We always ask if a wreath is going to hung inside or outside. The wreath below, one of a matched pair, was supposed to go outside on front doors sheltered by a porch – the ideal, since they are sheltered from bad weather but cooled in fresh air. For the first time in years, the recipient decided they were far too beautiful to be left outdoors where she rarely saw them, but put them inside so she could enjoy them daily. Luckily the materials should not dry out too badly, and since she is a member of Cambridge Plant & Garden Club, she knows how to remedy a bare spot should something shrivel. Below are two pictures, from the workshop, then in the home.

This Christmas week, a long time Back Bay neighbor wrote to The Garden Club of the Back Bay asking if we knew anyone strong and reliable to move two large orange trees from her bay window. The weather report predicted an Arctic blast, which could damage the trees, and her usual help was out of commission due to a medical emergency. The request was forwarded to a small but reliable team from the Club, looking for suggestions. The response was quick. A number of them knew the trees in question, often admiring them from the street. The solution came from Garden Club member and Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay and Friends of the Public Garden director Patti Quinn, who personally brought over a young man named Brian to assist the very next day. He moved the trees out of harm’s way and refused compensation, saying he was just being “a good neighbor.” Hurray for our Club, and for the neighborhood! A small, and lightweight, Christmas tree was put in the window, making Christmas just a little brighter for everyone.

We love to link wreaths, decorators, and doors together, and we are able to right here. Star decorator and gardener Susan Juretschke, a long time member of our Tree Committee and Horticulturist, created a substantial front door wreath for a member living on Beacon Hill. The color of the red door is quite sophisticated and a plain red bow would have been jarring, but this wide ribbon with gold and green cut the red just enough to blend beautifully. All natural decorations with the exception of some red glass balls for accents completed the design.

Every year we end up with a batch of bows and ribbons that are just unusable for our purposes. With bows, we have some that are returned for recycling by members, which cannot be properly rescued by disassembling and ironing. Some, first attempts by bow makers in training, are a bit too small, or too floppy, or lopsided. We have ribbon designs that prove unpopular – the color or pattern looked good on the roll but didn’t pan our when made into bows. In our quest to reduce storage, we offered the extra bows and ribbon rolls with too little yardage to use for another complete bow to the parishioners at the Church, and most everything went home with them for decorating and package wrapping. Bringing smiles to faces is what we live for.