As winter finally arrives, we may find ourselves longing for the greener grass of spring and summer. And though it may be a while before those verdant days return, we can rely on evergreen standbys to save the day. Evergreens provide a green canvas that’s as beautiful in November as it is in May. And hardy evergreens are easy to incorporate into your holiday decor to brighten up those dreary winter days.
This holiday season, don’t stop with a wreath on the door; bring other lovely green decorations into your home with garlands, tablescapes and anything you can dream up! Try the ideas below, or use them as inspiration for your own evergreen decor scheme. If you’d like to see the beauty of evergreen inside the home, make plans to visit my Moss Mountain Farm in Little Rock for a holiday tour!
dress up a package
Looking ahead to the Christmas season, sprigs of cypress, small clippings of holly berries and greenery, or a snippet of boxwood can make a pretty addition to your holiday packages (pictured above). If you have pets indoors, just be sure to keep the holly out of their reach.
mantel magic
Rather than heading to the store to purchase a garland for your mantel, use clippings from the evergreens in your landscape. Magnolia branches, which can be wired together, are a popular Southern take on this idea; however, cedar, fir and juniper clippings can create an equally beautiful statement.
set a natural table
No need to call the florist for your next dinner party. Shop your garden for greenery that can be clipped and bunched together in vases of any size. For a different take, snip longer branches and create a runner down the center of your table.
Photos: Jane Colclasure and Mark Fonville
P. Allen Smith, host of two public television programs, is an award-winning designer and gardening expert. He is the author of several books, including Recipes from the Garden.