LITTLE ROCK — If budget constraints limit your buying power, why not take some of nature’s bounty and use it in your Christmas decorations? You can create your own wreaths, garlands and swags with cuttings taken from plants in your yard. With a little judicious pruning, some wire, and experimentation, you can turn out beautiful decorations with little expense.
When pruning plants in your landscape, do so carefully. You don’t want butchered plants gracing your landscape.
Take cuttings from all over the plant, not just in one area.
The plant should have a natural look after the cuttings are removed.
You have plenty of options in the greenery department from hollies, boxwood, nandinas, ivy and aucuba to pine, cedar and magnolia. Just like a freshly cut tree, they dry out quickly when cut, so if possible keep them in water or use them outdoors.
Many nurseries also sell garlands and wreaths out of spruce and fir.
While we all know about garlands made from greenery, think about adding fruits and berries into the mix.
As children, many of us made garlands by stringing popcorn and cranberries.
Whole apples strung on fishing line are cheerful and give a great fragrance as they age.
Red peppers and garlic make interesting wreaths and swags, and a bowl full of limes and pomegranates can be showy.
If you have access to fruits from the Osage orange (the old hedge apple), their bright green color is also quite appealing. Scatter acorns and pine cones among the other offerings to make a natural display.
HomeStyle, Pages 42 on 11/27/2010