Rembrandt Tulips and our Christmas Tree

When you get to be as old as we are.

Traditions become very important. 

See those footprints in the snow?

That is the way to our Christmas tree.  

Early Monday morning, Mr. G will stand in line at the Forest Service Office to purchase a Christmas tree cutting permit.  

My Rembrandt Tulip bulbs arrived only yesterday. 

The sun was shining.  It warmed up long enough to thaw the frozen ground.  

All 250 bulbs were planted between a row of Lavender.  

I know that it is too early to decorate the tree.

After cutting the tree and after our traditional picnic in the mountains, we will "park" the tree in our pond.  It will continue to take up water until we are ready to bring it into the house...

about a week before Christmas.

In the meantime...

We will celebrate Thanksgiving at home. 

Along with our traditional meal I'm going to try out a few new recipes.

Here are sensational selections from Ellie, who writes a most thought provoking and beautiful blog, 

Have Some Decorum.

Where will you celebrate Thanksgiving? 

Wishing you  a wonderful weekend. 

Gina 

This year I timed it just right.

Last year I was too late.

You have to get there just after Spring bulbs have been delivered. 

 The coveted Rembrandt Tulip.

Is the first Tulip to disappear from Costco shelves. 

Yes, you can find them in garden catalogs.
But oh, they are expensive.

Tulips were introduced to Europe from Turkey.
Have you heard of "Tulipomania" ?

I have to replant my tulips every year.  Little critters feast on them.

Of course I could enclose each Tulip bulb in a wire cage and plant it or hang it from the ceiling, as was the custom in Holland. 

I planted 400 Tulip bulbs in between a row of Lavender yesterday. 

Have a wonderful weekend my dear Blogging Friends. 

Gina

Note:

All of the above photographs were taken in my 2012 Spring Garden.