The cold weather season is upon us. But that doesn’t mean you need to cut yourself off from nature now, even if there is a foot of snow on the ground. From the foods you select to the activities you plan, you can retain your connection to Mother Nature. Here are five easy ways to keep you thriving in late fall and winter, even when the temperatures drop to freezing.

Snow storm photo by Phil Roeder/Flickr Creative Commons.

Cold-weather foods by Smith_c19/Flickr Creative Commons

1) Eat Seasonally and Locally

Even in winter, it’s a good idea to eat as seasonally and locally as possible. In our home, we make aromatic stews in the slow cooker with hardy vegetables like carrots, parsnips, turnips, potatoes and cabbages. The smell is amazing, and the stew provides healthy meals for several nights.

We also stuff acorn squash with cooked rice, slivered almonds, chopped sage and cooked ground turkey; then we sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top before baking again. Delicious!

Vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes and yams show up frequently on our menu at this time of year. We mash them with plain Greek yogurt and spices. On warmer nights, we grill thick slices with a dash of cumin and cayenne, and serve them with pork chops or chicken breasts.

Here’s why eating locally is important.

Here are five favorite fall foods (also good for winter).

Here’s where to find local foods all year long from Local Harvest.

Here’s how Niki Jabbour grows food in winter outdoors in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Indoor herbs by dogeared/Flickr Creative Commons

2) Grow Indoor Herbs

Have a sunny window? Try growing culinary herbs indoors this winter. It’s a convenient way to have fresh foods at your fingertips. You snip only what you need, so you reduce food waste and save money. Best of all, however,  is enjoying aromatic fresh herbs when the world is frozen outside. Talk about local foods!

Chives, thyme, sage and rosemary are just a few easy herbs to grow in a sunny window.  Water when dry, but make sure the plants drain properly. Don’t let pots sit in water. Keep plants away from heater vents or window drafts. A weekly fine spray of water helps keep away mites from rosemary.

From local farmers to indoor herb gardens, a wide variety of fresh local foods are available in winter. It’s particularly satisfying when those foods come from your kitchen window.

Houseplants by ConanTheLibrarian/Flickr Creative Commons

3) Select Plants for Clean Air

Alongside the houseplants you eat, be sure to make room for plants that make your home healthier. In winter, it’s common to live in stuffy, closed-up houses and office buildings with questionable air quality. Some windows can’t even be opened in high rise buildings to allow in fresh air.

Fortunately, you can grow certain plants that help clean the air of your home, according to the NASA Clean Air Study. The NASA study was done in conjunction with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America in the 1980s, and identified a number of common plants that naturally remove toxic agents such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene from the air.

Spider Plant by Opacity/Flickr Creative Commons

These aren’t exotic and rare plants either. Plants that are known to improve indoor air quality  include such favorites as aloe vera, English ivy (Hedera helix), azaleas (Rhododendron simsii), peace lilies (Spathiphyllum), snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’), weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) and spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) shown above.

See a copy of the NASA Clean Air Study.

Amaryllis by Gabludlow/Flickr Creative Commons

4) Grow Beauty in Your Home

There are houseplants you can eat. There are houseplants that clean your home’s air quality naturally. And there are even houseplants that will make you feel better in dreary weather just because they have beautiful flowers.

In our home, Amaryllis bulbs are popular flowering plants to grow indoors from October to March. They bloom for weeks, spreading cheer on gloomy days. And don’t forget the delicate and fragrant paperwhites, which are easy to grow indoors and smell sweet in winter. We love decorating with these pretty white flowers at the holidays.

Experiment with other blossoming beauties, such as jasmine, begonia, oxalis, Kaffir lilies, Christmas cactus and African violets. Most are easy to grow, and bloom for weeks with the right conditions.

You just may find these houseplants satisfy your need for flowers until it is warm enough to garden outdoors again.

Walk in snow by CarlaB_/Flickr Creative Commons

5) Get Outside More

If winter makes you sleepy, depressed and craving carbs, you aren’t alone. Just like bears, it’s natural to want to hibernate now.

Many of us suffer from the “winter blues” or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during winter’s short, dark days, according to Dr. Mark Servis, professor of clinical psychiatry and vice chair of UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. If winter depresses you, he offers these practical tips for fighting SAD.

Spending time outdoors in winter may not seem as appealing as snuggling up in a blanket with a cup of cocoa, but being outdoors helps keep you healthier now.

You could hit the ski slopes, of course. But even a simple winter walk around the neighborhood will give you much-needed vitamin D on these shorter, darker days. That walk also helps you burn calories, feel invigorated, brighten your mood and reconnect with nature. So, lace up your snow boots and grab a warm hat. There is a quiet beauty to winter that can be cherished. Enjoy!

Mayo Clinic’s Safety Tips for exercising outdoors in winter.

Don’t forget your kids. Even your children should play outside in winter. Mommies magazine tells you why.

What are your favorite ways to connect with nature in cold weather?

Learn More

Garden Bloggers Tell How They Survive Winter

Winter Feng Shui

Fall Foods to Eat Now

Eight Tips for a Wonderful Winter Garden

From old prints and antiques to charming spring bulbs, the Vintage Garden Market at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show was packed with imaginative gifts for the home.

This post features two years of vintage garden goodness at the annual Seattle garden event. Come see some of the vintage finds spotted at this popular garden show in 2013 and 2014.

If you can tear yourself away from the display gardens at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle, you’ll find they have a fun Vintage Garden Market too.

I’ve spoken at the garden show several years now, and it’s always a pleasure to head over to the shopping aisles stuffed with unusual, old things for the home. Click on photos to make larger.

Scattered among the vintage garden items and aromatic bulbs were paintings for flower lovers, as you can see above.

Even if you didn’t buy anything, you could find decorating and gardening ideas for your home.

For instance, these fragrant hyacinths are planted in individual tea cups to provide “spring in a cup.” This would make a nice gift for anyone truly sick of winter.

Here’s a clever way to save last summer vacation’s sea shells in giant glass jars.

Flower arranging is much easier with these flower frogs, sold in different styles and shapes.

Classic blue and white china was sold alongside vintage garden items, making a pretty display shelf.

Also spotted were plenty of repurposed and upcycled items, such as vintage file cabinets that served as clever plant containers.

And you never know when you’ll need a vintage deer head for a prominent place in your home or garden.

Personally, I fell in love with these vintage garden urns, which I would paint black.

But I wasn’t certain how to take them home on the plane, so I left them for another lucky shopper.

The lessons here are to 1) always bring larger carry-on bags; and 2) allow enough time to wander down the aisles of the Vintage Garden Market. You just never know what you might find…

Start planning now so you don’t miss the 2015 Northwest Flower & Garden Show!

You Might Like:

Garden Trends from Northwest Flower & Garden Show

Fountains Make a Splash at Northwest Flower & Garden Show

Naturalistic Plantings at Northwest Flower & Garden Show

A Garden Hideaway for the Entire Family

This edible seasonal tablescape was specially created by Nell Foster of Joy Us garden. The talented book author and professional decorator agreed to share her secrets with Seasonal Wisdom readers, so you can create this beautiful table decoration yourself this holiday season.

On this project, Nell brings along the professional decorating skills she garnered while designing and installing large-scale holiday decorations in San Francisco, as well as window displays for Marshall Field’s Flower Show in Chicago and Macy’s Flower Show in San Francisco. Best of all, this seasonal tablescape should last most of the month. All photos are copyright Joy Us garden.

Making an Edible Seasonal Tablescape

Nell Says:  I love making these edible tablescapes and was delighted when Teresa asked me to post one on her blog for the holiday season.  I call them tablescapes because in a way, it’s like landscaping your table for a special occasion. Everything I used is in season now so you should have no problems finding the vegetable and fruit ingredients.

We’ve created a video to show you the step by step creation of this piece over on our YouTube channel.  You’ll find that link at the bottom of this post. That’s where you can see exactly what all the ingredients are and watch how fast this seasonal tablescape comes together.  You’ll also meet my cat Oscar who loves to be part of any photography or video shoots we do in the house.

Pictured above you’ll see some of what I used: buttercup, acorn and sweet dumpling winter squashes, Rome apple, magnolia cone, forelle pear, pomegranate, Brussels sprouts, walnut, cranberries and an air plant.

I live in Santa Barbara, California where I’m fortunate to be able to shop at our farmers market all year long.   I’m a regular at the market on Tuesdays and Saturdays and love being able to interact with the farmers themselves.  I bought all the produce there except for the pomegranates, which came from a friend’s tree.  The Rome apples, adorable forelle pears and cranberries came from a local natural foods market.  All are organic or grown without sprays – this is very important to me.

The aeoniums, which are succulents, came from my garden.  They will last for months out of the ground as long as they have nice, bright natural light.  I like them in this piece because they remind me a bit of green roses.  The air plants, or tillandsias, are a nice touch and just need a spritz or two of water every week.  In nature, they grow on other plants but are not parasitic like that other popular holiday plant, mistletoe.

We sell air plants on our website and you’ll find a link to them below. I have a 7-foot Rosemary ‘Tuscan Spires’ growing in my front yard that yields an endless bounty all year long.  The French thyme and Greek oregano were picked out of my herb garden in the backyard.

The beauty of this tablescape is that it can be made in early December and will still look good through Christmas day.  The only things that might need replacing are the Brussels sprouts.  If you can’t find all the ingredients I’ve used, then substitute something similar.

This piece is low enough so that your guests can see over each other while enjoying the wonderful meal you’ve made.  I sometimes do these arrangements on a side table in my living room where they are a focal point.  Adjust the arrangement’s size to your own table – it’s very easy to do.

Just think, you can enjoy your beautiful centerpiece and then eat it. Have a wonderful Holiday Season everyone!

Learn More:

See Nell’s video showing the creation of this edible seasonal tablescape.

Buy air plants for this seasonal tablescape from Joy Us garden.

Buy Nell’s book that shows how to make holiday ornaments with succulents and air plants.

About the author:  Nell Foster is the creator of Joy Us Garden. Her horticultural career has taken her from the East Coast to the West – from Boston and New York City to San Francisco and now Santa Barbara. She has been employed as an herb propagator, interior landscaper and nursery salesperson.

She owned Nell Foster Designs in San Francisco for 16 years installing and maintaining residential landscapes as well as designing and installing large-scale holiday decorations. For many years, she did window displays for Macy’s Flower Show in San Francisco and the Marshall Fields Flower Show in Chicago.

Nell is a life-long gardener who still to this day gets giddy at the thought of a trip to one of the local nurseries or the local farmers market. She has always been an organic gardener and always will be.  She is the author of “Mother Nature Inspired Christmas Ornaments” and regularly blogs on Garden Gluttony which can be found on her website http://www.joyusgarden.com

Contributor: Seasonal Wisdom is delighted to provide this summer Feng Shui advice from NY-based consultant Ann Bingley Gallops of Open Spaces Feng Shui.  You may remember her Feng Shui advice about fall, winter and spring already.

Learn how you can use the timeless lessons of Feng Shui to enjoy this season to the fullest. Here’s what Ann has to say … Photo courtesy of mgstanton/Flickr

 Photo courtesy of **Mary**/Flickr

Summertime brings us into the “Fire” season in Feng Shui.  It’s the pinnacle of the yearly cycle – the season of sunshine, high heat and Yang energy. Consider this advice for celebrating this Fire season with summer Feng Shui.

From a Feng Shui point of view, Fire’s essence comes through in the color red, triangular or pointed shapes, and by beautiful, warm lighting. 

Add Fire-y elements like red flowers or brilliant lighting to your home or garden this summer to get year-round benefits from this powerful element.

Here’s a look at some “specifics” of Fire, with summer Feng Shui tips for each to help you make the most of this peak season.

 Photo courtesy of PinkMoose/Flickr

1. Fire is the element of your inner light and of your Fame & Reputation. 

• Take a few moments to contemplate the way you wish to be seen in the world, and to bring any underappreciated talents and abilities into the light before fall activities kick back into gear.

Photo courtesy of Aff/Flickr

2. Fire is also an expansive, social and emotional element. 

• If you’re feeling shy or have trouble expressing yourself, take advantage of the season to create meaningful connections with friends and family during the summer social season. The heat you generate now will carry you right through the rest of the year.

Photo courtesy of Wirralwater/Flickr

3. If you’re already feeling a bit overheated, balance your Fire element with cool, clear Water.  Dive right in whenever you have the chance.

• Fire’s power also cools off a bit when you’re close to the Earth, one of many good reasons to dig deep into your garden this summer!

Summer Feng Shui offers you so many ways to bring yourself into the kind of balance and harmony that’s found in nature.  I hope it will help you enjoy all the riches of this abundant season.

About the Author:  Ann Bingley Gallops is a Feng Shui consultant and speaker in New York City.  Her company Open Spaces Feng Shui offers on-site and long-distance Feng Shui consultations, space-clearing and blessing ceremonies, and modern, practical Feng Shui design for homes and offices.

Ann practices Feng Shui with an MBA from Columbia University, a Practitioner’s Certificate from the Western School of Feng Shui, and Red Ribbon Professional membership in the International Feng Shui Guild.

Follow Ann on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, and on her blog, Feng Shui Tips & Insights.

Entering P. Allen Smith’s home at Moss Mountain is a delight worth sharing. After all, the TV personality, book author and lifestyle spokesperson has built a national reputation for his Greek Revival-style house and 600+ acre garden retreat outside Little Rock, Arkansas.

This well-known gardener is famous for his amazing landscapes, but he has a particularly lovely, historically inspired home. So, I’ll focus indoors first, and save the outdoors for my next post. Meanwhile, you can see more photos of P. Allen Smith’s home in this 2011 post too.

P. Allen Smith’s home is a relatively new house, but you wouldn’t know it.  The location of his house was selected because of that 300-year-old tree you can see above.

One reason that the house feels so authentic, is because of P. Allen Smith’s design approach. Before building the house, he studied the details of several Greek Revival homes, built in the 1840s-1850s, within a 150-mile radius of the property.

This research inspired his decorating choices. For example, he did not add crown molding to the house, because it wasn’t done to homes in this region of the country.

Once you visit Moss Mountain, you see right away that P. Allen Smith’s home – and gardens – were greatly influenced by the Founding Fathers, particularly George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. The busts of these three gentlemen watch over the stairway in this lovely home.

But he welcomes modern comfort in his home too. That’s why many of his upholstered furniture aren’t antique.

The contemporary furnishings and artwork still work wonderfully with the historic atmosphere of the home. This shows once again the beauty of “mixing the old with the new” in interior design.

That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of antiques in this charming house.

This portrait dates back to 1793, and was painted by Gilbert Stuart, one of the most prominent artists of his time. The artist’s portrait of George Washington in 1796 would later become world renowned.

The oldest piece of furniture in P. Allen Smith’s home is this wooden cabinet, which dates to 1794. Standing before the wooden piece, you can sense that George Washington would definitely approve of his choice.

Entertaining is important to this Southern gentleman. After spending several days with P. Allen Smith in 2011 and 2013, I can truly say that he represents the best of old-fashioned Southern hospitality.

Not only was he welcoming to everyone. But he never  put “on airs” with the bloggers, sponsors or his staff. He always seemed geniune and gracious, even while dealing with dozens of guests asking different questions and wandering through his home.

P. Allen Smith may be a national lifestyle celebrity, who is an author of seven books, host of two PBS Television shows and two YouTube video channels.

But he’d much rather you considered him an educator of the “old hand arts” of gardening, entertaining, raising chickens, growing food and enjoying a good meal.

Speaking of meals, don’t miss seeing his gorgeous kitchen in this post.

Good parties need great flower arrangements. Just look at these lovely roses in the sink of his mudroom! Yep, you heard that right.  In P. Allen Smith’s home, even the mudroom is lovely.

Don’t believe me? Here’s another photo of the gorgeous mudroom.

Even the “necessary” – as they used to call bathrooms during our Founding Fathers’ time – is beautiful.  Here is the guest bathroom right outside of the mudroom.

Moving upstairs, you’ll see piles of books and collections of butterflies, botanical prints and more. It’s clear that history and knowledge inspire this book author and TV personality.

There’s even a bearskin lounging luxuriously on this couch in P. Allen Smith’s home. I never did hear the real story of how that bear became a decorative object.  But when I find out, I’ll let you know.

This authentic Tester Bed dates back to 1820s New Orleans.  The entire bedroom has a serene, elegant and relaxing feel, which I imagine leads to restful sleep.

P. Allen Smith’s home has plenty of multi-use spaces. This delightful desk area is located in a section of the master bedroom, where there is plenty of natural light.

Don’t miss the fireplace sitting area or the master bathroom with a vintage bathtub in this earlier article.

What could be better than listening to the crickets sing on a summer evening? This charming sleeping porch at P. Allen Smith’s home is the perfect place to do it.

There also is a copper bathtub out on the porch for summer soaks. It’s so inviting, you can’t really blame Mary Ann Newcomer of Gardens of the Wild Wild West for wanting to try it out.

Other Bloggers: It was a pleasure to enjoy this educational and enjoyable trip with the following excellent bloggers – Our Everyday Dinners, Bwisegardening.blogspot.com, Cowlick Cottage Farm, Read Between the Limes, From the Soil, Redneck Rosarian, Home Garden Life, Arkansas Home and Garden, J. Peterson Garden Design, HGTV Gardens, Veggie Gardening Tips, About.com/Container Gardens, Durable Gardening, Punk Rock Gardens, Good Seed for Home Depot Garden Club, Gardens of the Wild Wild West, Bumble Bee Blog, The Garden Buzz, The Rainforest Garden and The Garden Diary.

Full Disclosure:  Our Garden2Blog trip expenses were generously sponsored by the following well-known and respected companies: Berry Nurseries, Bonnie Plants, Star Roses & Plants, Easy Gardener, Laguna Ponds, Le Creuset, The Seed Keeper Company and Troy-Bilt.

I’m grateful for everyone’s wonderful hospitality. However, please know Seasonal Wisdom readers that my opinions are my own, and I was not pressured to write anything about the trip.

Coming Next! Don’t miss seeing P. Allen Smith’s gardens and heritage poultry, among other things.  This Southern gentleman is working hard to keep the old household traditions alive and well.

More Photos of P. Allen Smith’s Home can be found in this post.

This holiday season, why not give presents and experiences that will encourage kids to spend more time gardening next year? For help, Seasonal Wisdom turned to five leading parenting and gardening book authors and bloggers for gift-giving ideas for nature-deficient kids.

What they recommend might surprise you … Their ideas aren’t expensive or fancy, but they could help your kids take a greater interest in the natural world around them. They’re designed to get children to turn off that TV show for a minute, so they can get their hands dirty growing something. If that happens, these inexpensive gifts are indeed priceless in today’s society. Come see what these experts suggest…

Seasonal Wisdom is passionate about the emotional, spiritual and health benefits of children spending time in nature. Here are just Five Reasons Why Children Should Garden.

To get more kids in the garden, Seasonal Wisdom spoke with five women – all talented, knowledgeable and experienced mothers themselves – to hear their favorite gift ideas or DIY projects for sparking  a child’s desire to learn more about nature.

Here are their five gift ideas:

Helen Yoest knows how to engage her three kids (aged between 11 to 16 years old) in North Carolina with fun projects. As she explains, “If I can make something look interesting, I can then get my children’s attention. That’s how I got them interesting in growing a vegetable garden.”

This year, the family plans to grow fungi indoors with the Back to the Roots Mushroom Kit.  “I’m not sure they will eat them,” says Helen. “But I’m certain they will find it fun to do.”

About Helen: Helen Yoest is an award-winning garden writer and author of Gardening with Confidence–50 Ways to Add Style for Personal Creativity. A field editor for Better Homes and Gardens, Country Gardens and Traditional Home, Helen also serves on the board of the JC Raulston Arboretum. Find her at Twitter, Facebook or her blog. 

Rebecca Sweet says her two children are much older now, but at one time, making a ‘pot person’ was a favorite garden DIY project for her daughter.

“When my daughter was young, one of her favorite gifts was a trip to our local nursery to pick out as many terra cotta pots as she needed to make her own ‘pot person,’” remembers Rebecca. “And why stop at just one?  A whole family would look so cute sitting on a garden bench!”

Craft Corners provides step-by-step directions for making pot people.

About Rebecca: The creative force behind Harmony In The Garden, located in Northern California, Rebecca and her gardens have been featured in magazines like Fine Gardening, Horticulture and American Gardener, as well as the PBS-TV series Growing a Greener World and Martha Stewart Living radio. She co-authored Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces. Find her at Twitter or her blog.

Kerry Michaels believes that you don’t need a lot of money to engage kids in gardening.

“There are very few things that are as easy and fun to grow as paperwhite narcissus,” says Kerry.  “All you need are a few bulbs, some rocks or gravel (marbles will work too) and a fun cup, bucket or watertight container to grow them in. You can buy the bulbs online, at your local nursery, or at big box stores.”

About Kerry: Kerry Michaels is a writer, photographer and obsessive container gardener in coastal Maine. She’s also the mother of a teen-aged daughter and son. You can see more of her clever container designs here — and her favorite winter container plants. Find her at Twitter or her container gardening blog for About.com.

Pamela Price believes parents can find plenty of creative ideas to inspire kids to garden from a good book. From her Texas home, she told me that of all the parenting books she has read over the last few years regarding how to connect children with nature, Suz Lipman’s Fed Up with Frenzy is her current favorite.

Says Pamela, “Inspired to embrace ‘slow parenting’ herself and then write about her family’s adventures in it first on her blog and more recently in the new book, Suz is a wonderful source for fresh, easy and practical ideas to reconnect children with the natural world. Gardening activities are included as are tips related to nature, cooking and family game time.”

About Pamela:  Pamela Price is the mother of a six-year-old boy and the founder of the award-winning RedWhiteandGrew.com. Her first book, on balancing work and homeschool, is due in 2013 from Gifted Homeschoolers Forum Press. Find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Susan Sachs Lipman (Suz), mentioned by Pamela above, also agreed to share her favorite gift idea with Seasonal Wisdom readers.

“What better way for a child to learn about gardening and nature than through the wonder associated with both?” asks Suz. “Toysmith’s Root Viewer Garden provides a fascinating view of all the growing that happens underground.”

Find Root Viewer Gardens at Home Training Tools or Wild Bird & Gifts. Or, make your own and spend time this holiday season enjoying it.

To make your own, you’ll need:

• Clear plastic cups, bottles, or jars
• Seeds and dirt

1. Fill containers most of the way with dirt.
2. Plant root vegetables or quick-sprouting seeds, like beans or peas, close to one side, one or two per cup.
3. Place containers in the sun or on a sunny windowsill and water gently.
4. Watch as roots form and plants sprout.

About Suz:  Susan Sachs Lipman (Suz) is the author of Fed Up with Frenzy: Slow Parenting in a Fast-Moving World, which contains this and many other fun activities to help families enjoy nature. Suz blogs at Slow Family Online and has written for the New York Times Motherlode blog and the Christian Science Monitor’s Modern Parenthood blog. She is the Social Media Director for the Children & Nature Network, and the proud mother of a teenage daughter.

Learn More!

Five Reasons Why Kids Should Garden

Leave No Child Inside, How Nature Benefits Children

How-To Guides for Parents and Teachers by Children & Nature Network

Disclosure: Nobody connected with this post was paid anything to recommend these products.

The month of December is a bit of a paradox. On the one hand, the month has the shortest, darkest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. On the other, this time is a wildly optimistic month when people surround themselves with bright lights, aromatic evergreens and festive activities.

However you decide to celebrate this time of year, check out these entertaining tips, resources, folklore traditions and gardening advice for December, from Seasonal Wisdom and others. All illustrated with vintage Christmas cards from Riptheskull on Flickr. Come take a peek.

“And after him, came next the chill December

Yet he through merry feasting which he made,

And great bonfires, did not the cold remember…”

Spenser, The Faerie Queene, 1590s

Spenser’s centuries-old words still ring true today. It may be cold and dreary outside, but that does not mean there can’t be merry feasting and great bonfires during the chilly month of December. Even quiet moments at home can be filled with restful moments that help you recharge your batteries and find your light during this dark and busy time of year.

Get expert entertaining advice for the holidays…

 Make a Toast to Wassail (This Ancient Drink Still Affects Us!)

Holiday Party Tips from Top Event Designers (Architectural Digest)

Epicurious Holiday Recipe Ideas

Get comfy at home during the dark days of winter…

Five Feng Shui Ways to Create a Warm and Nurturing Home

The Snow-Storm (Ralph Waldo Emerson poem)

Five Experts Share Advice to Gardeners about Surviving Winter

Learn the history of the holidays …

Vintage Christmas Cards of the Twentieth Century

Fun Facts about Christmas

Four Facts about Christmas You Probably Didn’t Know

Strange Facts about New Year’s Day 

Reduce your holiday waste, and find ways to reuse that Christmas tree…

Seven Ways to Recycle a Christmas Tree – including recipes for potpourri and pine needle-infused bath oil.

Embrace your love of gardening, even in winter…

Eight Easy Steps to a Wonderful Winter Garden

Favorite Winter Plants (Coastal Maine)

Favorite Winter Plants (Northern Idaho)

Favorite Winter Plants (Lake Ontario, Canada)

Favorite Winter Plants (North Carolina)

Favorite Winter Plants (Western Washington)

 What are some of your favorite resources for this time of year? Online resources? Old cookbooks? Friends and family?

Coming Soon: Stay tuned for more holiday stories and fun giveaways coming this month!

Decorating the home with aromatic evergreens during the winter holidays dates back to ancient times. That’s why Seasonal Wisdom was excited to learn about the P. Allen Smith Holiday Collection. The well-known TV personality and book author has partnered again with Berry Family of Nurseries for this Holiday Collection, which features Noble Fir boughs twisted up into delightful evergreens for your table centerpieces, mantles and doors.

Here’s your chance to win a wreath from Allen’s new Chocolate & Spice collection, just in time for the holidays! But hurry, this random drawing ends at midnight, Nov. 17, 2012.  Congratulations to Virginia of Kentucky for winning!

The Prize!

Some lucky winner will receive this 28 inch Chocolate & Spice wreath made from sustainably harvested Noble Fir boughs from the Cascade Mountains in western Oregon. Aromatic pine cones, brown ribbons and bittersweet-inspired berries add a holiday touch to the attractive wreath. Retail value: $49.98.

From hand-selecting the limbs to hand-tying the greenery and ornaments, the Berry Family of Nurseries’ attention to details ensure this high-quality product will last throughout the season. And if you’ve read this blog, you’re probably familiar already with the exceptional taste and decorating style of P. Allen Smith. If not, take a tour of his Moss Mountain Farm.

Enter to Win! 

We’d be delighted if you would follow Seasonal Wisdom and P. Allen Smith on Facebook, but it is NOT a requirement to enter this random drawing:

• P. Allen Smith on Facebook
• Seasonal Wisdom on Facebook

Learn more:

Visit P. Allen Smith’s website.

View the entire Holiday Collection.

Take a tour of P. Allen Smith’s home.

See holiday decorating ideas with evergreens from Clemson Cooperative Extension.

Guest Post: Another amazing autumn is here! Seasonal Wisdom is delighted to feature these fall-based Feng Shui tips from NY-based consultant Ann Bingley Gallops of Open Spaces Feng Shui.  Learn how you can use the timeless lessons of Feng Shui to enjoy this season to the fullest. Here’s what Ann has to say …

Use Fall To Your Advantage, Feng-Shui Style

We’ve entered the heart of Fall, when gardens show signs of fatigue after their summer activity, and plants and trees begin their annual shut-down.

It’s time to shut down the irrigation system, turn off the fountain, bring in remaining goodies from the garden and start covering things up for the hibernation of winter ahead.

How are you feeling, right now? Are you consolidating your summer gains and buckling down for a winter of concentration and focus?

 In Feng Shui, fall is the season of the Metal element, which signifies “contracting” action: consolidation, fall harvest and a sense of completion in the cycle of the year.

Feng Shui’s Five Elements are Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal; each is associated with a particular time of year.  Learn more about the Five Elements.

Faded flowers photo courtesy of Garda on Flickr

Metal is symbolically represented by the various shapes, colors and textures that appear in autumn. For example, Metal appears in the pale shades of a fading hydrangea.

Photo courtesy Snap Man on Flickr.

Metal is also symbolized by the round shape and condensed nature of rocky boulders as they begin to dominate the autumn landscape

In Feng Shui you need each of the Five Elements in your life for distinct aspects of energetic balance.

Metal is the element of discernment, organization and planning, paralleling your activities during the fall as you assess what has occurred thus far in the year and make plans to consolidate those gains over the winter.

Use the strengthening power of Metal to your advantage this fall.  You can signify your dedicated Intention to do this in your space with metal objects, items that are round or oval shaped, and objects in shades of pastel or white.

As you place these objects in your home or office, dedicate their placement to your goals for months ahead.  Place your plans more firmly into the “real” by grounding them with your Intention, as embodied in the items you are placing.

Here comes Winter – what do you wish to have accomplished by the time the re-awakening of Spring arrives?

Here’s to good Chi!

Learn More: See Ann’s Feng Shui tips for Winter and Spring, created for Seasonal Wisdom readers.

About the Author 

Ann Bingley Gallops, owner of Open Spaces Feng Shui in Brooklyn New York, is an expert Feng Shui consultant, blogger and speaker.  A Feng Shui consultation with Ann helps you get unstuck, create a positive environment where you can blossom and thrive, and attract abundance in every part of your life.

Ann is the author of Map Your Space To Change Your Life: A Guide To The Feng Shui Bagua . She practices Feng Shui with an MBA from Columbia University, a Practitioner’s Certificate from the Western School of Feng Shui, and Red Ribbon Professional membership in the International Feng Shui Guild.

Follow Ann on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, and on the Open Spaces Feng Shui blog.

Contributor: Learn how to jump-start your spring with these expert Feng Shui tips by NYC-based consultant Ann Bingley Gallops of Open Spaces Feng Shui. You may remember Ann’s excellent winter feng shui tips last year. Now — just in time for spring — Ann provides spring Feng Shui advice to get your season off to a great new beginning. Here’s what she has to say…

Photo copyright Samatt of Flickr.

Entering the new beginnings of spring through a beautiful archway.

Photo copyright Ann Bingley Gallops.

Spring is finally here in all its beautiful glory!  Doesn’t it feel as though things start afresh every year at this time?  Not-so-coincidentally, perhaps, in Feng Shui spring is considered the season of New Beginnings, symbolized by young plants pushing their way up through the ground.

Feng Shui also associates spring with the idea of Family – your immediate family and close friends, as well as close colleagues at work.  You can think of your family as the roots of your being, your DNA, your very own New Beginnings.

Using these rich ideas, there are many wonderful ways to celebrate the arrival of spring with Feng Shui.  Here are a few of my favorite spring Feng Shui tips:

Update your snapshots of friends & family! Photo copyright Ann Bingley Gallops.

• Honor your most important relationships by updating the personal photos you have around your home.  You’ll bring fresh energy to your bonds with family and friends while reminding yourself of recent good times you’ve shared.

A healthy plant symbolizes the vitality of an important relationship. Photo copyright Ann Bingley Gallops.

• Energize new projects with a healthy young plant.  Its growth and vitality activates the “New Beginnings” associated with this season, and the hoped-for success of your projects.  One recent client was in the midst of healing her relationship with her daughter – a particularly apropos undertaking at this time of year.  Caring for the plant she bought to symbolize the rebirth of this relationship helped her cope and take the time she needed on her emotional journey.

• Declutter and organize the “New Beginnings” area of the Feng Shui Bagua (learn more about the Bagua here), which is in the center left-hand side of your space.  This is the location where we often start to clear clutter in Feng Shui, for the very reason that it symbolizes fresh starts.

• Feng Shui also applies to your outdoor spaces, so I recommend that you attend to the New Beginnings section of your garden as well. Here is more information about Garden Feng Shui. (Also, don’t forget to check out Seasonal Wisdom’s guest post for Open Spaces Feng Shui on three sensational spring flowers that celebrate this lovely season.)

Hope you’ve enjoyed these spring Feng Shui tips. I wish you the very best this season.  Here’s to good Chi!

About the Author:  Ann Bingley Gallops is a Feng Shui consultant and speaker in New York City.  Her company Open Spaces Feng Shui offers on-site and long-distance Feng Shui consultations, space-clearing and blessing ceremonies, and modern, practical Feng Shui design for homes and offices.

Ann practices Feng Shui with an MBA from Columbia University, a Practitioner’s Certificate from the Western School of Feng Shui, and Red Ribbon Professional membership in the International Feng Shui Guild.

Follow Ann on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, and on her blog, Feng Shui Tips & Insights.

See the other part of this blog exchange at Open Spaces Feng Shui, where Seasonal Wisdom celebrates spring with three favorite flowering plants.

Learn More: See Ann’s Feng Shui tips for Winter, created for Seasonal Wisdom readers.