M mm, nothing smells as wonderful for the Christmas season as fresh greens inside our homes. It’s good to see a trend towards more traditional Christmas decorating. There are all types of fresh greens you can enjoy indoors but I always look for two quali- ties: how long they will stand up under dry conditions and are they fragrant. For both longevity and fragrance, it is hard to beat pine. All pine varieties have a wonderful scent but one of the most at- tracti ve is Pinus strobus or white pine. Its soft blue needles look so graceful, and they can be used in a variety of situations, par- ticularly to accent fresh flowers and centre- pieces. Usually sold as single branches for swags, lodgepole and scotch pine are also very resilient. The long-needled Pinus ponderosa is also attractive, especially when branch tips are cut and placed in a large vase. The best use of these branches, however, is for door swags. With their naturally curved tips and large cones, they look perfect when com- bined with a big red velvet bow and a few shiny baubles and Christmas novelties. True fir or the abies family is my second choice for indoor greens. Silver balsam and noble fir are very good when it comes to retaining needles and when you brush your hand against their boughs, the fragrance puts you back in the forest. I particularly like the silver underside of their needles. The flat nature of their branches makes these greens ideal for swags or for advent and traditional wreaths. Blue spruce is the ultimate picea, and its branches make beautiful door swags as well. The needles on spruce, however, do not last as long as abies or pine, and they are sharp, making them somewhat more difficult to work with. Douglas fir, named after Alexander Douglas, a British botanist who collected specimens of West Coast trees and took them back to Britain, is neither a spruce nor a fir - that’s why they are classified as ‘pseudo tsuga menziesii’. They have a delightful fragrance and make beautiful looking Christmas trees but unfortunately , their branches dry out far too quickly to make them an ideal green for indoor use. Hemlocks are much the same: lovely but dif- ficult both for drying out and for needle drop. Cedar is an old time favourite for many reasons but I’m afraid it also has a short lifespan indoors. If you can keep it in a cool room or use it outside the home, its pendu- lous branches are useful in swags, wreaths and most importantly, in cedar ropes. Another super idea is to pull all the spent flowers from your moss hanging baskets and replace them with all kinds of cedar tips to create wonderful Christmas baskets. Add a few frosted cones, some holly and a big red bow with long tails, and you’ve got a very at- tractive addition to your outside décor . One of the most unique and attractive ideas that I’ve seen in a long time is a tradi- tional European greens arrangement. Using a piece of florist’s oasis in a low bowl, ar- range a variety of colourful green tips from yellow, blue, gold, green and bronze foliaged trees. A twisted stem of contorted filbert, one or two tall thin candles, bits of moss and a few dried perennials can be added for a fin- ishing touch. It’s a very creati ve way to wow your friends and guests, and it will last right through the festive season. Cut branches are no different than cut flowers, especially deciduous holly , Ilex ver- ticulata, with its stunning red berries. Seven to ten days is about the maximum time for any greens to be indoors without being in water. Try to have an extra supply on hand so you can replenish your creations and keep them fresh looking. By cutting about one inch off the bottom of each stem and by keeping them in room temperature water, the life span of most greens can be tripled. Decorati ve branches of contorted willow and filbert or the stunning brilliant yellow and red branches of twig dogwoods look great in a vase by themselves, indoors or out. My favourite are the branches of ‘Midwinter Fire’ which is a yellow and orange bicolour dogwood. Christmas greens are so nice inside our homes at this time of year. They’re inexpen- si ve, natural and fragrant. To enjoy them longer, be sure to mist them often and keep them in water if at all pos- sible. REVIEW H om e S h ow c RE EV VIEW V V Ahhh, he’s dreaming of a green Christmas Greens can be a fragrant & colourful additions to your festive decorations IN THE GARDEN Brian Minter Friday, November 26, 2010 Tri-City News 41 Includes NET PROVINCIAL HST Call Vicky (604) 999-2452 From Just From Just $ $ 489,900 489,900 OPEN HOUSE 12-4 Except Fridays 11227 236A St. Maple Ridge thepointehomes.ca OPEN HOUSE Visit Our Fully Furnished Show Home h h h h ★ Haney By-Pass Kanaka Way 112A Ave Gilker Hill Lougheed Hwy Creekside Street 11 Hwy INCLUDES NET PROVINCIAL HST BROOKSIDE REALTY 11933 - 224 th St Maple Ridge % 2 2 . . 30 30 Dynamic Mortgages KAREN HALL MORTGAGES INC. “A Mortgage Tailored For You...” M M D D 604-936-7740 or www.karenhall.ca REFINANCE REFINANCE TO PAY OFF TO PAY OFF YOUR DEBT! YOUR DEBT! Call Call Us Us Today!! Today!! AMP, Mortgage Broker CALL or APPLY ONLINE and get PRE-APPROVED TODAY A AMP , Mortgage Broker Karen Hall Self-Employed? Credit Problems? Separated/Divorced? 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Transcript
Mmm, nothing smells as wonderfulfor the Christmas season as freshgreens inside our homes. It’s good
to see a trend towards more traditionalChristmas decorating.
There are all types of fresh greens you canenjoy indoors but I always look for two quali-ties: how long they will stand up under dryconditions and are they fragrant.
For both longevity and fragrance, it ishard to beat pine. All pine varieties havea wonderful scent but one of the most at-tractive is Pinus strobus or white pine. Itssoft blue needles look so graceful, and theycan be used in a variety of situations, par-ticularly to accent fresh flowers and centre-pieces. Usually sold as single branches forswags, lodgepole and scotch pine are alsovery resilient.
The long-needled Pinus ponderosa isalso attractive, especially when branch tipsare cut and placed in a large vase. The bestuse of these branches, however, is for doorswags. With their naturally curved tips and
large cones, they look perfect when com-bined with a big red velvet bow and a fewshiny baubles and Christmas novelties.
True fir or the abies family is my secondchoice for indoor greens. Silver balsam andnoble fir are very good when it comes toretaining needles and when you brush yourhand against their boughs, the fragranceputs you back in the forest. I particularly likethe silver underside of their needles. The flatnature of their branches makes these greensideal for swags or for advent and traditionalwreaths.
Blue spruce is the ultimate picea, and itsbranches make beautiful door swags as well.The needles on spruce, however, do not lastas long as abies or pine, and they are sharp,making them somewhat more difficult towork with.
Douglas fir, named after AlexanderDouglas, a British botanist who collectedspecimens of West Coast trees and tookthem back to Britain, is neither a sprucenor a fir - that’s why they are classifiedas ‘pseudo tsuga menziesii’. They have adelightful fragrance and make beautifullooking Christmas trees but unfortunately,their branches dry out far too quickly tomake them an ideal green for indoor use.Hemlocks are much the same: lovely but dif-ficult both for drying out and for needle drop.
Cedar is an old time favourite for manyreasons but I’m afraid it also has a shortlifespan indoors. If you can keep it in a cool
room or use it outside the home, its pendu-lous branches are useful in swags, wreathsand most importantly, in cedar ropes.
Another super idea is to pull all the spentflowers from your moss hanging baskets andreplace them with all kinds of cedar tips tocreate wonderful Christmas baskets. Add afew frosted cones, some holly and a big redbow with long tails, and you’ve got a very at-tractive addition to your outside décor.
One of the most unique and attractiveideas that I’ve seen in a long time is a tradi-
tional European greens arrangement. Usinga piece of florist’s oasis in a low bowl, ar-range a variety of colourful green tips fromyellow, blue, gold, green and bronze foliagedtrees. A twisted stem of contorted filbert,one or two tall thin candles, bits of moss anda few dried perennials can be added for a fin-ishing touch. It’s a very creative way to wowyour friends and guests, and it will last rightthrough the festive season.
Cut branches are no different than cutflowers, especially deciduous holly, Ilex ver-ticulata, with its stunning red berries. Sevento ten days is about the maximum time forany greens to be indoors without being inwater. Try to have an extra supply on handso you can replenish your creations andkeep them fresh looking. By cutting aboutone inch off the bottom of each stem and bykeeping them in room temperature water,the life span of most greens can be tripled.
Decorative branches of contorted willowand filbert or the stunning brilliant yellowand red branches of twig dogwoods lookgreat in a vase by themselves, indoors or out.My favourite are the branches of ‘MidwinterFire’ which is a yellow and orange bicolourdogwood.
Christmas greens are so nice inside ourhomes at this time of year. They’re inexpen-sive, natural and fragrant.
To enjoy them longer, be sure to mist themoften and keep them in water if at all pos-sible.
REVIEWHome ShowcREEVVIEWVVAhhh, he’s dreaming of a green ChristmasGreens can be a fragrant & colourfuladditions to your festive decorations
IN THE GARDEN Brian Minter
Friday, November 26, 2010 Tri-City News 41
Includes NET PROVINCIAL HST
Call Vicky(604) 999-2452
From JustFrom Just
$$489,900489,900
OPEN HOUSE 12-4 Except Fridays
11227 236A St. Maple Ridge
thepointehomes.ca
OPEN HOUSE
Visit Our Fully Furnished
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Haney By-Pass Kanaka Way
112A Ave
Gilk
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ill
Loug
heed
Hw
y
Cree
ksid
e St
reet
11
Hwy
INCLUDES NET PROVINCIAL HST
BROOKSIDE REALTY
11933 - 224th StMaple Ridge
%22..3030
Dynamic Mortgages KAREN HALL MORTGAGES INC.
“A Mortgage Tailored For You...”MMDD604-936-7740 or www.karenhall.ca
REFINANCE REFINANCE TO PAY OFF TO PAY OFF YOUR DEBT!YOUR DEBT!CallCall UsUs Today!!Today!!
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Nestled between towering evergreens high on Westwood Plateau, Cascade features luxury 1,200 square foot suites in Coquitlam’s premier neighbourhood. Designed for
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Calling All Volunteers! We need your help in our communityOperation Red Nose 2010November 26 & 27, December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 & 18 and New Years Eve
For more information or to Volunteer contact:Volunteer Chair Malcolm Kennedy at [email protected]
How does the service work?
is a unique program dedicated to providing impaired drivers with a safe ride home. Essentially, it is a volunteer driving service provided during the Christmas Holiday Season to all drivers who have been drinking or who do not feel fi t to drive their own vehicle back home. It is an original and free way of getting a safe ride in their own vehicle without driving it themselves!
The Operation Red Nose service requires a team of three volunteers:
Escort driver: the person who transports the designated driver & navigator in his or her own car to the client’s location. Designated driver: the person that drives the client home in the client’s car. Navigator: the person that accompanies the designated driver and the client, in the client’s car, to record the client information and provide directions to the designated driver.
The service is free. Although Operation Red Nose is a free service, we do welcome client donations. 100% of the donations received are turned over to KidSport Tri-Cities.
Please volunteer and help make this a safer Christmas Holiday Season. Each time your team delivers an impaired driver and their vehicle safely home, you have made the Tri-Cities a safer place for you, your family and your friends.
TRI-CITY NEWS
Be Safe...Be Seen
When the weather turns dark When the weather turns dark and rainy, cyclists need to and rainy, cyclists need to
make extra-sure they can be make extra-sure they can be seen by other road users and seen by other road users and
pedestrians.pedestrians.
To ensure that you’re visible To ensure that you’re visible on dark days and at night on dark days and at night
equip your bicycle with bright equip your bicycle with bright front and rear lights. Wear front and rear lights. Wear
light coloured clothing with light coloured clothing with refl ective strips and make use refl ective strips and make use
of refl ectors on bikes and gear.
Make sure that your brakes are in good working order and
time in cold and wet weather.
NEVER ASSUME THAT OTHER ROAD USERS
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
RIDE WITH CARE!
of refl ectors on bikes aof refl ectors on bikes a
Make sure that youMake sure that youare in good working oare in good working o
OPEN DAILY Noon to 5pm, 1342 Fifeshire Street, Coquitlam [email protected]
Lougheed Hwy
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David Ave
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eridian Rd
COQUITLAMCENTRE
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single family homesPRE HST PRIC ING UNTIL NOVEMBER 30TH
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Open DailyOpen Daily (e cept Frida )(e cept Frida )
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*O.A.C. Some conditions apply. Rate subject to change without notice. **Present this ad and receive a free netbook, value up to $300. One netbook per closed deal of a 5 year mortgage term with an amount $250,000 or more. Not valid with any other offer. Not valid on prior deals. Void where prohibited or restricted. Expires 31st March 2011.
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WEST MAPLE RIDGE2003 sq. ft.• 4 bedrooms• gas fi replace• summer kitchen with family • room in basement4506 sq. ft. lot• great neighborhood• freshly painted•
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1,510 sq. ft.• End unit• 3 bedrooms, 3 baths• Double garage• Laminate fl ooring throughout• Covered patio• Immaculate conditio• n
Greenbelt & view lots available• Pick your lot & customize the • plan with builder27 lots• 6 builders• Follow the signs @ 232 & Fern• Prices start @ • $629,900 + HST
Paul HayesPeter Hayes Kim HunterLicensed Assistant
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PORT COQUITLAMCOTTONWOODPrestigious Scott Creek area• 2920 sq ft.• 4 bdrms up• 1 bdrm suite with own • laundryEntertainment sized deck with • views of Mt. Baker & city
NEST HOME STORE SW Corner of 9055 University High Street, BurnabyOpen 12-5pm daily (closed Fridays)
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MOSAIC Homes invites you to discover Nest – a fresh collection of homes defined by elegant form and exceptional function. Architecturally a step above, Nest is perched on the slope of Burnaby Mountain adjacent to renowned Simon Fraser University with all conveniences close at hand. Nest is a smart decision, meticulously designed inside and out, offering value for today and years to come.
Developer reserves the right to make modifications without notice. E.&.O.E.
$1,560,000 (+ tax)Over 4500 sq. ft. fi nished on 3 levels. Lovely open fl oor plan with high ceilings, big windows, over height exterior French doors, huge decks & patios, huge ensuite, etc. Located on a small quiet cul-de-sac lot
offering greenbelt and privacy. A trophy property.
~ 209 Westridge Lane, Anmore ~
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WE'RE FLEXIBLE: ■ We can fi nish a home for you or take it to any stage you want
*The developer reserves the right to make modifications to the information contained herein. Photographs and renderings are representational only and may not be accurate. Some conditions and additional requirements within the deposit structure apply. Please see a Grand Central sales representative for details. E.&O.E.
604 936 1888 GRANDCENTRALNOW.COM 2929 ATLANTIC AVENUE, COQUITLAM BC · OPEN DAILY 12-5PM OR BY APPOINTMENT, CLOSED FRIDAYSONE BEDS FROM $256,000 · TWO BEDS FROM $339,000
5 EASY STEPS TO YOUR FIRST HOME1 Come see Grand Central and fall in love with one of our homes
2 Own with a low 5% initial deposit when you write your contract
3 Pay your mortgage - not your landlord
4 Pay a second 5% deposit in January 2011
5 Pay nothing more until you move into Grand Central in the summer of 2012*
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Discover modern living in the heart of vibrant Pitt Meadows, only 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Standing at the epicentre of stunning views in all directions, Solaris is a development of modern steel and concrete towers with enhanced security features in the new, highly walkable community of Meadows Gate Village. Elegantly landscaped with natural west coast plantings and within steps from street-level shops, a recreation centre, a library, an elementary school, and the City Hall, Solaris is convenience right at home.
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* See manager for details
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beautiful layoutstainless steel appliancesgranite countertopshardwood flooringfloor to ceiling windowsgourmet kitchen
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Friday, November 26, 2010 Tri-City News 47
BUILDING AWARD-WINNING COMMUNITIES FOR TODAY... AND FOR YEARS TO COME.
GEORGIE AWARD™
NOMINATIONS
WE’VE BEEN RECOGNIZED WITH
*In the continuing effort to meet the challenge of product improvement, we reserve the right to modify or change plans, site plans, specifications or prices without notice. Renderings are an artist’s conception only and are intended as general reference only. All dimensions and sizes are approximate. Prices exclude taxes. E.&O.E. Marketing & Sales by: Portrait Homes Realty Ltd.
Sales Centre & Display Homes13819 – 232nd Street, Maple RidgeOpen Every Day: Noon - 5:00pm
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For more information on Brighton’s exciting Home Buying Packages, please visit our new sales centre and display homes today!