Deck the Halls

Christmas Home Decorations

Create festive foliage arrangements for Christmas using dried flowers, evergreens and winter-flowering shrubs

Published in Gardens Illustrated magazine December 2017

Words and styling by Bea Andrews | Photography by Andrew Montgomery

Wall Hanging

This simple, natural design uses fresh scented evergreens, dried flowers, foliages and easy-to-care-for air plants that will make brilliant house plants after the holidays. Cymbidium orchids with their velvety petals and a very long vase life will create that luxurious feel.  

Materials

• 1x 60cm hazel stick

• 2x 50cm lichen covered twigs

• 2x 40cm birch twigs

• 2x 20cm dried leafy oak twigs

• 2x 40cm dried fern

• 1x 40cm contorted willow

• 2x 50cm rosemary sprigs

• 8x 40cm Eucalyptus populus

• 4x dried hydrangea florets

• 8x strands of Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides)

• 6x small air plants (Tillandsia)

• 9x orchid flowers from a Cymbidium stem

• 2x small silver succulents (Echeveria)

• florist’s binding wire

• 9x small plastic flower tubes with rubber caps

• natural silk ribbons, glass decorations

• scissors, secateurs

To Make

1. Using the hazel stick as a frame for the design, wire the twigs to it horizontally. Attach silk ribbons for hanging.

2. Wire eucalyptus and rosemary foliages to the main stem. Arrange the dried flowers, ferns, leafy oak in a natural shape, wire them to the twigs.

3. Cut the orchid flowers off the main Cymbidium sprig and place each short stem in a water-filled plastic flower tube. Wire these along with the air plants and succulents and scatter them aesthetically through the design, securing to the stems. Bunch together strands of Spanish moss and wire to one end of the arrangement to enhance its trailing shape. Add 2-3 lengths of silk ribbon, glass decorations and place the wall hanging to create a focal point on a chimney breast or dining room wall.

Table Runner Foliage Weight

Aromatic shrubby, evergreen herbs like rosemary, sage, bay and winter foliages such as Senecio, Eucalyptus, Viburnum tinus, Pittosporum, Sarcococca are all suited for this mini posy. To prolong their life once cut, leave them to rest in water for 24 hours before arranging.

Materials

• 1x 25cm bushy rosemary branch (or 10 woody sprigs of rosemary bunched together)

• 1x 15cm Eucalyptus populus sprig with berries

• 40cm natural jute twine

• pearl headed pin

• scissors, secateurs

To Make

1. Make a small posy with the rosemary and the eucalyptus sprigs. Tie together with twine, leaving a long piece at each end to attach to the table linen.

2. Gather the table runner at one end of the table and position your posy slightly below the table top. Tie it to the linen with the twine.

3. To stop it moving, secure the posy to the table runner and tablecloth at the back with a pin.

Table Centrepiece

Rich green and silvery foliages, white gold painted seedpods, dried flowers, grasses and ferns collected throughout the season are the main elements of this festive table centrepiece. The focal flower here is the same Cymbidium stem used in the wall hanging. This can be replaced with Amaryllis or other seasonal blooms.       

Materials

• Ceramic bowl or similar shallow vessel

• chicken wire

• florist’s binding wire

• wire cutter, secateurs

1x 30cm piece of each of the following:

• lichen covered twig

• silver birch twig

• Eucalyptus populus

• Eucalyptus parviflora

• Eucalyptus gunnii

• rosemary

• camellia

• 1x trailing ivy

• 1x hellebore leaf

• 1x heuchera leaf

• 1x dried fern

• 1x dried hydrangea flower

• 1x dried Miscanthus grass seed head

• 7 x different seed pods dried and spray painted or dipped with white gold paint such as poppy seed heads, Nandina seedpods or similar

• 1x sprig of Cymbidium orchid with about 5-6 florets

To Make

1. Prepare the ceramic bowl by cutting a piece of chicken wire big enough to slightly fold over the edge. Place this grid tightly on top of the bowl and carefully bend it down around the rim. Secure with binding wire and fill with water.

2. For a low spreading design, place the twigs and foliages through the grid at an angle to create a frame. Add fern, hydrangea, grass seed head, golden seedpods, and finally position the orchid.

Festive Wine Glass

Create simple, thoughtful table decorations by adding scented foliages to glasses or napkins. To transform your wine or champagne glasses, use soft, small leaved stems of eucalyptus to compliment the rest of the arrangements. Or choose sprigs of scented winter flowering shrubs such as Christmas box (Sarcococca). 

Materials

For one wine glass:

• 2x 10cm piece of Eucalyptus gunnii stem with small round leaves

• 1x 10cm piece of Eucalyptus populus stem with berries, leaves removed

• florist’s stem tape

• 20cm satin ribbon

• scissors, secateurs

To Make

1. Arrange the 3 eucalyptus stems in a small bunch with one of the foliage stems facing downwards. Put stem tape around the middle to secure.

2. Cut a piece of thin satin ribbon and tie it around the stems to cover the tape.

3. Position  it on the wine glass vertically and attach it with the ribbon.

Foliage Covered Pendant

An unusual festive display to celebrate all things foliage 

Materials

25x 40cm Eucalyptus parviflora stems, 7x 25cm Eucalyptus populus stems with berries, secateurs, scissors, florist’s adhesive pot tape, natural jute twine, step ladder

To Make

1. The main ingredient for this project is Eucalyptus parviflora with its soft, bushy arching stems and small leaves. Depending on the size of pendant on your ceiling lamp, measure the length so the foliage will slightly overhang the edge. I used 40 cm pieces. Cut to the right length and dry the stems off.

2. Start adding the stems, arranging them in a circle around the top. When the pendant is covered, secure the stems with strong pot tape.

3. To soften the shape, add small berried eucalyptus around the top half and secure it with pot tape. Cover the tape with twine for a natural finish.