Twinkling Tree Trouble: A Succulent Sleuth Christmas Mini Mystery by Iris March

Author:Iris March [March, Iris]
Language: eng
Format: epub

4

TOMATO CAGE CHRISTMAS TREE WORKSHOP

Molly left that afternoon with a noble fir tucked in the back of the Patty’s Plant Place van. She and Scott set it up in their living room with lights and the angel on top. They’d finish decorating with ornaments on Sunday. To Molly’s delight, Scott showed just as much interest in the mystery string lights as she did. He had no guesses as to who the people in the dark SUV were, though. After eating Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner, she headed back to Patty’s Plant Place for a tomato cage Christmas tree workshop at 7:00 p.m.

When Molly arrived at the garden center, she stood in the parking lot for a moment, admiring the illuminated Christmas trees. They really did look pretty. It was a nice thing for anyone to do. She just wished she knew who it was.

Molly led many plant-related workshops over the years at the shop or off-site, but the Christmas decorating workshops were always the most popular. She had one planned for every weekend in December before Christmas: wreaths next week, garlands the following week, and centerpieces a few days before Christmas.

Ryan, Charlotte, and Harper were closing that night, and she greeted them before setting up padded folding chairs in the nearly empty greenhouse area. The elevated wooden surfaces where plants were usually displayed for sale worked well as tables.

The crafters shuffled in and gravitated to the hot chocolate station before taking their seats. Molly already had a green, metal tomato plant support set at each spot, along with blue spruce, eastern hemlock, noble fir branches, florist wire, and wire cutters. It irked her that all the participants who had signed up were women. Didn’t men like to create, too?

Harriett Kennedy was the first to arrive, an older woman and one of their longest standing customers who was also one of the sweetest. Claudia, Molly’s lifelong BFF, was second and took extra candy canes to mix into her mug of hot chocolate after giving Molly a long, swaying hug. Glenn’s wife, Epsa, and Molly and May’s mom, Jan, arrived almost together. Molly beamed when the owner of her favorite restaurant in town, Majorie MacLeod, came in, followed by Jessica Powers, a librarian at their local branch. Molly didn’t know all the rest of the ladies personally, but she recognized a few occasional customers and introduced herself.

After everyone was settled, she demonstrated how to use floral wire to tie the upside-down tomato cages into a triangle that resembled a Christmas tree. She directed the participants to use the wire to attach their evergreen pieces to the cage in layers that hung down to look like a conifer. Molly’s demonstration piece she’d made earlier stood clear for all of them to see. She walked around and helped the crafters where needed. The room was filled with chatter. Molly smiled. They all seemed comfortable and happy despite some women having just met each other.

“I love the holiday lights you strung up on the trees you’re selling outside, dear,” Harriett said, as she gazed out the front window of the greenhouse.

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