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Floral Design For The Holidays of Christmas and Thanksgiving

The holidays are a great time to experiment with floral design.  Use your imagination as you decorate your home for the holidays, in particular, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

A favorite decoration for thanksgiving is the pumpkin.  The simplest of designs may use a variety of pumpkins and squash arranged together in an eye pleasing arrangement on a table, porch or mantel.  Use leaves, vines, twigs and cattails for a more interesting display.

For an unusual fresh centerpiece for the Thanksgiving dinner table, cut the top off and hollow out a pumpkin just as if you were carving a jack ‘o lantern.   Place a plastic container inside the pumpkin, add your floral foam, greenery and fresh flowers and viola, you have a distinctive decoration for your holiday feast.  Keeping in mind that heat will make the pumpkin decay faster, so do not create this arrangement too far in advance and keep it cool, perhaps place it outside or in the garage when not in use to preserve its freshness as long as possible. 

There are myriad ways to use flowers when decorating for the Christmas holidays.   Centerpieces for the table may consist of a variety of greenery.  At this time of year many greens are available to create just the right wintery effect; spruce, white pine, juniper and hemlock just to name a few.   Holly is a traditional Christmas green that needs a bit of caution when working with it.  The points are extremely sharp-so beware.  If designing flowers to wear with holly, snip off the points so they don’t prick the wearer. 

While Christmas greens are quite beautiful on their own, you can add red and white fresh flowers for color.   Certain white chrysanthemum pompoms have a snowflake look and add a wintery effect to Christmas greens.  Gypsohila (baby’s breath) is another white flower that will create a lovely snowy contrast to greens and red flowers such as carnations and miniature carnations to create a Christmasy look. 

The addition of non-floral materials will create a unique holiday arrangement.  Pinecones, berries and small ornaments can be wired with a wired wood pick for placement in an arrangement of fresh Christmas greens.  Candles are lovely for the holiday dinner table.  Simply place a candle holder in your floral foam, tape across the holder to each side of your container add your candles then your greenery, flowers and other items.   For larger arrangements, three candles of differing heights are quite pleasing to the eye.  Remember to never leave candles burning unattended as this is a fire hazard.  Ribbon is another choice to spice up an arrangement.  Bows or loops of Christmas ribbon will look quite festive.  Once again, simply wire to a wired wood pick and insert into your floral foam when your arrangement is complete. 

Keep your arrangement fresh longer during the holiday season by keeping it watered and in a cool place such as a garage, when you are not entertaining.  Be sure the temperature is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit so your flowers do not freeze.  Keep arrangements away from heat sources such as, heat ducts, television sets, and the stove or oven.  Even the sun shining through a window can dry out an arrangement quickly. 

Your imagination is the limit when designing holiday flowers.  And by the way, who says all Christmas decorations must be red and white?   Silver and gold are also traditional Christmas colors but if you want a more contemporary look try something purple or blue for a beautiful, non-traditional style.  Have a  blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas season!

About the Author

Author Ellen Skiles has over twelve years experience in the floral industry. Her experience ranges from working in a seasonal greenhouse to designing wedding and funeral flowers. As the shop manager she was involved in all areas of buying, selling and designing. Visit her website at: http://www.arrangefreshflowers.com.

WD by Whiting & Davis Purple Floral Garden Wallet