give your evergreens a thorough watering before final freeze up. The moist ground will freeze and be a better insulator than dry soil. Hill roses with up to 12” of triple mix and mulch tender perennials and woody shrubs.

Don’t forget to diffuse the winter winds by wrapping Japanese Maples, Rhododendrons and Boxwood with burlap too.

Animals can do severe damage to plants in winter, often without us noticing until it is too late. Favourite targets include (but are not

limited to) Japanese Maples, Euonymus, Burning Bush, Fruit trees and Berry bushes. If the bark is removed all the way around a stem or branch, the pathway of water and nutrients between the roots and shoots is destroyed and the plant above the damage will be killed.

Keep animals off by wrapping the trunk with burlap or spiral tree guards. Against more stubborn critters, use a product animals don’t like the taste of such as Skoot or Plantskyyd in November and again in January.

For your water feature, cover the water surface with a net to stop falling leaves from landing in the water. Switch to a cold water bacteria as the water temperature drops to mimic nature’s cleaning agents and decrease the sludge build up come spring. Do not feed your fish once the water temperature drops below 10°C. Lastly, include a pond de-icer or aerator to ensure at least a 6” diameter hole stays open to allow the fish oxygen over winter.

LET THERE BE LIGHT Decorating with Lights at Christmas is a tradition we all love. Lumineo premium lights are innovative and unlike any lights you have used before. Update your look indoors and out, with amazing strands or bursts of light which twinkle, glow and sparkle. The lights are LED, saving you money on utility costs. Using these lights will give you the opportunity to showcase unique effects not possible before. Let your imagination run to light when decorating this season.

CLUSTER LIGHTS These LED lights are clustered together off the central cable creating a shimmering lattice of light that arcs around your tree. Simple to install, saving you precious time, these festive lights are the last you’ll ever buy for indoor or outdoor decorating. 1120 lights on a 10 metre strand.

TWINKLE COMPACT LIGHTS Imagine the possibilities! These lights have an 8-function twinkle effect and have 50,000 hours of bulb life. You choose from a variety of colours including warm or cool white and multicoloured lights on a green cord. They can be used indoors or out. You just have to decide what look you want to create. Shine on this season!

1000 LEDS on a 22.5 metre strand HOLIDAY 2018 • 21

Living

Trends

By Tanya Olsen

tropical plant to “Use a living space into

O

ver the last few years, tropical plants have skyrocketed in popularity. The plant choices we make indoors compliment our personality and design style, just like the trees and shrubs we use outdoors, as well as providing a cleaner and healthier living environment. Tropicals are not simply part of the trendy accessory list for 2019, they are the trend. When we decorate our living spaces with any accessory, it is important to think about colour, texture, shape (or overall form) and other not so physical benefits such as environmental impact, health benefits and design aesthetic

With tropicals you’re not limited to greens.

Your choice in plants can add a real POP OF COLOUR to your room. Plants like the Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia) feature leaves striped with white Oyster Plant and green, while Crotons (also called a Joseph’s Coat) have leaves splashed with reds, yellows and oranges. The unique Oyster Plant (Moses in the Cradle) brings stripes of purple and cream into play. The leaves, brightly spotted with colours, will provide focus and interest to any brightly lit space.

We use TEXTURE in design to evoke a specific feeling.

Smooth textures are visually interpreted as soft, while bumpy textures provide visual depth and interest. Cactus (or Cacti) can be prickly when the spikes are further apart like on a Barrel Cactus or can appear soft like the Old Man Cactus. Cacti are easy to care for and don’t require much maintenance other than very bright light and water once every two to three weeks.

Incorporating a Snake Plant into a dark room will provide a spiky texture (similar to a large iris) without the prickles.

Remember, when placing a heavily textured plant be sure to plant it in a smooth and neutral coloured pot so the plant remains the focus.

Textured tropicals need not be relegated to a pot on the floor!

Boston Ferns provide a soft, graceful look in a bathroom or modern dining room while Pothos can soften even the largest book case as the green and whitespotted heart shaped leaves spiral downward.

Our next trend, PATTERN is created with colour, texture or any other building block in design.

By contrasting different patterns in

22 • ROYAL CITY NURSERY - 519-824-4998 - ROYALCITYNURSERY.COM

Snake Plant

a room, we create a more interesting place to live. Incorporate pattern by choosing the bold patterns of the Prayer Plant or the Rattlesnake Plant. Both of these choices offer a beautiful contrast of dark green vs. light green leaves, incredible foliage and easy-care opportunities for your home.

EDIBLES do not need to be relegated to the outdoors any longer. The luxury of picking citrus can be as close as your living room, with Meyer Lemon, Calamondin, Limes and even Oranges, normally available at your local garden centre in the spring. Citrus flowers smell amazing and a dwarf tree will add height and texture to a bright room.

We all know plants are HEALING and offer environmental benefits, however the Janet Craig Dracaena, Spider Plant, English Ivy and Peace Lily are the queens of the jungle when it comes to filtering out the toxins that occur in our homes, making it easier to sleep. Studies suggest that having three plants, in a 10” pot, for every 100 square feet of floor space will provide a substantial benefit.

Placing the plants near where you sit or work will provide the most benefit. Incorporating Aloe Vera, Lavender and other edible herbs into your kitchen gardens brings home the true healing effects!

transform your a peaceful retreat.

”

Traditional Christmas

Swag

When we think about overall design – the two most common choices are the modern, or the more traditional style of design with a combination of colours and comfortable shapes. In modern design, we focus on the basics such as line, shape and form to create an artistically sophisticated, clean look.

Plants such as Phalaenopsis Orchids, and Fiddle Leaf Figs work in modern design situations because of the understated complexity of the flower or the big bold leaf and strong colours.

Go ahead! Use a tropical plant to transform your Prayer Plant home and your living space into a peaceful retreat. The science says we need plants, but as gardeners, we all know tropical plants are more than therapeutic, they bring a living trend to life as you express your creativity and design style and have a healthier room and a healthier you at the same time!

Sugar Pine Cones

Add your own decorations to dress it up or keep it simple with a festive Christmas Ribbon. Our Traditional Swag measures 20” long and is available at participating local garden centres.

BACK BY

POPULAR DEMAND

Cleaned and all natural Sugar Pine Cones are perfect for Holiday decorating, craft projects, bird feeders and displays.

Measuring between 8-10”, these pine cones are a fantastic addition to your fall and holiday décor.

Available at

HOLIDAY 2018 • 23

quality tree

Come see what a

looks like.

Classic, Traditional, Country or Formal.

Compliment your décor with one of our many artificial trees. Available in different varieties, sizes and styles.

FEAT UR ED

NEW Slim Canterbury with LED lights 1401 tips, 760 lights, 7.5' (41” in diameter)

Royal City Nursery

6838 Wellington Road 124, Guelph ON N1H 6J4 (near Kossuth Road)

GPS coordinates: 43.473708, -80.304282

519.824.4998 • royalcitynursery.com