If you have a windowsill that gets some sun, you can save on plastic-packed produce by regrowing some items. I have found that celery and green onions are the easiest. A jar with a tiny it of water at the bottom is all you need. Place the veggies in, and you should see that roots have grown in about a week or two. If you are growing celery, you’ll want to cut a small amount off of the end to allow for the roots to grow. Green onions grow in no-time. Ginger, lemongrass, onions, potatoes, etc. can all be grown from scraps if you have a bit of space. The one thing that I’m not a fan of is lettuce. I have successfully grown lettuce, but it is very bitter in comparison to the original leaves. If anyone knows why, let me know in the comments.
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Holidays at Roger’s Gardens
It’s hard to believe the holidays are upon us. Before we know it, it will be a new year! I always try to have my holiday shopping done by August, unless I am making gifts. I have about half of my list checked off, so I guess that’s something. Anyway, the stores are starting to be decked out in holiday cheer. Today, we took a trip down to Roger’s Gardens, which put me more in the holiday mood. There was a Halloween section and a Christmas/holiday section, both of which were beautifully decorated. There were also some interesting props, which I wouldn’t mind having if I had the space.
This is the doorway to the Halloween-themed area of the grounds. How fun is it?! It reminds me of entering a house of horrors that has a circus-type theme. When we stepped inside, that is exactly what it was like. A carnival of spooky decor, trinkets, Halloween-themed paper lanterns, and so much more.
On the ceiling was a faux person being cut in two with a faux saw blade, and a phantom.ghost projection on the wall. Perhaps they
wanted to take a hint from the American Horror Story: Freak Show. I can’t even explain how much I love the carnival theme! The props and way things were drawn in the room was delightful. There were several decorations in this room that you could purchase, such as paper cut-outs, Halloween-themed snow globes, any “blood”-filled syringe pens that read, “Don’t Do Drugs”.
Here are some other photos of “shadows” in frames, a swirling deck of cards, a laboratory, and one of my favorite paper cut-outs:
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| One of my favorite cut-outs |
Now, onto the Christmas/holiday section:
There were so many decorated trees, and part of me wanted to take a miniature version of all of them. There were larger ornaments, mini ornaments (like those in the photo below), designer ornaments, and retro ornaments. They also carry a wide array of books, decorations (i.e. snow globes, candle votives, etc.), paper goods (i.e. napkins, paper plates), and so many other products.
Here are some of the trees I was able to photograph. Due to their height and the limited space in the rooms, some are only of sections of the trees. I don’t remember what they were titled, but each had its own theme.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Roger’s Gardens, it is quite a pricey place. They are also renovating part of the area, so there is less than usual. That being said, if you’re in the Newport Beach area, it is worth going to. Around Christmas, they add lights, outside decor, and periodically they will have a hot chocolate/coffee stand. There are all kinds of things, from food items to outdoor furniture, and placemats to all sorts of plants (edible and non). If you take a trip out there, let me know what you think!
Stay beautiful!
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