Sometimes captions are just superfluous. May your sense of humor remain intact, may good health attend you in 2008 and may you always appreciate the sometimes ironical juxtaposition of everyday events. 
There's something magical that happens, when ordinary objects, buildings and scenery are viewed through winter's lens. Ice storms, blizzards or just the lightest dusting of snow, can transform our familiar surroundings into objet d' art... from unexpected ice sculptures to lavish winter portraits of the countryside.
While the other seasons possess their own verdant or autumnal attraction, it is winter that stops us in our tracks... the stark beauty of it all - the glistening snow, the contrasts, the long, winter shadows. The cold, the silence, a reflective moment, in the midst of a busy, hectic life... a chance to just breathe. Take time to enjoy winter's spectacle, as the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
"The Hush of Winter"
This tree is garden-themed, sporting garden clogs, hand tools, watering can, woven bird house, pruners and bird treats... just a few ideas.
Large-brimmed hats, to protect your favorite gardener from the hot summer sun. Plain, fancy, canvas, straw... the choices are many!
Above and below, we see many a stylish garden chapeau. In the background (left), above, are clogs in a rainbow of colors. In both photos, horse, heron and eagle weathervanes present us with yet another gift idea.
Gloves offer protection from rose thorns, wet soil, cold weather, sun and the drying effects of soil. Cotton, canvas, knit, leather, rubberized coating, vinyl, neoprene, knit cuffs, gauntlet cuffs and pile-lined... some of the many features of specialized garden gloves.
While book stores offer a variety of books on nature, gardening and bird-watching, your favorite garden center may be the best option for gift books. Most garden centers offer a selection of garden books and many actually have a dedicated area, or small in-store bookshop, in which these books are displayed all year 'round.
Gentle, graceful angels and other small statuary... at home on a mantle, bookshelf or in a small garden space.
A bronze sundial with rich, golden patina... to wile away the hours in their own special garden.
A decorative concrete bench - the perfect place to rest on a hot, sunny day.
And who can resist frolicking puppies... this particular litter are extremely well-behaved and not very likely to trample the flower bed!
Cherubs? Angels? Whichever they are, they'll create a happy, peaceful setting, reigning over that secluded nook with angelic grace.
Exotic ornamentation with an Asian influence... perfect for the serenity of an oriental garden.
The traditional pagoda - imagine it nestled beside a windswept Japanese maple, or presiding over a koi pond.
Garden pergolas, arbors and trellises create an inviting garden entrance, an essential focal point and imposing vertical lines... has someone been wishing for such a grand element?
Crafted of metal, this elegant urn is at home adding a Victorian touch to the plant room, a formal touch to an outdoor garden room... or, maybe as a pair, planted with topiaries, framing the front door.
Mmm! Even ceramic cardinals seem to relish a bit of suet - of course, our backyard cardinal is not a clinging bird, so would have to wait for the woodpecker or chickadee to drop a few morsels. All the clinging birds that can negotiate these suet cages will welcome the addition of suet cakes to your backyard feeding station... this high-energy food insulates against the wet and cold of winter.
If you must choose just one type of seed, make it black oil sunflower... a favorite of all birds and most backyard wildlife. A tube feeder with metal-reinforced seed ports, is an ideal way to present this seed to small birds, such as chickadees, nuthatches and titmice.
The tiny, black thistle seed that all finches and a few other small birds truly enjoy, are offered in a specialized thistle feeder which allows them to extract one seed at a time. 
A high-quality seed blend, with striped and black oil sunflower, peanut hearts, safflower seed, thistle, golden millet and other sought-after foods, will attract an upscale backyard clientele. Red millet, milo and various other grains are common fillers in inexpensive blends and tend to attract less desirable birds and rodents.
Nothing breathes life and warmth into our indoor holiday displays quite like a living, growing plant. Poinsettia, of course, has the distinction of being the quintessential Christmas plant. While the lavish red or creamy white bracts remain traditional favorites, modern hybrids are not your grandmother's poinsettias. Choices include burgundy, more vibrant reds, multiple pink hues and a variety of whites and creams... we also find remarkable variegations - bracts that are splashed, dotted and streaked with contrasting colors. 
Descriptions of this unusual bloom range from a hovering butterfly to a chieftain's headdress. Foliage vies with blossoms for attention. Deep green leaves are delicately veined and variegated with silver. A rich shade of maroon, on the flip side, gives the heart-shaped foliage even more depth. The interesting, unique blooms are found in shades of red, pink, lavender and white. There are standards, dwarfs and spice-scented varieties. Whichever you select, cylamen is a wonderful addition to your winter plant collection.
Christmas cactus is another holiday favorite, as much for its seasonal display, as for the success most indoor gardeners experience with this one. Shades of red, orange, white, pink and lavender are all represented in this group. Let's face it - with its semi-succulent leaf segments, the Christmas cactus is just easier to care for than the more finicky indoor plants. 
Norfolk Island Pine is a non-hardy indoor foliage plant that enjoys its greatest popularity at Christmas time... a nice little living tree to decorate for the holidays, as well as an attractive addition to a permanent indoor plant display. A Norfolk Island Pine is often an ideal solution for apartments and offices. If you use lights, make sure they're cool-burning (LED lights, etc.), to avoid burning sensitive needles.
When it's time to trim the tree, look to garden centers for the unique and unusual. Gardeners and seafarers alike, will be especially interested in the above collection... insects, butterflies, birds, sailing ships, crabs and lobsters are just some of the more original exhibits in this trim-a-tree section. Adding an extra special ornament or two, each season, is a fine way to create warm family memories and new traditions.
