Christmas Greens

Now that the leftovers from the turkey are done and the orange decorations are put away until next year, one is besieged with the next holiday that cheers this dark season of the Winter Solstice -- Christmas.

Christmas Greens
Now that the leftovers from the turkey are done and the orange decorations are put away until next year, one is besieged with the next holiday that cheers this dark season of the Winter Solstice -- Christmas.
It couldn't be Christmas if we didn't deck the halls with boughs of holly plus red berries, shiny ornaments twinkley lights, etc.
But what exactly are "boughs of holly? Actually they were sharp, prickly leaves from Druid worshipped ancient trees, which we certainly don't want.
What we want are kindly evergreens... and long-lasting ones, so we don't have to remake the decorations.
Christmas arrangements are actually such fun to do that we want them to last at least until Santa gets to eat the cookies left in front of the fireplace.
So which last longest? The answer is pines, firs and cedars.
They hold their needles the best in warm interiors. Spruces and most broadleaf evergreens last well if used outdoors where it's cool. Details follow:
Evergreen boughs
In water, of course.
1. Arborvitae is one of the longest lasting. Fortunately, many people have these growing outdoors as part of the foundation or screening plants, so clipping them, as needed, saves money buying greens.
2. Firs are next best. They smell good and their short, sharp needles tolerate hot, dry indoor conditions.
3. Junipers and true cedars are next most retentive, and also fragrant. Junipers have short, prickly, often sticky needles. They may be green or bluish, and have blue berries. Red cedar is our native columnar juniper, which often grows wild.
4. White pine with long needles and graceful droop lasts well, but wilts if it dries out.
5. Spruce is best used for outdoor wreaths, for indoors its sharp needles fall off.
6. Hemlock is even worse, rapidly dropping its needles indoors.  
Holly and other broadleaved everygreens
1. Holly: Best to use the Japanese and other round leafed varieties to avoid pricked fingers.
They'll last a while but may need changing in about 2 weeks. Not a problem if you clip them outdoors.
2. Ivy is very useful for arrangements however, if it dries out, it wilts.
3. Andromeda, rhododendron and leucothoe are fair. Mountain laurel is poor. Boxwood smells like cats.
Longest lasting fresh flowers
They are chrysanthemums, miniature carnations, lisianthus, orchids and fragrant lilies (not the orientals).
Some tips
Check the level of water inside containers with your finger. Evergreens use it up quickly. I always add water with my finger inside so it doesn't spill over the top. I don't know if the package of powder they give you with bought flowers makes them last longer. I've never done a controlled experiment. Or maybe a pinch of sugar. A tip from an expert flower arranger is add 1 teaspoon Clorox per gallon of water. A pinch alcohol or gin works like same.
Safety
Safety is the most important thing. Every year there are tragic accidents. Never, never light candles anywhere near evergreen foliage. That lovely Christmas smell is a volatile gas which is very, very inflammable. Never leave decorative lights on when you leave the room. If you want the flicker of candlelight, buy the safe, new battery powered candles. They would fool even Santa.
Ruth S. Foster is a landscape consultant and arborist. More gardening information can be found on her Web site: www.mothersgarden.net.
 
author: Ruth Foster



Local Articles
Holidays
Home