Here are some excerpts from Judy Savage’s article that ran in The Oklahoman on October 26th, along with a video about her ideas.  She is really a neat and creative landscape designer. HFW

Landscape designer Judy Savage is subtly turning over a love of growing things to her children and grandchildren. Every Thanksgiving, she gives everyone a prepacked amaryllis kit with instructions to bring the plant back on Christmas Day for a competition to see whose plant has grown the tallest. Prizes include fast-food gift certificates.

And especially since people are trying to cut costs this year, the kits serve as an inexpensive party favor and decoration during the holidays, and they have a “green” environmental value of being of the earth. Savage said people can find the kits for $4.

For other decorations, Savage prunes her pine trees and broadleaf evergreens, gathers magnolia leaves and uses the natural decorations indoors in basket displays and as accents on wreaths and swags. She uses simple baskets filled with pine Tipscones.

She has a keen appreciation for nature’s gifts and a bounty of ideas for using them at home. These skills have helped her in her landscape business, which includes creating arrangements in containers for clients

“I don’t throw away pots that are cracked, either,” she said. “I keep using the authentic ones. It is more European. European people use everything they have.”

Savage has been on the job 20 years.

“What started out as a search for myself resulted in a career that is more like a joy and less like work. I create landscape designs for my clients which reflect their tastes and attitudes,” she said. “There’s a serenity to a garden which has a place in this stressful world. Flowers are what they are: beautiful, simple, positive.”

Pansies are Savage’s favorite flowers because they provide plenty of color in winter, when people emotionally need it the most. She also likes the Knock-Out Rose. “This plant does it all: constant color from spring through late fall, low maintenance and attractive foliage. I also like the Encore azaleas. Not only do they afford a gorgeous display of spring color, but, hence the name Encore — more color in the fall,” she said.

Click here for the link to The Oklahoman’s story and the entire story about Judy

To contact Judy Savage about her landscaping business, send e-mail to judysavage@cox.net.

NewsOk’s Grayson Cook interviews Judy.