There are many types of vegetables that you can grow that can be used to decorate your home for Christmas. Boxwood, Holly, Cedar, Smilax, Juniper, Rosemary, Mt. Laurel, Ivy and the list goes on. Bringing vegetables from your garden into your home to decorate is a tradition that has been used since colonial times. The use of fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits, nuts and berries still have an appeal today.
Of all the greenery available, the dark is one of many of my favorite shrubs to use. The first year I was married I cut the boxwood from the yard of our rental house and made a wreath for our front door. I had read how to do this from a book about Colonial Williamsburg. Today I always use dark green to make our house festive at Christmas.
There are many types of darkness; American, English and Korean crosses are my preferences. Because of the blackness of the boxwood, I tend to avoid telling people to plant English boxwood, even though I have some English boxwood in the garden that are beautiful and healthy. To help keep my holes robust, I use this time of the year to prune the holes and bring the green inside to use in many ways to decorate.
To cut my holes, I cut some branches deep into the plant. This practice opens the door and lets air and light into the tree. I was told a long time ago that if you don’t see new growth coming from inside the plant, your plant is not as healthy as it could be. This is why you need to cut several longer pieces and have a wider canopy. You may have a hole when you do this, but if you don’t take too much in one spot, the hole will fill up as other branches move into that spot.
Now, when I have these good pieces of chestnut, they can be used to make a wreath, a chestnut tree or simply in a vase of water with some red fruits. A few years ago, I saw a wonderful picture of a boxwood tree and made one several times. Take oases or floral foam and cut the pieces to make a triangle shape like a tree. I usually use about 4 pieces of oasis, but you can make one bigger or smaller. Soak the oasis until it is completely saturated and then cut it to make a triangle shape structure. Cut small branches of hazel and put them in the oasis. Boxwood lasts a long time in the humid oasis, so you can do this in early December and enjoy the holidays.
Eastern red cedar is another form of vegetable that is often used in decoration. (Where I live, as I ride through the countryside, I see volunteer cedars coming across a row of fences. This is the gift left by the birds that sit on the fences). Cedar is known for its aromatic fragrance, a fragrance associated with Christmas. Cedar can be used in many ways. Just place it in the center of the dining table or place it on the mantel as a back drop before adding Christmas balls or other decorations. I use the cedar to anchor a Christmas decoration like a wooden Santa, bronze reindeer or in a container behind some corners.
Another wonderful shrub or tree to use during the holidays is the holly. Holly branches are one of the most used yuletide decorations, with their shiny dark green leaves and bright red berries. Why not have a tree in your garden that can provide bright red fruits for you? Most hollies are perennial, but some are deciduous. Some have an abundance of berries and others have leaves that look polished because of their shine.
There are many different hollies, so I asked two people who use holly in arrangements which one they liked best. Libbo Wise thinks everyone should have a winter holly in their garden. She loves the profusion of berries on each branch and says they add a special touch to any arrangement.
John Burnett of Roebuck Garden Center says Burford, Warren red, and Nellie Stevens are three heavy berry producers he chooses for arrangements. Liberty is another one that happens to have darker green leaves than most other hollies which makes the berries stand out even more.
Nandinas are another easy to use shrub that is also easy to grow. I like the old variety which has dark green leaves and bright red berries. I like the foliage because it lays flat in places where I need a green to use as a base or under another green. Many of the newer varieties of nandina have leaves that turn red as the weather cools.
Smilax is a perennial vine that is spectacular to use in any way at home. I always cut some from my sister’s garden when I visited her or get it from my friend Harriett. I like to drape it over a mirror in the front room or put it in the center of the table and add the camellia flowers when they are blooming. Ivy can be used in a similar way if you have long pieces not attached to the ground or a tree.
Wreaths, garlands, swags, and table centerpieces are a tradition at Christmas and made with fresh greenery add an elegant touch to the house. There is no limit to how you can put different vegetation together to make a wonderful display. You are only limited by your creativity.
Remember, pruning in winter is a good time to shape your bushes and use the clippings you have cut to decorate. It is nice to prune at Christmas and share the extra vegetation with your Church, neighbors or friends.
Betty Montgomery is a master gardener and author of “Hydrangeas: How To Grow, Cultivate & Enjoy,” and “A Four-Season Southern Garden.” He can be reached at bmontgomery40@gmail.com.
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