Simple and Natural Winter Decorating

By Trish
December 13, 2012

30 minutes, clippers and access to some evergreen material is all you need to add a little bit of nature inside your home.

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Dec 12, 2012 6:11 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Vicki
North Carolina
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Region: United States of America
Purslane Garden Art Region: North Carolina Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
"very little talent" ???? I think you are very talented and very creative Trish - It's all just beautiful and festive and cheerful - Hurray! Thumbs up
NATIONAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION ~ Garden Art ~ Purslane & Portulaca ~
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Dec 12, 2012 6:42 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Vic said it all. I love all of it Trish.

I think I will go out with my clippers tomorrow and take cuttings from our big fir tree. Thank you for the nudge. Hurray!
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Dec 12, 2012 7:08 PM CST
Name: Jean
Hot Springs Vlg, AR, DeLand, F
Daylilies Region: Florida Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
vic said:"very little talent" ???? I think you are very talented and very creative Trish - It's all just beautiful and festive and cheerful - Hurray! Thumbs up


I agree I agree I agree
Any day you wake up on the sunny side of the grass is a good day.

"The moving hand writes and having writ moves on. Neither all thy piety nor all thy wit can lure it back to cancel half a line nor all thy tears wash out a word of it." The Rubiyat by Omar Khayyam
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Dec 12, 2012 7:55 PM CST
Name: Marilyn
Greenwood Village, CO (Zone 5b)
Garden today. Clean next week.
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Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sempervivums Annuals Foliage Fan Herbs Garden Ideas: Level 2
Very nicely done,Trish, now if I only had evergreens in my yard Hilarious!
Maybe some of the neighbors wouldn't mind if I took a few clippings. Whistling
Actually I bought a number of fresh boughs at a local nursery to add some "life" to my decorations .. and fragrance too.
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Dec 12, 2012 8:10 PM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Trish
Grapevine, TX (Zone 8a)
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Charter ATP Member Region: Texas Roses Herbs Vegetable Grower
Composter Canning and food preservation Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Organic Gardener Forum moderator Hummingbirder
You ladies are too sweet. Trust me, natural wreath making is not one of my skills. When I heard that I could just cram some branches in a grapevine form, I figured that was right up my alley! Green Grin! It almost looks like I know what I'm doing!

It is a fun and easy project, truly.
NGA COO, Wife, Mom, and do-er of many fun things.
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Dec 13, 2012 4:09 AM CST
Name: Jo Ann Gentle
Pittsford NY (Zone 6a)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cat Lover Heucheras Hellebores Container Gardener
Birds Region: New York Avid Green Pages Reviewer Irises Garden Ideas: Master Level Lilies
Great ideas.
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Dec 13, 2012 7:37 AM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Nice job, Trish! Looks pretty artistic to me, too!

I don't have evergreens in my yard, either. Usually my husband has to lop off a lower branch or two of the Christmas tree to fit it into the tree holder. I use those branches to decorate with. Also, they often trim lower branches at tree lots, too. They're always happy to give me all I want without charge. They usually have a pile of trimmed off branches just sitting there.

Karen
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Dec 13, 2012 9:32 AM CST
Name: Jean
Hot Springs Vlg, AR, DeLand, F
Daylilies Region: Florida Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
Good idea, Karen.

I noticed before we left AR that we have berries on our hollies this year. They could use a little trimming when we get back next week. Also we have some boxwoods that could use a haircut. Now if I could just find someone with evergreens....... Hilarious! Hilarious! Hilarious!
Any day you wake up on the sunny side of the grass is a good day.

"The moving hand writes and having writ moves on. Neither all thy piety nor all thy wit can lure it back to cancel half a line nor all thy tears wash out a word of it." The Rubiyat by Omar Khayyam
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Dec 13, 2012 9:54 AM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Trish
Grapevine, TX (Zone 8a)
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Charter ATP Member Region: Texas Roses Herbs Vegetable Grower
Composter Canning and food preservation Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Organic Gardener Forum moderator Hummingbirder
Great ideas on procuring greenery if you don't have your own!
I was so happy to see our hollies had berries this year! After the drought last year, the normal winter berries were sparse to none, giving the birds nothing to eat for the winter.

I could have harvested a whole lot, but I'd rather leave them for the birds. Also, holly for me doesn't last very long indoors. If I have to replace it often, it doesn't fit the "quick and easy" criteria anymore! Green Grin!
NGA COO, Wife, Mom, and do-er of many fun things.
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Dec 13, 2012 3:02 PM CST
Name: Dianne
Sacramento, CA, zone 9b
Bulbs Region: California Cut Flowers Peonies Plant and/or Seed Trader Vegetable Grower
love the article! Great decorating.
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Dec 14, 2012 7:58 AM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Trish
Grapevine, TX (Zone 8a)
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Charter ATP Member Region: Texas Roses Herbs Vegetable Grower
Composter Canning and food preservation Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Organic Gardener Forum moderator Hummingbirder
Thanks, Dianne!
NGA COO, Wife, Mom, and do-er of many fun things.
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Dec 14, 2012 12:31 PM CST
Name: Larry Rettig
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Foliage Fan Cottage Gardener Tip Photographer Composter
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Trish, I noticed that the evergreens you used were either juniper or cedar. Aside from being decorative, they don't have any needles to loose, which makes cleanup after the holidays a breeze. I use these greens almost exclusively in winter decorating.
Gardener was the label imprinted on me when the souls were handed out and so be it. --Margaret Roach (Thank you, Sharon!) Notes from the Garden: Articles of interest on all aspects of gardening
Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens: Come on in and take the tour! Check out the photos!
Last edited by LarryR Dec 14, 2012 2:25 PM Icon for preview
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Dec 14, 2012 2:30 PM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Trish
Grapevine, TX (Zone 8a)
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Charter ATP Member Region: Texas Roses Herbs Vegetable Grower
Composter Canning and food preservation Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Organic Gardener Forum moderator Hummingbirder
You are right about that, Larry!
Although, there is a small sacrifice of scent with the juniper. It isn't nearly as strong as what is typically used.
NGA COO, Wife, Mom, and do-er of many fun things.
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Dec 17, 2012 1:16 AM CST
Name: Larry Rettig
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Foliage Fan Cottage Gardener Tip Photographer Composter
Organic Gardener Charter ATP Member Garden Photography Houseplants Hybridizer Cat Lover
Yes, unfortunately, there is little scent. We compensate for that by using a bit of balsam fir garland in our decorating. It does make a mess eventually, but it's worth the bother just to inhale that wonderful fragrance.
Gardener was the label imprinted on me when the souls were handed out and so be it. --Margaret Roach (Thank you, Sharon!) Notes from the Garden: Articles of interest on all aspects of gardening
Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens: Come on in and take the tour! Check out the photos!
Image
Dec 17, 2012 5:01 AM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
In recent years our Christmas trees have been Douglas Fir. This year we got a Scotch pine, and it seems more fragrant.

As usual my husband had to chop off the lowest row of branches to fit it in the stand. I just use those branches to decorate, using cheap fake berries and ribbon.

Thumb of 2012-12-17/kqcrna/6a3831 Thumb of 2012-12-17/kqcrna/b8f5ae

Thumb of 2012-12-17/kqcrna/9e4e6a

Karen
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Dec 17, 2012 7:06 AM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Trish
Grapevine, TX (Zone 8a)
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Charter ATP Member Region: Texas Roses Herbs Vegetable Grower
Composter Canning and food preservation Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Organic Gardener Forum moderator Hummingbirder
Larry- I use my soy candles with essential oils of fir and cedar. Hey, if I can't grow it, at least I can still get the real scent! Green Grin!

Karen- very nice!
NGA COO, Wife, Mom, and do-er of many fun things.
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Dec 17, 2012 7:12 AM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I use Yankee Candles, balsam and cedar scent. Really nice.

But my favorite Yankee scent is the sparkling cinnamon, which they only sell @ Christmas time.

Karen
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Dec 17, 2012 8:40 AM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Trish
Grapevine, TX (Zone 8a)
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Charter ATP Member Region: Texas Roses Herbs Vegetable Grower
Composter Canning and food preservation Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Organic Gardener Forum moderator Hummingbirder
Synthetic scents make Dave and I sick, which makes Yankee (and all candles, actually) off limits. Thumbs down
That's why I started making my own soaps, balms and candles years ago.
Sometimes I miss those fun scented fragrance blends, but I sure don't miss the headache that came with them.
NGA COO, Wife, Mom, and do-er of many fun things.
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  • Started by: vic
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