The Marigold Potager – A Zone 3 Prairie Garden

Only 10 sleeps till Christmas. The month is just barreling along. I have last minute gift ideas for you today, all under $50!

Each Sunday, after I send off the Ramblings post, I think… well, there simply cannot be much to share next week. I mean, we are in winter mode, after all. And yet… each week, she seems to come together with so much that I want to share, need to share.

I also have several really good gardening reads for you. Take notes in your journal, pin the ideas on your Pinterest boards… they are really, really good. It’s a good Sunday ramblings today : )

I wanted to share this fall photo from Pinterest that caught my eye. Cute pathway, shrubs, trees, groundcover… lovely landscape. It doesn’t go overboard with wildness, so would fit in most neighbourhoods nicely.

• Gardening Lessons for Next Year: How 2025 Changed Your Gardening Forever – This is a fantastic read. If you only read one thing on today’s post, let it be this one.
• Check out the Dave’s Garden photography winners for 2025.
• Design School: Find Your Pollinator Garden Style (Plus free landscape plan)
• Plant a Ninebark. I have 3 or 4 these in my hedgerow (mixed hedge) now. Birds love it for both shelter and the berries. They are super hardy, grow in all zones, come in gold, bronze, purple, orange….
• 28 Bee-Friendly Plants to Grow in Your Garden
• These 5 Garden Trends Will Be Everywhere in 2026 – love the faded colours trend!
• The Common Sense Gardener, with Allan Armitage – this is a super good listen (or read.) Cannot wait till this practical book comes out! Gardening that just makes sense.

I finally made my wreath. I had given up on it for the year. The weather was terrible every time we were at home, nice on the days we had appointments and running around to do. All my wreath making supplies were outside (for easy clean up) on the deck.

But then…. hubby put a tarp on the dining room table, brought in all my goodies for me, and then folded up the tarp and hauled it away when I was finished. Insert heart emoji here : )

You might be wondering why I did not make it out in the heated pretty potting shed? I am afraid of slipping on the ice or snow in the backyard, with my new hip. Avoiding going out there for a while longer yet.

Wreath Making Ideas…

Here is a how to for making the wreath. She kept hers simple (it’s stunning – love the simple striped ribbon) while I added dry yarrow flowers, roses, and coneflowers to mine.

If you are bow challenged, as I am, you may need a tutorial every single year. This is the video that I watched and followed (starts at 5.51). I only made 2 layers, she adds several more. Make yours as big, fancy, bougie as you like!

• This YouTube video has the most beautiful ideas … 12 Simple Last Minute Gift Wrapping Ideas. They are all very doable, very simple yet elegant.
• Free Printable Pinecone Gift Tags for Christmas (see above) – I love these simple gift tags, have printed them off for my gifting, this year.

Check out this amazing holiday table in the porch/orangery. A historic house on the Stockholm archipelago decorated for Christmas | House & Garden

Holiday Pet Safety: Toxic Plants Cats and Dogs Should Avoid – this one may surprise you.

• Free Printable Vintage Seed Packets + Butterflies Print – did you save seeds this fall for sharing? These diy seed packets are super cute.
• Gifts for Gardeners | Unique Gardening Gifts Canada | Circle Farms
• my top 15 favorite Christmas crafts
• Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas They’ll Love – DIY Gifts to Make FAST
• How To Make Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner – 2 Methods

Recipes & Foodie Bits

How to peel your hard boiled eggs perfectly every time.

Christmas Mocktail Recipes – The Mindful Mocktail

• Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
• The Best Oreo Fudge (No Bake) (see the photo above)
• The Best Salted Butter Toffee Recipe
• Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

• Sweet Potato Rounds with Goat Cheese Recipe I had these at the Christmas party last weekend. They are so good and easy to make.
• ​Cinnamon Raisin Bread (Dutch Oven)
• Cinnamon Raisin Sourdough Bread
• Roasted Vegetable Salad Recipe (With Video)
• Warm Lentil Salad Recipe With Poached Eggs (With Video)
• Roasted-Vegetable and Brown-Rice Bowls

I am currently reading The Mystery Guest by Nina Prose (a Canadian author) while I wait for the rest of the Stranger Things episodes to drop… and This movie looks good. Let’s face it, anything with George Clooney looks good, eh?

I hope you enjoyed this week’s Rambling’s post. So many good reads and ideas. I am now off to bake some more cookies, decorate the sitting room, and hopefully, bake a few loaves of bread, as well.

Happy Sunday ~ Tanja