History of Christmas Greens: White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Karen Decorating for the Christmas holidays inevitable leads to using white pine, valued for its long, flexible needles that stay on the branches for weeks after being cut. The bluish-green color…
History of Christmas Greens: Holly (Ilex spp.)
Christmas would not be the same without boughs of holly decorating the mantle, chandeliers and tables. Both English (Ilex aquifolium) and American Holly (I. opaca) are used, each with their…
History of Christmas Greens: Cedar
Of all the Christmas greens you can buy, Cedar can cause the most confusion. Several different greens are sold as cedar and none of them are true cedars. True cedars…
Plant Profile: Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Of all the pines, white pine is my favorite. I like the way they look growing in the a forest and in my garden, but most of all I treasure…
Varieties of Poinsettias for Christmas
Florists, big box stores, and grocery stores offer a huge array of poinsettias every year but most of the ones you see are red, cream, or pink. Go to a…
How to Make a Boxwood Tree for Christmas
A small, tabletop tree made of boxwood tips is a beautiful holiday decoration that can easily be made at home. When I worked in a florist we would sell them…