Few things are associated this time of year more than the decor you display inside and outside your house. It "feels like Christmas" when the tree is adorned, the candles are lit and the wreaths hung. Over the years in both an apartment and our first home, I've had to get creative with Christmas decor because while our house is plenty spacious for just two people, the storage situation is abysmal. Without an attic, garage, basement, or large closets we have to be selective in what we keep around.
So my Christmas decor is regelated to three totes and the rest is a mixture of natural items we buy and forage for. Today's post is an invitation to peek into your backyard, local woodlands, garden, etc. and see what elements you can use for your Christmas and winter decorating.
I am by no means a great botanist or arborist, but I've had great success in using these plants in my seasonal decor.
Plants to Forage for Winter Decor
- The Evergreens – (pine, fir, spruce) the kings of Christmas and truly an ode to the frosty season, the evergreen trio everyone loves are lovely trees to snip a branch here and there from for your front door wreath or entryway arrangement. Make a simple garland with some fishing line or flower wire and your cut boughs or simply lay the evergreen on your mantle, along your table runner, or on a window sill for a festive and beautiful smelling decor.
When the season comes to an end, gather your evergreen boughs and make a snowy January campfire for a fun family tradition.
- Magnolias – If you don't live in the southeastern US you may not have easy access to magnolias, but they are one of my favorite live plants to decorate with this time of year. I cut some long stems from magnolia bushes and arrange them in a vase on my table and entryway. They're great for adding into your tree for a bit of unique texture or using it to fill out a wreath or garland.
Some Foraging Tools & Resources
- Holly – the holly berry is a wonderful plant to find and forage a bit this time of the year. Known for their bright red berries they make lovely small additions to a wreath or an arrangement.
A word of caution, however, these berries are poisonous to pets and people so you might want to proceed with caution and use gloves when foraging holly for your home.
- Rosemary – a lovely, non-toxic and very aromatic winter plant to bring inside is the rosemary herb. I absolutely love the look and aroma of a rosemary wreath during the winter season. The silver-green needles of the rosemary plant are not just good on roast chicken, but if you clip the stalks when they're young they are pliable and can be made into wreaths for your kitchen windows.
Many garden centers will also sell small rosemary plants that are clipped into a small Christmas tree shape this time of year. That is an excellent (and useful!) way to add a bit of Christmas into your kitchen.
- Juniper – part of the cypress family, the juniper shrub or tree is an excellent addition to your winter forage if you can find one. Their green needles and soft blue berries are beautiful in contrast to the deep greens of a Christmas tree and other evergreens. I've seen some stunning juniper arrangements that can last beyond just the holiday season, but look beautiful in the deep, snowy winter months.
Juniper is also a non-toxic addition in your home for kids and pets. It's often used as a spice and has an aromatic, woody scent.
There are, of course, many benefits beyond lack of storage to forage for natural elements for your decor:
- bringing live flora and fauna indoors work as a natural air purifier for your home - especially during a season when the windows are shut tight and the heating is on.
- it's more sustainable in the long run as most people only keep their faux greenery for an average of 8 years and then throw it out where it sits in a landfill, never decomposing because it's all made from plastic
- you'll get outside and connect with nature while gathering your items. This time of year with the stress and pressure of perfection, it's easy to let those things affect your mindset. Take some time in nature to settle your mind and remind yourself what's important.
