Monday, November 21, 2016

New Guy In The Neighborhood?

When we lived in Maryland I grew hollies in the yard. We had four big beautiful holly bushes across the front of the house and an even larger holly in the yard. I really loved them because they kept their glossy green leaves all year and in winter they were covered with bright red berries. Three of the smaller plants and the large plant all had lots of berries because the smallest plant was male and with the help of the birds and bees that visited, he pollinated the female plants.

I used twigs from my trumpet vine to make wreathes and decorated them with holly branches complete with red berries. Add a ribbon and we had wreathes that lasted all winter.

About two years after we moved here I planted a holly in the back yard. I had noticed that a couple of neighbors also had hollies, so I expected them to get along well. The first winter we had no berries, but I thought maybe we needed more time. Well, I've waited fifteen years. Surely that's enough time. Obviously all the neighbors also had female hollies.

Over the weekend, I was wandering around the yard with the dogs when something caught my attention. Look...
My holly has berries all over.
I guess a new male holly has arrived somewhere in the neighborhood. Things are looking up.

5 comments:

Ruby Rose and the Big Little Angels 3 said...

That is an excellent sign for Christmas

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

That's wonderful. Always loved those holly-with-berries bushes and trees. Very Christmassy.

Molly the Airedale said...

We never thought to use Trumpet Vine twigs to make wreaths! Excellent idea! Your Holly is just beautiful!

Marjie said...

Our nurseryman planted male and female holly bushes for us, so we have the red berries! They look so pretty all year long, but especially in the dead of winter.

Happy Thanksgiving, Sue, Rob and Pack!

Ruby said...

OMD, those are FABulous!!!!! We;ve never had Holly bushes, butts Ma is worried with my plant tasting obsession, that it could be dangerous. Maybe she can puts them in our 'plant jail'! BOL
I hopes you gets some beautiful wreaths from your holly this year! I thinks it's a good omen!
Kisses,
Ruby ♥