Festive Foraging
Utilizing woodland materials to create free holiday arrangements.
'Tis the season for festive decorations, and what better way to celebrate than by creating a beautiful Christmas flower arrangement? And what if I told you, that you could create this arrangement for virtually FREE! Icing on the cake, right?!?! In this blog post, we'll explore the joy of foraging for greenery and then using those materials to create a stunning, seasonally appropriate-display.
Materials for this project are all around you if you take the time to look. I went to my family’s property in Eastern Henrico, however, I’ve seen materials all over the place. Look on local trails, in neighbors yards, or even parking lots and you will find everything you need. Just ask permission to cut, and most will happily oblige. You don’t need a ton of materials. I cut 3 branches from each plant, and it was more than enough for 2 medium-sized arrangements.
👀Plants to look for.
Most evergreen/semi-evergreen plants will work for this project. Additionally, plants with good seed heads or great structure when dried work too. Here are some that I found in the wild:
All of my materials gathered.
Juniper:
A classic evergreen that adds a touch of freshness and fragrance to your arrangement. Its vibrant green needles create a wonderful base for your centerpiece. I used the male branches for the base filler and the female, berry-producing branches for their beautiful blue accents.
Magnolia:
Gather glossy magnolia leaves to introduce a touch of elegance to your arrangement. These large, leathery leaves provide a beautiful backdrop and contrast to the finer textures of other greenery. It’s hard to resist the velvety texture of the leaf’s underside.
Holly:
When you think of Christmas greenery, Holly is easily in the top 3 plants that come to mind. I used two different types of holly (traditional red berry and variegated). Embrace the festive spirit by adding holly branches with red berries. The pops of red create a visually striking element in your arrangement, while the variegated type captures the eye with its distinctive appearance. Any holly symbolizes the joy and warmth of the holiday season.
Hydrangea:
Don't overlook the beauty of dried hydrangea blooms in all their tan glory. They complement the magnolia and provide contrast against the greenery. Embrace the passing seasons, by incorporating dried elements in your arrangements.
Weeping Style Plant
Lastly, I cut off a plant in my great aunt’s foundation plants. I’m not sure what it is (Google Lens says Doghobble), but I liked it for its weeping habit. You’ll notice it anchoring the four corners of this arrangement.
Assembling your Arrangement
Start with a container of your choice. I’d avoid something tall and cylindrical because it’s hard to manipulate the branches to create fullness.
I don’t have super long branches for the depth of this container so I put some packing paper in the bottom to take up space. I then placed a bowl of water with horticultural charcoal on top of that as a small attempt to get my foliage to last longer.
Utilize some sort of mechanics. I chose chicken wire. Chicken wire is a great sustainable choice. You can use wet floral foam too, but it is not sustainable and can have an environmental and personal health impact.
I started with the male juniper and placed that around the entire perimeter.
Next, I added the Doghobble to all four corners.
Then I went for the hydrangeas and magnolia leaves. These two plants were my largest and took up the most volume.
After placing the large elements, I started accenting with the hollies and juniper berries. I removed some of the holly leaves so that the red berries were really the highlight.
Lastly, you’ll see the finished project. I’m really happy how it came together!
I think I’ll always utilize natural materials for decor from here on out for three reasons: it’s inexpensive, it’s sustainable, and I don’t have to store it for a whole year! Total win! Incorporating foraged greenery into your Christmas flower arrangements not only adds a personal touch but also connects you with the beauty of nature and the changing seasons. Embrace the joy of foraging, and let your creativity bloom this holiday season!
Keep Blooming,
Nicole Dillon, Breemar Flower Farm
