Saugus Gardens in the Winter

Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable

By Laura Eisener

There are many holidays and observances throughout the year, but some are more well known than others. Some are legal holidays; some are religious holidays that have origins centuries old; some have patriotic origins, and some are a bit more obscure. For example, today, December 24, is national eggnog day! While drinking eggnog may be among the traditions of the Christmas season, this answer may not have been on the tip of your tongue. It is a very old beverage; the actual “national eggnog day” adoption seems fairly recent.

During this 250th anniversary period celebrating the events from 1775’s “shot heard round the world” until the 1776 Declaration of Independence, it might be fun to consider that George Washington was known among his friends for a special Christmas eggnog recipe! The luxurious and warming ingredients, including eggs, cream, milk, sugar, spices and four kinds of alcohol, was likely to have led to some extra merriment. There are many eggnog variations in different parts of the world, and not all include any alcohol. In tropical parts of the world, variations sometimes include coconut milk or almond milk, and the kinds of spices may vary.

A more expected answer to the significance of today’s date would be “Christmas Eve,” or “The Night before Christmas,” as in Clement Moore’s poem that many people can recite by heart. December 24 is also the Feast Day of St. Adam and St. Eve, and in medieval times people might celebrate it by feasting on foods such as apples, figs and pomegranates — which can explain why “figgy puddings” are associated with this time of year. Pomegranates appear as a traditional decoration. One traditional wreath popular at this time of year, featuring apples, oranges, grapes and other colorful fruits, is known as a Della Robbia wreath, named for a 15^th-century Italian sculptor whose work characteristically had brightly colored glazes and featured luxurious fruits and foliage. The bright red spherical ornaments that are among the most popular Christmas tree decorations at Christmas may have started as ripe apples in observance of the forbidden apple Eve ate. The tree itself and the garlands of greenery with which people deck their halls in cold climates is believed to have begun as pagan decorations for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, which occurred a few days ago on Sunday, December 21. The proximity of celebrations for Adam and Eve Day and Christmas Day may explain in part why some traditions hold that the Christmas tree should not be decorated until Christmas eve. In modern times families often put up their trees much earlier.

You won’t see many blooming flowers on your walks through town this week, since outdoor plants are dormant while the ground is frozen. However, there are many decorations — from lights at night to wreaths on doors — most visible during the day, to catch your eye. Themes range from figures portraying the first Christmas, blow-up Santas, wooden reindeer and decorated trees, to animals and popular cartoon characters. It is intriguing to see the wide range of decoration themes just as it is to see variations in landscape styles and architecture.

It is hardly noticeable yet, but the days are already growing longer. We know that we are going to have some cold nights for the next few months before we see significant signs of spring, so we may depend on observations of indoor plants for some cheering reminders. The First Day Hike held in Breakheart, as well as those being offered in nearby towns, give some incentive to get out of bed on New Year’s morning. This “new” tradition has been catching on, and once you get outside you will likely warm up fast, even before you settle down before the fire with your hot chocolate.

This is a good season for watching wildlife, as the bare branches make the activities of many birds and other animals easily visible. The bright red northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinale), and his greenish mate with her striking orange-red beak, are daily visitors to my bird feeder most winters until spring. If you need some incentive to get out into the cold, needing to put on the boots and fill the birdfeeder may be just the thing.

  Editor’s Note: Laura Eisener is a landscape design consultant who helps homeowners with landscape design, plant selection and placement of trees and shrubs, as well as perennials. She is a member of the Saugus Garden Club and offered to write a series of articles about “what’s blooming in town” shortly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was inspired after seeing so many people taking up walking.