Real & Faux: Beautiful Together
One of my favorite shrubs is the Forsythia. So very easy to grow. Every year I like to add to a few shrubs to our bright yellow forsythia bank. (Building on what I already have truly creates more impact.) I plant them in full sun, a couple of feet apart. Within 3 years or so, they really fill in the landscape. They’ve become a beautiful backdrop and privacy screen for our stone patios.
I love snipping the long boughs to bring indoors. A huge bouquet adds brightness to any spot and even casts a warm yellow glow. I would love to decorate my doors with freshly cut boughs too, but sadly they don’t last very long. So what to do? I mimic my flowering hedge with faux floral branches I buy at Michael’s. I stuff baskets with big bunches of faux forsythia and hang on my doors. As the real forsythia shrubs fade, the days are numbered for my bright yellow boughed door baskets. Next up… soft creamy white apple blossom boughs (or whatever’s in bloom at the moment!)
Happy gardening and decorating!
Love, Nora
I cut it late March to force the blooms indoors.
I wonder if it would root if I didn”t compost it?
I know woody plants are harder to rooy.
What do you think Nora?
Really? I think that’s a great idea. My forsythia was hit hard by a freak hailstorm this spring. I am gong to try that on my door. Thanks Nora.
BUT where did you get that fabulous door basket?
I’m so happy to hear someone with your amazing style and taste is okay with Faux branches for certain spots. I found some pretty bittersweet last autumn and used it on the mantle since here on the west coast the stems are quite expensive (it must not be grown locally). I used to be 100% against faux plants but there are times that they are useful and lovely.
Karen
Where does t lovely basket come from
I found this big, beautiful basket at an antiques show years ago for $40! It came from a Long Island, NY estate. When I saw it I immediately loved the huge scale of it, but had to think for a while on it, beacuse I wasn’t sure where I would keep it! But it’s ended up being an outdoor basket for some time now. Thanks! Love, Nora
Where did you find the large basket?
Hi Mildred! I found the fabulous basket at an antiques show years ago for $40!! Anything I stuff it with, it looks great! Thank you! Love, Nora
Hi Mildred! I found this fabulous basket at an antiques show years ago for $40! It came from a Long Island, NY estate. Always keeping my eyes open! Love, Nora
Hi Nora, I do the same as you. I’ve done it for years. I love the look on my orange batten front door.