The Garden Buzz

Holiday Savings and $50 Gift Card Chance at Shop.PAllenSmith.com

  My husband and I have a deal. When it comes to commerce in our household, he buys, I sell. This means he does all the Christmas shopping! I know, what kind of woman makes her husband do all the Christmas shopping? It's more like I let him. He's just better at it and loves getting out in the hustle bustle of the season. He's first out of the gate on Black Friday while I sit back and wait to see what he brings back in his sack of goodies.

I may not be a big shopper but I know what I like. And I like everything in P. Allen's new online store. The man has impeccable taste mixed with a certain down-home sensibility. His new shop has all the beautiful things, the stunning kitchen/garden/home kind of stuff like you see in his home at Moss Mountain Farm if you're lucky enough to visit. (I've been lucky twice!)

Allen's sending out word to all his favorite garden bloggers (like me) about a great deal for the holidays starting right now. Here's a special link for an immediate 25% savings when you sign up and a chance to win a $50 gift card. 

Be sure to visit the shop.pallensmith.com store online. Meanwhile check out some of these adorable items from his new shop...

 

Bees Knees Garden Pot 

Cow themed pressed glass butter dish

 

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The lastest in "chicken chic" T-shirts

Gifts From Above

 As the snowy weather hinted at its arrival, the wind had roared all night pushing and shoving the big trees outside my window. The next day as I walked back from the coffee shop (where I drink tea) I noticed this lovely nest on the sidewalk where it had been shook loose from the limbs above.

Bird Nest with Zip Ties and Hydrangea

Each nest is unique but this one even more so. The bird who made this nest recycled! Well, all of nesting material is recycled if you look at it from a bird's point of view. But this bird used plastic zip ties! Isn't the heavier mud and straw outer edge beautiful with the delicate swirls of grasses in the center? I really loved the contrast between the utilitarian plastic ties and the delicate dried hydrangeas she added, maybe as a last decorative touch?

I wonder which bird built the nest? Did I see her going about her chores this summer?

We just experienced our first snow storm so gardening is over for the year. Yet life goes on in the garden. It just switches gears; ideas, objects and processes we didn't see amid all the green noise of growing things become quietly apparent, like the nest.

I spied this nest along the lake last week.

I am in awe of what I call animal architecture. How do they build it? Where in their mind lies the design? Questions better contemplated on snowy, inside kind of days.

Now that the branches are bare, have you seen any bird nests that leave you marveling at nature's cleverness?