Evergreens For the Season

I'm not sure what inspired me to write about this subject or even make these little arrangements, but thought I'd share with you some simple ideas for making holiday arrangements out of materials you might have growing in your garden or yard. It could be I was inspired by a friend and fellow garden blogger, Donna Abel Donabella and her blog Gardens Eye View. Every Monday she would link in to another blogger's blog that was hosting the theme "In A Vase On Monday". I always enjoyed the vases that she produced and displayed. So colorful with beautiful vases, and she would use plants that I never would have thought to use in a floral arrangement.

During this "fall/winter" thaw, now is the time to get outside to gather and trim some of your shrubs, vines, and perennials for winter arrangements. As long as you don't have a lot of snow to shovel off your gardens you might want to try making a few simple arrangements.

There are several items you can cut now outside for fillers in your arrangements. Some of these would include dried flower heads such as hydrangea, some grasses, and evergreens such as boxwood, cedar, holly, ivy, pachysandra, and vinca vine. I have quite a few of these plants growing in our yard so thought I'd gather some up and make a few simple arrangements.

I am by no means a florist, but I do have a few vases and some craft supplies that I can use for accents.

Bypass pruners

I thought about trimming some branches off our holly bushes, but the past few years have left them pretty scraggly looking. The deer got to them and trimmed them back pretty good, and then last year with the long, cold winter we had more of the branches died back. So right now they do not need any further trimming.



Boxwood. I'm going to start with the boxwood. I'm not sure exactly what variety I have. It may be English Boxwood. You will actually be pruning these bushes so you want to use a bypass pruner to make clean, sharp cuts without crushing the stems. It is actually recommended to prune your boxwood annually (which is also called plucking).

Boxwood

It should be done in late fall or early winter. You only need to prune 10%-15% of the shrub. You don't want to shear these bushes because then they will become a tight mass of branches which could lead to disease and breakage. What you want to do is to thin out the branches with cuts about 6" to 8" long. But don't over-prune it either. You want to open up the center so that sunlight and air can reach the interior, and also allow rain to water the roots. It will also help by letting the snow fall through the plant without damaging the branches. This pruning will help with leaf growth along the inner branches making it sturdier to hold up in snow and ice conditions.

Other items that I cut for these arrangements were white pine and spruce evergreens, variegated pachysandra, variegated vinca vine, a few Purple Palace heuchera leaves, and English Ivy.

Top: white pine branches; Bottom: spruce  branches

First you want to soak your greens for several hours. I soaked mine for about 2 hours. This helps to clean them off and they will last longer in your arrangements if they are soaked first.

After soaking your greens, you will want to remove the lower leaves and branches that will be under the water. Then re-cut the stems at an angle so the branches will have a larger area to take up water.

Soaking in water

To add some color to your arrangements you could purchase some carnations which are available in several colors. Or you can add dried flowers, pine cones, or purchased decorations. Whatever suits you, and don't be afraid to experiment.

Note: Live floral arrangements are highly flameable. Do not place your arrangements near lighted candles or fireplaces. Also, to help your fresh arrangement last longer, keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. Remove and/or replace any greenery that becomes dry or brittle. And some greenery may be toxic to pets or children so keep them out of their reach.

I am linking in with my friend, Donna Abel Donabella as she is hosting the garden bloggers Seasonal Celebrations. Check out her blog post and you also might want to check out some of the other garden bloggers as they join in for this event. Thanks for hosting this, Donna. Here is the link to Seasonal Celebrations - Winter Wonders

If you missed my blog post from last year on Christmas trees you might want to check it out at this link: We've Got Your Christmas Tree



"Christmas is forever, not for just one day, 
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself..."

~Norman Wesley Brooks 

(U.S. design engineer, 1923-2002)

"Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976

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Would love to hear from you!