Christmas Greenery

[gardenmusic]

Just planning my Christmas decorations, as you do in May!
Last year I had my first attempt at adding fresh greenery to the decor, and loved it. Really just vases of shrubbery taken from the garden, so lots of green and ribbons. I would be grateful for any ideas, especially if you have found something that will last through the christmas holidays. Also any ideas for novel containers for the greenery. Thanks in advance.

Have you considered making your own wreath? I pack moss onto a wire circle and then add foliage using floristry wire, starting with leylandii as a base and then building up with all sorts.

I just forage by the coast and bring foliage and pine cones home with me.

I also string up popcorn with dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves etc. Looks and smells lovely.

Thank you.
My Mother was very superstitious regarding wreaths, and wouldn't have one in the house - I think there would be a bit of an outcry from the family if I do a wreath - did think of a swag, though. Over the mirror size, rather than staircase! Could use the cinnamon and orange on that.
I love the Christmassy smells.
Would a swag stay fresh inside, do you think? Quite warm in here.
I had water in my vases (Hebe/holly did very well), and stayed fresh. I added some roses, and had to change them twice during the holiday.

You can buy stuff called antitranspirant spray that stops foliage drying out so quickly.

I don’t know if this will help but it might give you some ideas.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/4892510-help-with-real-fireplace-garland?latest=0

Thank you for the ideas.
Impressive stair case garland. My fire is inset, with no mantle so it will have to be the table top or a mirror swag with transpirant spray, as I won't be able to mist it. Might try an experiment before Christmas!
On the lookout for tiny vases to run down the dining table.

You’re getting me excited now 😄. I was full of good intentions last year but didn’t get round to making anything, will have to do better this year and I’m already collecting on my walks in preparation.

Love fir cones!
If you can find an alder or birch tree, they tend to drop lovely twisty twigs with tiny cones. The longer ones look good in a jug, and the tiny cones look lovely tied into christmas wrappings.

I collect dried poppy heads and lavender from the garden in the autumn to use at Christmas.

Thanks for that - I will keep a look out!

I think maybe we need to resurrect this thread nearer Xmas and of course take some pics.

Seaitoverthere, I am coastal south east, and have Rosemary in the garden. (quite often there are a few stems in flower in December) and I use that in jugs - need to be a bit more adventurous though - I think it will 'swag' well!
Has anyone tried chair back decorations? I really fancy posies on the back of my 'greige' fabric chairs, but don't want to ruin them. That may have to stay in my dreams...

My Nigella (love in a mist) is coming along nicely, and they have stripey seed heads when the flowers are done. I will try those out this year.

Winter Jasmine for after Christmas but still early.

Thanks, Kalevala, I have Jasmine - evergreen, with yellow flowers. Would you tell me how you use it, please? Mine is very long and floppy.

@gardenmusic how much do you want to spend on little vases? Sarah Raven Test Tube Vasess* These would look amazing with a candle in the centre of the round version or the wave version snaking down the centre of the table.

On my Christmas table I have a small wooden rectangular box that I fill with greenery and a couple of candles but I'm tempted by the test tube vases.

TheBucktoothedGirlFromLuxembourg

How lovely! Yes, I want the circular one, or the wave. I will see if I can get a money off voucher. I have a birthday coming up.
That will go on the dining table. That makes me sound much more capable than I am, but I love to try.
I have some weathered terracotta flower pots for the conservatory, I put one by each window frame and I put a candle and dark greenery in them. I never light them, though.
I have a large open-ish wicker basket that I fill with dried hydrangeas for my hallway.

@gardenmusic do you have any photos of the decors you mentioned in your OP? (If not too outing to share).
We have nowhere really to put swags, and apart from wreaths are looking for ideas too so really interested in the ideas on this thread.

This year's swags will be my first attempt, so last year was vases and the dried hydrangeas in the basket. Sorry, I didn't take photos.
Is this what you mean? Sorry if too much info!
A big white jug was filled with Hebe in water, with a wide green tartan ribbon around the neck. I think you could do that with any evergreen. That was in the kitchen on the window sill.
I had three small £1.99 vases running down the dining table, with 1 sprig of Rosemary, 1 twig of alder cones and a white rose in each (roses kept dying, and needing replacing - wondering if wax flower or similar would work) The vases looked a bit cheap, so I found some thin hairy twine and tied it in a sort of wide collar around the necks.
I had variegated holly sprigs around my kitchen noticeboard, and in between a great many loose pine cones (pretending to be a swag) along my conservatory high window ledge. I hid some fairy lights behind the 'swag', and tucked some realistic red berries in between cones.
The two coffee tables in the lounge each had one of the cheap vases with a white rose in each, a bit of gyp and a bit of dangly ivy - I used the very end bits to get small leaves.
My hall is inordinately large for the size of the house, so I had a pile of big white boxes, each with a wide tartan ribbon (parcel style) tied in a bow, and I had three blue/green thistle heads and a little hebe and a tiny cone sprig tucked into each bow.
I had a large clear glass vase on the sideboard in the hall, which was full of white roses and holly. Thinking I must find a sturdier white flower!
So really just stuck a vase or jug wherever I could. More ideas needed!

That sounds amazing @gardenmusic, am in awe!

OMGitsnotgood, Thank you, but I think if you had seen it, you might have itched to do it better!

I am a bit slapdash, with no real visual skills. Just have a lot of free time, a lot of vases and an unruly garden! As my brother put it, 'You've run amok with the secateurs.'
Also no young children to placate. Really just vases of green stuff.

Any ideas for something white or cream that could replace the roses? They had to be replaced three times, and even with the cheap ones, it was a bit expensive.

I have delusions of grandeur - I want to be country houses elegant! (in my tiny bungalow) I need ideas to steal!

I went very low effort last year and threw some holly over my kitchen cabinets with some battery lights (the tiny ones on almost invisible wire). It was rustic, and very effective. Nicer actually than previous years efforts at creating garlands and drapey bits..

I also cheat shamelessly by bulking out fake greenery with sprigs of scented greenery (fir, bay, rosemary).

I love white roses too, though I only add them on Christmas Eve as they don’t last any length. I’m not a fan of the scent of paper whites, but they can be timed for Christmas and might be a substitute. There’s a lovely poster who gives instructions and guidance on the poncing threads if you want to try growing them,

Theothername, Thank you.
Paperwhites! Yes, and I love the smell. I will buy them in, I think. I have a lovely grey-ish stone pot - I will put some felt on the bottom and transfer them.
Line it with polythene or something in case of seepage.
I have read 'paper white lady' on the Poncetastic thread, she's brilliant.
I have been thinking about the roses, and I am wondering if I can get some small Hellebores in pots and slant and hide the pot in the greenery. I will have a little practice when I see the first.

@Theothername I went very low effort last year and threw some holly over my kitchen cabinets with some battery lights (the tiny ones on almost invisible wire). It was rustic, and very effective. Nicer actually than previous years efforts at creating garlands and drapey bits..

This sounds gorgeous and my type of display. I’m guessing you cut it just before Xmas day? Any tricks to keeping it going longer or do you have a lovely holly tree that you can just keep going out and snipping? 😄

Pootlepins,
Do you have a bath? (personal!) Don't think you could do it in a shower.
I cut mine and soak it in the bath overnight, and it usually lasts from early dec to new year. It's the flowers I can't get right.

Thank you @gardenmusic I do as it happens 🛀, what a brilliant plan, I will go foraging and then give them a soak in the bath.

I’m not great with flowers but I like the white roses idea and some red would look lovely too.

Have you got a country baskets near you? They are a florist wholesaler open to the public. Not cheap but aisle after aisle of little vases, ribbons, boxes etc.