I want to go natural for my christmas decorating this year. Any tips?

Question

I wanted to go natural this christmas. I have never had a real tree or real christmas garland... I know to just keep some water in the bottom for the tree but what about the garland. Is it going to dry out before christmas gets hear or Do I just spray water it like a plant or something.. Any tips or natural decorating ideas would really be helpfull. Thanks...

Answer 1

Trees/ garlands are alive and need water. Spraying the garland will not keep it alive, BUT many european evergreens/conifers.. particulary in winter can go without water for quite a while -weeks even months if they are kept cold and not exposed to warmth. You may however need to treat this year as a fact finding mission to se how ling things will last etc, so you know for next year.

Christmas decorating.. depends on what the local season is. Keep an eye out for Cedar trees, toward the end of summer they will have what looks like big fat sausages on them which are seed cones. These will dry adn break up into woody rosettes these are quite attractive and look just like a flower, they are woody and will leterally last a life time. Put the rostettes under or on the tree, or cut a thin strip of material or get some satin ribbon(green/ red or tartan look good) and glue to the back to form a loop for hanging with some of the ribbon dangling down below the rossette. I like them natural but some people paint them gold or silver etc. You can glue them to the end of a bit of wire (ie cut up some pesky wire coat hangers from the dry cleaners) and paint the wire green. they look quite interesting in a vase particulary if its winter and its harder to get flowers. Most ornamental conifers have small (usually round) woody cones from marble to golf ball size. These are made up of wooden discs with a stem coming from the core 9 abit like a ball made out of open umbrellas), whgen they dry the discs separate a bit an look nice stemwooden mushroom or something. thye are cute and look nice used as decorations either natural, painted or with a ribbon to hang them.

Christmasy decoration which can act as an air freshner is a few cinnamon sticks tied together with festive ribbon. Home made pot pourri using dried rose petals, lavender (or anything else you want to dry) and to be adventurous you can scent it by using christmas culinary herbs such as nutmeg and cinnamon. Home made baubles are interestin and fun to paint. Get a raw egg, prick the top and bottom of a raw egg with a small skewer to amke a small hole in each end. Insert very long thing needle or skewer ionto eggs to puncture yolk and break the chalaza (strings theat hold yold in place). Blow on one end of the egg and the contents will come out, let the egg shell dry for al ittle while then decorate it. Paint/stickers/ribbon etc (can be fun) and yo can personalise them with names.

Have to go but hope that is at least a start toward having a natural christmas.

Answer 2

Here is a couple of tips. If you use real pine boughs to make wreaths or garlands, mist them with water. If you cut the boughs at an angle and soak the ends in water over night before you insert them they last longer. When ever you can, try to use saturated floral foam in containers to keep pine boughs fresh. If you can't containerize them, you can cover the floral foam with moss that you can also mist. Be very careful using candles in evergreen centerpieces because when the boughs dry out they are highly flammable. Finally, get florist wire on the roll with an attached cutter. This makes it very easy to connect boughs when making garlands and inserting them in wreath forms.

If you use pine cones from the yard, dry them out in a slow low temperature oven (like 200 degrees) for a couple of hours. This kills any bugs and it also stops the sap from flowing and getting all over everything.

Although Martha Stewart begs to differ and uses fresh cranberries, I find the dried ones make less of a mess, stay redder longer and don't drop off wreaths, garlands or displays. In fact, most dried fruit like citrus, pommegranates, and even seed pods look great on wreaths, garlands and centerpieces.

Answer 3

Some people should turn off their computers and get a LIFE! I refer to these folks who answered you in a mean spirit!!

Congratulations to you on choosing something new to you for your Christmas this year. Go to the library and go wild; there are thousands of books on Christmas decorating with all the information and ideas you could possibly want...and it will get you out of the house and outside...where natural starts! Have a wonderful time! Happy Holidays! Hugs, Gina C.

Answer 4

We never water our Christmas tree. And it is fine!!! Anyways, I don't really know about the watering part. But, if you want your tree to look natural, you should don't over decorate it. Just add a few white or gold lights, add some pinecones and popcorn and that's DONE!!!! :D

Answer 5

You could MAKE your garland the old fashioned way...string (use a sewing needle and thread) popcorn and cranberries. Alternate pieces of popcorn and whole cranberries. This is really pretty and it is fun to do.

Answer 6

get pine cones and bring them inside they smelll good and they look really nice

Answer 7

use popcorn and pine cones for decorations

Answer 8

i'd wear clothes when decorating... it may be inappropriate for the neighborhood kids.

Answer 9

Red and blue body paint.

Nothing else.

Answer 10

get naked. that's as natural as you can get