A number of my gardening friends have been sharing their ideas for decorating and keeping the garden theme going all through the holidays – here’s a few thoughts…

Think about the garden when setting your Christmas table. For a simple centerpiece, add small ornaments to rosemary plants, or the miniature trees that are available this time of year. Or create an original arrangement using clippings from the garden – branches from different evergreens and holly bushes, dogwood, birch twigs, pinecones and acorns. Add sprigs of berries or greenery to the base of candleholders or tapers. Create garden themed place-card holders with small clay pots, wrapped in raffia or ribbon, complete with herb seed packs and a name card in the pot or purchase small herb plants from a garden centre for each dinner guest, inserting a card in the foliage. Wrap up cutlery and napkins with raffia or ribbon and tuck in a sprig of fresh greenery, thyme or rosemary.

Glass bowls or vases full of brightly decorated pine cones are easy and fun to create.  Roll the cones in glue, and then in coloured glitter flakes – the glitter will stick to the glue along the edges of the cone, giving the cone a frosty look. Spray paint the cones gold, silver or a metallic shade that compliments your own holiday décor. Or spray paint the cone white. When it dries, roll it in glue and then glitter, giving the cone a snowy look. Place metallic beads between the open scales of the cone, holding them in place with a spot of hot glue. Add sprigs of berries or greens for added colour and place the decorated cones in a variety of glass containers for an interesting table arrangement or centerpiece.

Brighten up your houseplants for Christmas. If your houseplants are already in decorative containers, add bows or ribbon to the plant for a festive look. Cover simple pots with bright Christmas wrap, foil or fabric to dress them up for the holidays. Taller, sturdier houseplants or small trees are strong enough to hold a small string of lights or small ornaments.

Use old garden tools to decorate the gardeners Christmas tree. Collect old hand tools from garage sales and thrift stores, and spray paint them with colours that compliment your own holiday décor and will stand out against the dark green foliage of the tree. Tie velvet bows around the handles and hang on the heavy branches of the tree or place them on branches within the foliage. Decorate small watering cans with holly sprigs and greens, and add ribbon, raffia, berries and holly sprouts to small clay pots to hang from the tree. Finish the gardener’s tree off with seed packets carefully saved from summer planting, or new ones – attached a loop of velvet ribbon and hang throughout the tree.

When creating your outside arrangement, consider using a potted tree that can be planted in the garden when the warm weather returns. Fill the tree with bright lights, and enjoy it right through the winter season.

Happy Holiday Decorating!

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