Vermeer Holiday 2019

HOLIDAY 2019

VERMEER’S GARDEN CENTRE

SNOWMAN KID’S CRAFT Page 6

HOLIDAY

Must Haves Page 18

684 South Pelham St, Welland 905-735-5744 vermeers.ca

Magic of Winter Snow Globe BRING THE

INTO THE WARMTH OF YOUR OWN HOME WITH A

Cardinal

Joyful Gifts

AVAILABLE AT

$45.00

St. Nick

$60.00

$45.00

10380

10241 10240

AVAILABLE AT

$80.00

$120.00

feeding the birds with new ideas™

Add a little Green this Holiday Season Traditional Christmas Swag Add your own decorations to dress it up or keep it simple. Our Traditional Swag measures 20” long.

Incense Cedar Bunch

$12.99

Inspire your creativity by accenting your outdoor and floral displays with this fragrant, holiday favourite.

Weight – 1.5 lbs

$7.99

Silver Oregonia Bunch This fresh green serves as a wonderful decorative filler, stays green and white through the holiday season, while adding visual interest in your holiday décor. Weight – 1.5 lbs.

$9.99

AVAILABLE AT

CONTENTS 4

Where Do Bugs Go In The Winter?

9

A Holiday Welcome

10

Holiday Ornaments Aren't Just For The Christmas Tree

12

Plant with Four Season Interest

14

Ways to Combat Stress during the Holidays

15

Timesaver Breakfast Casserole With Bacon!

16

Go Wild with Fashion

21

Greening the World

22

Beat The Winter Blues With Bulbs!

This publication may not be reproduced, all or in part, without written consent from the publisher and Vermeer’s Garden Centre.

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 2019 • 3

Where Do

BUGS GO in the Winter?

By Leah Ruehlicke

Many bugs hibernate

Many bugs don’t embrace that jet-setter lifestyle and instead, hibernate in places close to home. For example, large wasps often seek shelter in the attics of houses or barns. Others find shelter in tree holes, or under logs and rocks – and they get quite creative in staying warm in these places! The Mourning Cloak Butterfly, for example, builds up glycerol in its body, which acts as a type of natural antifreeze.

Others burrow deep into the soil, where the temperatures are far warmer than they are above ground. Ladybugs hibernate, gathering in groups, while living off of their own body fat.

So if you see one ladybug, there will surely be more to follow.

Teamwork makes the dreamwork

Honey bees stay in their hives during the winter, huddling together in clusters to stay warm. Can you bee-lieve that they are able to raise the temperature by vibrating their wing muscles?! Honey bees are able to find all this energy by consuming approximately 30 pounds of stored honey during the winter months.

Embracing the cold

Very few insects are active in the winter, but the nymphs (or ‘immature forms’) of dragonflies, mayflies and stoneflies live beneath a layer of ice in ponds and streams. They utilize the winter months to actively feed, and then emerge as adults in early spring.

W

hen the snow falls and that cold winter air blows down from the North pole, we humans have the luxury of curling up by the fire in our cozy pajamas and holing up indoors. When we do have to go outside, we bundle up with hats and mitts to keep ourselves warm.

What do bugs do when it’s cold outside? They don’t have warm, winter boots for their feet (and they certainly don’t have cozy pajamas to put on!)

So how do they deal with the cold winter months?

Some bugs migrate

Just like birds, some bugs escape the cold weather by going to a warmer region. For example, Monarch butterflies are not able to survive cold winters, so they migrate south and west each autumn to escape the cold weather.

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Insects prefer when cold temperatures are stable. They hate when it freezes and thaws, then re-freezes and thaws once again.

They also appreciate a nice, thick blanket of snow.

This insulates the ground and keeps the temperatures underground surprisingly comfortable.

Insects which choose to hole up and remain fully inactive throughout the winter undergo a state in which their growth and development are temporarily paused.

This is called “diapause”. Their development begins again once they join the world in the spring and start buzzing around again!

Overall, despite not having mitts and boots and warm fireplaces to curl up in front of, bugs have their own way of embracing that winter wonderland. Snow? Freezing temperatures? No problem – doesn’t “bug” insects at all!

From the

Owners A

s we begin another season full of creative activity, we welcome you to read our Christmas edition of Vermeer’s Home and Garden Magazine.

This past year has been filled with many wonderful memories and family life events. We’ve celebrated two of our children’s weddings, welcomed new family members and we also had to say goodbye to our dear mother, Nel Vermeer.

Christmas VERMEER’S

OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2019 AT NOON Demos will be repeated Saturday, November 9, 2019 We’ll be closed for the morning, opening at noon to reveal our

CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND! We will be collecting donations of non-perishable food items for the Open Arms Mission throughout the weekend.

FEATURING:

We added 10,000 sq/ft to our retail space in which we look forward to showcasing our Christmas displays, as well as having workshops and other events in it too.

The unveiling of our Christmas themes for 2019

Our preparations and one-of-a-kind gifts for the holiday season, our decorations and eye-popping displays will have both our seasoned and newly-welcomed customers in awe!

Live music, amazing specials, festive treats, and beverages

The crisp scent of fresh pine and wintergreens, our lit trees and the sounds of the season welcome you into our store.

Gift-giving ideas from fresh floral, home décor, fashion, and accessories surround the store and our greenhouses.

Holiday décor demos (View the schedule at vermeers.ca)

Jack Vandermaas’ European floral creations and so much more!

Once again, our amazing staff will service you with our terrific line-up of workshops and seminars, designed to bring family and friends together in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

Whether you want to be hands-on and creative, or have staff customize your winter arrangement, we are happy to be of service!

With thankfulness, we continue our tradition of giving back to our community and local charities by donating proceeds from the sale of our “giving-tree” ornaments.

In closing, we thank you for your loyalty, love and support to Vermeer’s this past year and we hope you will join us and give thanks this holiday season together!

VERMEERS.CA 905-735-5744

HOLIDAY 2019 • 5

Holiday

2019 Lineup HOLIDAY HOURS November 4th - December 23rd Monday - Friday: 9:00am - 6:00pm Saturdays: 9:00am - 5:30pm Sundays: Closed December 24th Tuesday: 9:00am - 4:00pm December 25th & 26th Wednesday & Thursday: Closed

December 27th - 31st Friday - Tuesday: 10:00am - 4:00pm Sunday: Closed January 1st Wednesday: Closed January 2nd - 4th Thursday - Saturday: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Visit vermeers.ca to sign up for a workshop or seminar.

Payment required at time of sign up for workshops.

Any questions give us a call 905-735-5744.

If you have a group of six or more and are interested in a private lesson, we’d be happy to host.

Call us at 905-735-5744 to arrange your group class, or if you have any questions about our events.

November 2019 Christmas Open House

Kids Clay Pot Christmas Tree

Thursday, November 7th, 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 21st, 5:00 p.m.

Join us for our annual Christmas Open House! We will be closed in the morning and will open at noon to reveal our Christmas displays for 2019! Come by in the afternoon or evening to enjoy some demonstrations, snacks, refreshments, live music, open house specials, door prizes, and more! Our Open House specials will continue throughout the weekend, in case you can’t make it the day of.

For more details, visit vermeers.ca and our Facebook page.

Using painted terracotta pots, glitter, ribbon and more, kids will make a unique Christmas tree to help decorate for the holidays. This is a Christmas decoration that will last for years to come, you won’t want to miss out on this workshop! $15.00 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

Decorating a Christmas Tree like Vermeer’s Saturday, November 9th, 2:00 p.m.

If you are wanting to kick your tree decorating up a notch, this seminar is for you! Learn the tips and tricks we use to create spectacular Christmas trees and have any of your questions answered by one of our tree decorating experts!

No cost. Please RSVP at vermeers.ca.

Ladies Night Thursday, November 14th, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Join us for a fabulous and relaxing night out where you will leave with all sorts of gift-giving and décor ideas! There will be door prizes, beverages, snacks and more, so don’t miss out! Food and beverages will be served at 5:30 p.m. $17.50 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

Outdoor Container Workshop Saturday, November 16th, 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 30th, 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.

Learn from the pros and create a stunning porch pot with ornaments, branches and bows that match your personal style! 10” urn insert containers will be provided, we encourage you to bring clippers and gloves if you have them. $60.00 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

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Kids Clay Pot Snowman Thursday, November 21st, 5:00 p.m.

Do you want to build a snowman? If your kids would rather make a snowman out of painted terracotta pots instead of a Christmas tree, this is the class for them!

With options to choose from, kids are encouraged to use their imagination and make their snowman come to life! $15.00 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

Artificial Wreath & Swag Demonstration Saturday, November 23rd, 10:00 a.m.

Join Regina and Barb to learn the art of creating a custom wreath or swag for your home. You will leave this demonstration with techniques for using sinamay and ribbon effectively in your designs, and how to use clusters and groupings to create stunning accents.

No cost. Please RSVP at vermeers.ca.

Poinsettia Parade Saturday, November 23rd. 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

For one day only, we are opening the doors of our growing area to let you see and experience 30,000 poinsettias in bloom!

Gerry, Ryan, and Reuben will be available to answer any questions you may have about the unique varieties we grow and how we do it. While you’re here, vote for your favourite red and novelty variety to be entered into a draw for a $50.00 Vermeer’s Gift Card!

No cost. No need to RSVP.

Kids Poinsettia Planter Thursday, November 28th, 5:00 p.m.

Kids will walk away from this fun workshop with a pair of Santa pants potted with beautiful poinsettias. This planter is easy for them to make and is a great way to spread some holiday cheer! $20.00 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

Welcome Porch Pot Saturday, November 30th, 10:00 a.m.

Receive guests at your home this holiday season by making a unique porch pot in a welcome basket. Welcome basket containers will be provided, we encourage you to bring clippers and gloves if you have them. $75.00 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

December 2019 Kids Miniature Grinch Tree

Christmas Succulent Planter

Thursday, December 5th, 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 7th, 4:00 p.m.

Have your kids get inspired by a classic Dr. Seuss character by making an adorable miniature Grinch tree! Made by planting a Lemon Cypress in a festive pot and finishing it off with some decorative wire, a bow, and an ornament, this Grinch tree is sure to be a hit this holiday season! $25.00 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

Accent your traditional Christmas décor by creating a succulent planter for your holiday table! Crafted in a wood container with white stone, birch accents and a touch of sparkle, this succulent planter is bound to dazzle you and your guests all season long. $40.00 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

Kids Porch Pot Saturday, December 7th, 10:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Holiday Euros Saturday, December 14th, 10:00 a.m.

Back by popular demand is our porch pot class designed just for kids!

This porch pot is similar to the ones that we make with the grownups, just half the size. We will have a variety of fresh greens and decorations for kids to choose from so they can create a unique porch pot of their own. There will be two 30 minute sessions for online registration. $20.00 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

Leave this workshop with three lovely fresh floral Christmas arrangements to put on display in your home or spread some holiday cheer by gifting them to friends and family. After you have learned the art of Euro making, continue making them at home with fresh flowers from Vermeer’s! Containers will be provided, please bring clippers if you have them. $50.00 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

Adult Grinch Tree

Fresh Centrepiece Arrangement

Saturday, December 7th, 2:00 p.m.

Welcome Christmas this year with our new Grinch tree workshop!

Channel your creativity as we guide you through the steps of how to make your very own Grinch tree. This table-top Grinch tree will bring you joy throughout the entire holiday season, so be sure to customize it with bows, balls and more to match the colour scheme in your home. $50.00 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

Saturday, December 14th, 2:00 p.m.

Bring the sights and scents of the Christmas season into your home by making a breathtaking arrangement with fresh greens, cut flowers, and holiday décor. Containers will be provided, but, please bring clippers if you have them. $50.00 per person. Please sign up at vermeers.ca.

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A

Holiday WELCOME

T

is the season to welcome friends and family home for the holidays. We all want to create a warm and inviting entrance to greet our guests. No matter your style, size of home or budget, there are great ways to dress up and deck out your entrance for the holidays this year.

Add some cheer by swapping for a fun, festive welcome mat!

A beautiful, lush outdoor arrangement with fragrant evergreen foliage, including Princess Pine, Incense Cedar, and Silver Oregonia will be a welcome touch to your front entrance. Decorate it with woodsy Sugar pinecones, faux waterproof berries, and accent with pretty red cardinals – these finishing touches will create interest and charm. Don’t forget to add an elegant wreath to your front door, finished with a beautiful festive bow.

Decorating Tip:

Use ornaments with a range of materials to add interest and variety to your tree.

Visit your local garden centre to shop the new 2019 Holiday Collection!

© 2019 Allstate Floral, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

HOLIDAY 2019 • 9

HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS aren’t just for the

Christmas

By Dianne Visser

10

F

or 11 months of the year, I am a retail store manager, but when Christmas time rolls around in November, I turn into a designer. I love Christmas, and I love the challenge of decorating and using holiday items in a different way. Ornaments are not just for the tree; I use ornaments everywhere! Yes, I do mean everywhere and in every room.

Tree!

There is the traditional use of ornaments in garlands and wreaths, but there is also the more modern use of ornaments in jars, vases, bowls, and wine glasses. Using the same colours of ornaments ties together any mismatched pieces. These work out nicely on kitchen counters, dining room hutches, bookshelves and on window ledges. If you have some smaller ornaments, use them for napkin rings, adding a festive touch to the dining room table. Hanging small ornaments from cabinet doors is quick and easy. I like to make a swag with a few pieces of greenery and then a few ornaments. These can be hung on doors, from light sconces, bannisters, headboards and more.

A romantic collection of different sized and shaped candlesticks works well on the mantle or side table. Add an upside-down ornament in place of the candle, a few springs of greenery around the bottom and voilà!

Try finding one or two narrow ribbons in the same or contrasting colour scheme. Then use them to tie ornaments from a light fixture or chandelier; it offers an instant festive wow factor. Don’t stop there, tie ornaments onto the banister in between each rung or make a curtain of ornaments by tying them onto the curtain rod at different lengths. The winter sun shining through the window will offer a wonderful shimmer to the room.

For the kid’s room, borrow a toy truck, or doll carriage to fill with ornaments and mixed with building blocks. I would suggest you use the non-breakable ones where little hands can reach.

You can highlight one or two special ornaments with an ornament stand or a branch from a tree. The branch can be used naturally or painted to match the theme, placed in a vase or propped up in a pail of sand. Utilize the ribbon once again to tie the ornaments to the branch and you have an elegant addition without having to set up another tree.

If you have a lot of pictures hanging in your home, consider removing everything from the frame (picture, glass and backing), then tie an ornament so it is framed in a threedimensional way.

For the front porch, I like to fill old wicker baskets, vintage suitcases, picnic hamper, kid's wagon or a lantern full of ornaments mixed with pinecones and pine branches and strings of lights for a welcome that sets the mood for the rest of the house.

I hope I have inspired you to think outside the box and turn the ordinary into extraordinary! Merry Christmas!

HOLIDAY 2019 • 11

PLANT WITH

Four Season INTEREST

By Lindsay Flatters

L

ooking out into your yard this time of year can easily bring on the winter blues. However, with a bit of careful planning, you can create an attractive four season garden to save yourself from dullsville. Spending the winter months dreaming and scheming is ideal because it forces you to look at your garden’s structure without any distraction from the colours of spring and summer. Remember to keep in mind that many perennials will die down to ground level in the winter, so the simple addition of shrubs and evergreens will give some back bone to your yard. This seemingly subtle background during the spring and summer months will become the star of the show in the winter months. Focusing on features like bark, berries and different textures and shapes can be the key to transforming the faded landscape into something beautiful.

Your local independent garden centre can help you find some great choices to add next year.

Evergreens are a simple and easy way to add texture and all season greenery to the landscape. Try Boxwood, Cedars and Junipers or a combination to create this look. Using a variety of upright, mounding and spreading evergreens dotted throughout your yard will make a consistent background year round. This can come in especially handy when needing to block an eye sore of some form or another, whether it be an ugly utility meter or a nosy neighbour’s view into your yard. There is a huge range of varieties to choose from to suit almost any location. Some tried and true selections include: Green Velvet Boxwood as a nice tidy globe form, Fairview Juniper as a great upright focal or Baby Blue Spruce as that significant estate piece.

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Choosing plants with either different coloured bark or different textured bark is a great way to add that special interest that you’re looking for. Try one of the many varieties of dogwood with either striking red or yellow branches to add an unexpected pop of colour. Silverleaf, or Ivory Halo Dogwood are great options for bright red, while Yellowtwig Dogwood is a great choice for that fresh citron exclamation. Or maybe for a different textured bark, a Burning Bush with its famed ‘winged’ branches might be the answer. For something dramatic and different, look at Copper Curls Lilac tree. The unique bark on this tree will definitely turn heads.

Faded late season flowers remain subtle, yet effective.

Ice crusted florets or dainty paper petals are a real hidden beauty in the late season. Try leaving the blossoms on your Hydrangeas, or some of your perennials like Coneflower or Sedum. Not cutting back the flowers on your plants can also be a benefit to attracting wildlife to your garden in the winter.

Birds love the seed heads of Coneflowers especially, so make sure to leave a few of these.

Berries and fruit can be a real bright colour highlight against the monotone nature. Crabapples hold onto their fruit well into the winter season, which

DR HY

HYDR ANGEA

ANG

look like sugared jewels when the frost collects on them.

There are a number of other shrubs that display their bountiful berries late into the year like American Cranberry, Cotoneaster or, if you are lucky enough to live in a warmer climate, Holly (Zone 5). Having plants with fruit and berries are also a great way to attract different wildlife into your yard. Birds, squirrels and deer are just some of the creatures that will enjoy feasting on these treasures.

Ornamental Grasses are a graceful point of texture and movement in a winter garden if you leave them untouched from the growing season. The highlight however, are the plumes or tassels that dance above the foliage. Choose options like Feather Reed Grass, Switchgrass or Silver Grass varieties that are both hardy and sturdy.

Take a look at the different silhouettes that trees and shrubs can take. Globes, spires and vase shapes, try adding a variety to your landscape. The graceful arching branches of a Weeping Peashrub or a Weeping Crabapple might be a fantastic focal point.

So time to take advantage of this opportunity, embrace our beautiful Canadian winter season, and grab your notebook and start planning for winter interest in your garden. Find the subtle beauty in the often overlooked.

EA IN WINTER

ER MM U S IN HOLIDAY 2019 • 13

WAYS TO

COMBAT STRESS

Holidays

during the

By Mandy King

T

he holidays can be the most fun, and the most stressful time of the year. Whether it’s that routine seems to fall to the wayside, healthy habits tend to feel less important, or it’s generally just busy all around, the combination always seems to contribute to more stress than you may be prepared for. As a nutritionist, these are some simple recommendations I give to my clients so following the holidays, they feel good mentally and physically, and are not in need of a holiday from the holidays!

1. Make a plan

It’s no surprise the holiday season will be busy, but you can stay on top of it with a plan. Being organized with your calendar is a quick and easy way to reduce stress. By late November or early December, you should have an idea of all the parties and gatherings you will be attending. Once you know your social schedule, carve out time for everything else, including holiday shopping, cooking, and exercise.

2. Move, daily

Keeping up with your exercise routine will help reduce holiday bloating and give you a nice endorphin boost to help with your energy levels and mood. That being said, don’t let your exercise schedule be a source of stress. If you’re travelling for the holidays, outside of your routine or just want to relax, it can be difficult to fit in a workout. Just making time to get moving or going for a walk outside can reduce stress, increase happiness and boost energy in 90% of people. Remember to schedule it in and try to do it earlier in the day before other commitments get in the way.

3. Meal plan & prep

Meal planning and doing a little bit of meal prep, once a week, is the best way to make healthy eating easy and attainable year-round. The holidays should be no different. Keeping up with your regular eating habits, at least through the day, can help you feel your best despite holiday indulgences. If you know you have several big dinners, plan to start your day with easy breakfasts like a high protein smoothie or egg muffins, which you can make in advance. Make a one pot meal like turkey chili or roast a bunch of veggies and some chicken breasts to put over a bed of greens if you need a quick meal.

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Eating out equals less healthy food and a lowered ability to manage stress. You get the equation, so have your healthy food prepped and ready when your belly starts growling.

If you want to get in to this but aren’t sure how, you can check out our weekly meal plans here: http://www.healthyeatingandliving.ca/meal-plans.

4. Take your gardening indoors

Exercise and self-care should count as “non negotiable me time”, which is when no matter what’s going on, you stop doing it and you take whatever amount of time (say 30-60 minutes) and do something you love to help you unwind. Plant therapy is a very useful tool for unwinding and you don’t have to let the cold weather deter you from enjoying it year-round. In one study, subjects were asked to perform a stressful task and then asked to either perform 30 minutes of gardening in their allotment gardens or 30 minutes of reading. While both groups experienced a decrease in stress, the gardeners experienced a significantly greater decline in stress (as measured by salivary cortisol, a stress hormone), as well as a full restoration of positive mood.

There are also plants known to specifically relieve stress and improve mental well-being, such as aloe vera, the snake plant, lavender and mint.

I hope these tips are useful for you! Don’t forget to enjoy the holidays as they will be over before you know it.

TIMESAVER

BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

with bacon!

T

his easy overnight breakfast casserole is quick to prep in the evening and then baked up fresh and delicious in the morning! Cheese, bacon, bell peppers and green onions are layered with bread and soaked in a seasoned egg mixture. This is the perfect meal to serve on a holiday morning or for guests.

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

• 12 slices egg bread or any type of bread will work, cubed

1. Cube bread and leave out overnight or place in the oven at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes to dry slightly.

(Do not brown or toast it).

• 12 slices crispy bacon crumbled (or 1 cup diced ham) • 3 green onions sliced • 1/2 red bell pepper finely diced • 4 cups grated cheddar cheese • 6 eggs • 3 cups milk • 1/2 teaspoon each dry mustard, salt, & black pepper

2. Combine eggs, milk, & seasonings.

3. Layer 1/2 of the cubes in a greased 9×13 pan. Top with 1/2 of the bacon, green onions, red peppers and cheese.

Repeat layers one more time.

4. Pour egg mixture over top. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 3 hours).

5.

Remove from fridge and let sit on the counter while preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Bake covered with foil 45-55 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. (If you are baking 2 pans increase cooking time to 60-80 minutes).

NUTRITION INFORMATION Calories: 377, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 138mg, Sodium: 582mg, Potassium: 269mg, Carbohydrates: 18g, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 5g, Protein: 19g, Vitamin A: 16.1%, Vitamin C: 8.4%, Calcium: 40%, Iron: 10% (Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)

HOLIDAY 2019 • 15

Go Wild

By Sherri Christodoulou

I

remember the days when I was younger and more carefree. My main concerns were: what I was going to wear and what to do to fill the hours in the day. I was a free spirit; wild at heart.

Fast forward to today. I still wonder what to wear each day, but now question when I will find the time to complete the to do list. Although wild at heart, the spirit is tamer; I have to be responsible and not always do what I want, but can most definitely wear what I want. This season will be one of my favorites since prints, especially animal prints are back with a vengeance.

Take your pick: Zebra stripe, Snakeskin, Tiger-stripe, Leopard or Cheetah print; even if you add a few pieces to your fall-winter wardrobe this year make them animal prints!

A tiger-stripe tunic with black leggings make a courageous statement. A snakeskin duster over pants and a top add a wow factor; whether at the office, out for the evening or running errands. The addition of pattern and colour variation will keep animal prints fresh and exciting. Think cheetah with floral! If you are a bit more reserved, printed leggings under a long solid colour tunic sweater will give you that touch of an untamed feel without being so bold.

This season‌.

Be Brave and Go Wild!

16 16

HOLIDAY 2019 • 17

HOLIDAY

Must Haves 2.

1.

Holiday Snow Globe

Add wonder to your holiday décor this season with this beautiful snow globe. It’s sure to create lots of interest in any room. $79.99 2.

Crave Dips

Finding a delicious stocking stuffer for the foodie in your family will be easy this year. Pick up a package of mulling spices, dip mix, holiday candy, jams or chutney. Bundle a group of items together for teacher gifts, or create a huge basket overflowing with delicious delights to present as a corporate gift. $8.99 ea. or 2 for $15.00

1.

3.

Boxed Travel Mugs

Polar Bear with Cubs or Penguins for three.

These fun festive travel mugs make great teacher gifts. Add a package of flavoured hot chocolate to complete the gift. $19.99 4.

Cozy Hat, Scarf & Mitt Set

Fashionable and functional, a great stocking stuffer.

Assorted colours, sizes, and prices.

5.

3.

Welcome Mats

Decorate your front entrance and welcome your guests with a festive mat. $39.99

4.

5.

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6.

6.

Snowflake Charity Ornament

Proceeds from these snowflake ornaments will support a local charity. $6.99 7.

Gourmet Hot Chocolate

Single serve hot chocolate –choose from a large selection of flavours or stick with the original. Each package makes a delicious, rich, and creamy mug of hot chocolate. $2.49 ea. or 5 for $10.00 8.

Whimsical Metal Reindeer

Add a bit of festive fun to your holiday décor. Three styles to choose from. $27.99 - $68.00 9.

Stainless Steel Stencils

Top off your hot chocolate, cappuccino or baking with a snowflake… Use the topping of your choice: powdered sugar, cinnamon or cocoa. $14.99

8.

7.

9.

HOLIDAY 2019 • 19

905-892-6908

Landscapes inspired by your lifestyle.

COMPLETE DESIGN, BUILD & MAINTENANCE

NRC Realty, Brokerage. Independently Owned & Operated

905.688.4561 Bus 905.788.4524 Direct

Keith Moore Sales Representative

keithmoore@royallepage.ca www.keithmoore.ca www.NRCREALTY.com 33 Maywood Avenue, St. Catharines, ON L2R 1C5

20 • VERMEER’S GARDEN CENTRE - 905-735-5744 - VERMEERS.CA

Greening the World ONE PLANT AT A TIME

by Lynn Baarschers

D

uring the cold dry months of winter, you can easily add humidity to your home by adding houseplants. Increasing the humidity will make your home feel warmer and increase the air quality.

Adding three medium plants to a large room can increase the air quality in that room by 25%. Adding up to 16 plants will improve the quality by 75% and improve your mental well-being.

If you are doing any painting projects this winter, you will be adding chemicals to your air like trichloroethylene and xylene.

Not all of us can handle 16 plants in a room, so start with one or two, and as you feel comfortable caring for them you might just want to add more.

Some of the easiest indoor plants we have on offer during the winter months are: SNAKE PLANT Comes in a variety of pot sizes for the floor or tabletop.

SPIDER PLANT Use as a tabletop plant rather than a hanging basket for easiest care. Easy to propagate.

POTHOS Use as a tabletop plant rather than a hanging basket for easiest care. Best to trim back and keep the plant tight and mounding, rather than letting it trail too long.

AIR PLANTS Fun to use as a decorative plant and can be glued to all kinds of things for display. Water by soaking on occasion, and misting once every week or two.

Requires no soil.

LIGHT: BRIGHT TO LOW

WATER: HIGH TO LOW

HOLIDAY 2019 • 21

Beat the

WINTER BLUES with Bulbs!

By Tanya Olsen

O

ne of the ways I love to beat the winter blues is to surround myself with flowers. The smell, the colours and new sense of growth tell me spring is on the way.

During the winter, fresh flowers from the garden are hard to come by, but with a little effort and planning, we can trick a spring blooming bulb into flowering earlier than it would if you planted outdoors. Called forcing and much like growing a seed, forcing a bulb allows us the opportunity to grow our own flowers and nurture life from start to finish.

22 • VERMEER’S GARDEN CENTRE - 905-735-5744 - VERMEERS.CA

When I order bulbs for our garden centre, I select two kinds of forcing bulbs: one that does not need chilling (Amaryllis and Paperwhite Narcissus) and those that need a cold spell to promote a bloom. Hyacinth, large flowering Crocus, dwarf Daffodil, and Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) are all excellent choices for forcing but need some chilling time before they flower properly.

FOR EASY BLOOMS: For fresh blooms all winter long, plant several batches of bulbs, each batch a week apart. Amaryllis are ready to plant and ready to bloom! Sometimes decorative and wax-covered, they are a big bulb - about the size of your fist and produce a collection of red, pink, orange or white trumpet-shaped blooms atop a tall stem. The other bulb that does not need any chilling are Paperwhite Narcissus. To force these successfully, choose your favourite container, fill with soil or layers of coloured gravel and plant so the bottom third of the bulb is buried. Water, place in a warm location and fragrant blooms will be yours three to five weeks after planting. If your bulb is wax-covered, just place in a warm room and let nature takes it course – no soil, water or chilling required!

If using gravel, layer the gravel up to 4” deep and plant your bulbs the same way you would with soil. Water so the bottom of the bulb barely touches the top of the waterline.

If the water comes too high up on the bulb, there is a risk of rotting the bulb.

HOW TO FORCE BULBS THAT NEED CHILLING: Crocus, most Hyacinth and Tulips need chilling to mimic the cold winter months. Before chilling, follow these easy steps for success and don’t be afraid to snuggle your bulbs together so they touch!

• Choose your favorite pot or a larger glass container and fill with gravel or good potting soil.

• Plant bulbs four to six inches deep (my rule of thumb is twice the depth of the bulb), and water like you would outdoors.

When I feel adventurous, I layer my bulbs in a larger, deeper container – Narcissus on the bottom, then Tulips and Crocus near the top, so there will be multiple heights and blooms come the dead of winter.

don’t store the bulbs with fresh produce as the gases from fruit and vegetables can inhibit flower production.

• Keep the planted pots between 35° and 45° Fahrenheit (2° to 7° Celsius) until you see green tips (6 to 12 weeks).

• When the tips emerge, put the pot in a warmer location (60° Fahrenheit or 15° Celsius) with indirect light, until the leaves are a few inches long.

• Once flower buds appear, move your pot to into a bright, warm room.

• Chill your planted pot in a cold frame next to the house, unheated shed or cold room. The refrigerator works too, but

CONTAINER CHOICES: Use your favourite ceramic or clay pot, repurpose containers from your summer succulent planting or raid Grandma’s cupboard for a beautiful glass vase. Using clear glass will allow you to create a work of art, with layers of coloured gravel. Glass will also allow the kids to learn about root structures while they watch the bulb grow!

HOLIDAY 2019 • 23

IT IS NOT CHRISTMAS without the

Perfect Tree Timeless with many styles to suit your décor.

Branches are fully hinged for easy assembly.

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684 South Pelham St. Welland, Ontario L3C 3C8

905-735-5744 - press 4

vermeers.ca