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| Photo Credit: Donna W. Moramarco |
| Gold ornaments, cones and the right bow turn any wreath into an elegant holiday decoration. |
How about some handmade decorating for the holidays? Making your own wreaths and swags is all about fun – from start to finish – and it’s a project that your entire family can do together. Creating a themed wreath is always a big hit with the kids, or maybe a more traditional look would work best in your home. Whatever you decide, once you build your evergreen frame, the sky’s the limit on how to personalize it. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get started. (I can smell fresh cut balsam already!)
Selecting the right evergreen materials for your wreath is an important first step, because some plant mate¬rials hold up better under warm, indoor temperatures than others. Doug¬las, Fraser and Balsam firs; Austrian, white and Scotch pines; and Japanese yew are better suited to indoor conditions. Generally speaking, the different spruces are not able to tolerate warm indoor temps, even with water. (And who wants all those dried-out, messy needles on the floor?) Another plant to consider using in wreaths and swags is English holly (Ilex aquifolium). This beauty is widely used because of its glossy, deep green leaves. The traditional red berries are another added feature. (Be on the lookout for yellow-berried holly forms for something a little different this season!) The Oregon grape holly (Mahonia aquifolium) can also be used as a substitute for English holly. American holly (Ilex opaca) is generally not used because of its dull leaf color and the rapidity in which the leaves dry out. English ivy (Hedera helix) can really jazz up many holiday decorations, too. Its glossy, deep green leaves and trailing habit make the plant ideal for use in centerpieces and door swags. Variegated euonymus (Euonymus) can also be used because of the vari¬ations in color. If you hunt around your outside landscape, I’m sure you’ll find a number of suitable mate¬rials that can be used. Experiment with different materials until you find a combination that suits your decorating style. (And remember to take pictures!)
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