Holiday Garlands

December is here and it is time to decorate for the holidays with natural garden elements like holly, ivy, evergreens and fruit trees. Garlands add a lot to our holiday decor. The fireplace mantals and stairways can be decked in boughs of holly. Doorways, room entries and windows can also be framed with garlands.

For you lucky southern kitties, here is a great idea.

Citrus and Lemon Leaf Garland
Not just for wreaths, these beautiful green leaves and aromatic citrus fruits create a tantalizing combination. Glossy lemon or salal leaves offer an elegant alternative to evergreens, and they are especially appropriate for garlands featuring citrus fruits. Sprays of cinnamon sticks add visual interest and a festive aroma. Consider this a party or special-occasion garland, as fruits will last one to two weeks (or longer in a cool environment).
What You Need:
1/2-inch-diameter sisal rope Lemon or salal leaves (available from florists) Small oranges, lemons, and limes Kumquats Cinnamon sticks 24- and 30-gauge florist's wire Craft scissors
General Garland Instructions: 1. Wire small clusters of material together at the stems. Place the head of the second cluster over the stems of the first cluster and wire all the stems together.2. Repeat, adding more clusters until the garland is complete. The head of each cluster should cover the stems of the previous cluster.
Instructions:
Step 1
1. Cut a length of rope the desired length of garland. Clip small branches of lemon or salal leaves (about 6 inches or 5-7 leaves to a branch). Attach a length of lightweight wire to the rope to begin. Select a branch of leaves and wire it to the end of the rope. Place a second branch over the first branch and wire it in place. Continue covering the rope with leaves as described in the general instructions.
Step 2
2. Cut a length of heavier wire for each piece of fruit. Run the wire through the center of the fruit, twisting it to secure. Cut a piece of lightweight wire double the length of each cinnamon stick plus eight inches. Run wire up through one hollow of the stick and back down through another hollow of the stick. Gather three cinnamon sticks and twist the wires together to make a cluster.3. Secure garland to desired area. Add the fruit and cinnamon sticks.

For you traditional kitties in the northern states, here is a great idea.


Holly Garland
Wire together short holly branches for a traditional red-and-green garland. Watch out! The leaves are sharp.
A sprig of holly is so varied in color and shape that it needs nothing else to be interesting. To form a garland out of holly or other lightweight materials, simply wire the sprigs to each other, overlapping the stems and wrapping wire where they intersect.
What You Need: Small sprigs of holly Florist's wire Pruning shears

General Garland Instructions: 1. Small clusters of material are wired together at the stems. Place the head of the second cluster over the stems of the first cluster and wire all the stems together.
2. Repeat, adding more clusters until the garland is complete. The head of each cluster should cover the stems of the previous cluster.
Instructions: 1. Select and clip holly into evenly sized sprigs, choosing the fullest and most attractive holly.
2. Select a large holly sprig to begin and attach a length of wire to the stem. Wire on additional holly as described in the general garland instructions.

For you country style kitties, here is another idea.


Pine and Ribbon Garland
Create country garland with a red-and-white checked ribbon.
When assembling a garland from heavy materials, such as these white pine branches, begin with a base of sisal cording for stability. Then, wire the branches to the cording. For added color, intertwine greens with wire-edged ribbon, which holds its shape.

What You Need: Fresh white pine branches or desired greenery Wide wire-edged satin ribbon Sisal cording Florist's wire Wire cutters, pruning shears, and scissors Chenille strips to match the stair rail (optional)

General Garland Instructions: 1. Small clusters of material are wired together at the stems. Place the head of the second cluster over the stems of the first cluster and wire all the stems together.
2. Repeat, adding more clusters until the garland is complete. The head of each cluster should cover the stems of the previous cluster.

Instructions: 1. Cut a length of cord the desired length of the garland.
2. Clip the pine into evenly sized branches. Attach a length of wire to the cord to begin. Select a branch of pine and wire it to the end of the rope. Place a second branch over the stem of the first and wrap the wire tightly around both to secure. Continue as described in the general instructions until rope is covered.
3. Place the garland over the stair rail or where desired. To prevent scratching a finished surface, use long chenille strips to hold the garland in place. Loosely loop the ribbon around garland.

We found these great garland decorating tips from our Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

Your activity for December is to mew how you decorate for the holidays...Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hannukah which fell on November 30, 2002 this year.





Mew to us, Shirley and Sophie. The other gardens are also available to plant in.

Please send your biographies and pictures for our "Getting to Know You" pages.

Happy Holidays to all from the Carter Cats!

 

 

 

 

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