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Upcoming Plant Sales

There will be FOUR events in the next few weeks, so mark your calendars and be sure to stop by one (or all!) of them. All proceeds help benefit our local schools. Each of the sales will offer native plants (note that some are not on the Portland Plant List). Please see below for more details about each sale! Fort Vancouver High School Plant Sale: Wednesday, April 24, 8am-6pm, Thursday, April 25, 8am-5pm and Friday, April 26, 8am-4pm Native plants available: Trees:  Cascara, Oregon White Oak, Vine Maple, Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar;  Shrubs:  Mock Orange, Flowering Red Currant, Red Twig Dogwood, Cascade Oregon Grape, Baldhip Rose, Nootka Rose, Douglas Spirea, Thimbleberry , Serviceberry, Red Elderberry, Blue Elderberry, Black Hawthorn, Salmonberry, Golden Currant, Smooth Sumac, Salal;  Groundcovers : Western Yarrow, Wild Ginger, Sword Fern, Goldenrod, Blue-Eyed Grass, Soft Fruited Bulrush, Tufted Hair Grass, Oregon Sunshine, Maidenhair Fern, Checkermallow, Sedum Spat

White Christmas

A cold and snowy Christmas Eve and Christmas day. I guess you know you are getting old when you like it but you don't want out in it.


We don't have to go anywhere so we are happy inside.



A Northern Flicker has been visiting the suet feeder for the past month or so. He is so beautiful!



And the hummingbird is a faithful resident. It seems so weird seeing them with snow on the ground. We have been bringing the feeder inside at night to keep it from freezing.




This year's Buche de Noel was made by Michael. My work schedule was pretty full last week so he pitched in and did the honors. This thing is heavenly. The frosting and cake has Kahlua in it. I posted the recipe a few years ago. Sadly, we lost the little Cardinal bird that we always decorated it with - we think it was lost in the move. And we have nothing with red berries in the garden. I will have to remedy that. Michael had some tiny little birds from his craft supplies and came up with nice decorations. Merry Christmas everyone!







Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Your yule log looks so pretty. New decorations to begin a new tradition. Blessings and Merry Christmas to you and Michael.

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  2. That Buche looks gorgeous and delicious ! We had a little treacherous walk today , it was nice to be out for a bit of air... and so quiet out . Merry Christmas !

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  3. This post is awesome.

    The Flicker is beautiful, but the hummer looks kinda sad in the snow. I'm sure he/she is happy that at least there is some warm, unfrozen sugar water to drink!

    Merry (white) Christmas! :)

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  4. Dear Phillip, your snowed in garden looks so pretty! I do feel sorry for the hummingbird, though. Will it have a chance to survive?
    That Buche de Noel is something else! I might have to try your recipe. I love the cake decoration. Very unique and charming!
    Can't believe that Christmas is almost over. Hope you guys savor the last moments. Merry Christmas to you and your partner!
    Warm regards,
    Christina

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    Replies
    1. Christina, the Anna’s hummingbird does indeed survive the winter here. How they do it - I don’t know.. They were here last winter and it was an unusually harsh one.

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  5. Merry Christmas to you both! Your garden looks beautiful frosted with snow. Speaking of frosting, the Buche de Noel looks divine!

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  6. The Buche de Noel looks heavenly! Gorgeous picture of the flicker.

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  7. Love your pics of the Log. Sorry I just have to call it that. My grandson loves this & has always since he was old enough to say it has asked for a log cake at Christmas.

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  8. Beautiful pics Phillip. What kind of camera are you using?

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