Tips for keeping those wreaths and trees fresh a little while longer [photos]

Use a loop of red velvet ribbon to tie a small fir wreath to the back of each dining-table chair to add to the holiday spririt.
Use a loop of red velvet ribbon to tie a small fir wreath to the back of each dining-table chair to add to the holiday spririt.

Trends in bows

Cindy Webster just returned from a national buyer’s market in Dallas where she says the big fad in decorating with bows was the use of the spiral, or “Shirley Temple,” curl.These curls are formed in long tails, which would normally dangle straightly beneath the bow’s loops.How to make them: Wrap the tails of a bow made from wired ribbon around a dowel or any small, round object about 3/4-inch to one inch in diameter. Common household items such as the handle of a table knife or wooden spoon work just as well. Twist the ribbon around the dowel, close your hand around the dowel to press the spirals into shape, then pull dowel out to release the spiral curl.

Christmas decorations made with natural greens were a tradition for Cindy Webster long before she ever married Jim Webster, owner of The Barn Nursery.

"My Mom, Dad, brothers, sister and I would go to our farm to cut down a cedar tree when I was growing up," she says. "So I started loving the fresh smells of the season as a child."

In the 31 years since marrying, the couple have continued that tradition of live greenery in their own home. No faux firs for them. Even as the demand for artificial trees has grown over the past three decades, the 50-year-old Barn Nursery didn't introduce them into its inventory until three years ago.

According to the American Christmas Tree Association, 81 percent of the 99 million U.S. homes decorated for Christmas last year used artificial trees. Still, more than 22 million real trees were purchased, proving there remains a demand for the real deal.

At the Websters' home in North Chattanooga, the scent of cedar, pine and paperwhites welcomes visitors as they pass through the front door. An estimated 125 feet of Noble fir and 100 feet of Western cedar are used throughout the home in garlands, centerpieces, table arrangements and staircase swags. There are wreaths made of Noble fir, incense cedar and blue juniper. Two dozen velvet-red poinsettias line the staircase to the second-floor landing. Potted plants and arrangements on side tables include poinsettias, lemon cypress, ivy, paperwhites and berries.

The beauty of natural greens is that they not only scent the house, but they don't require a lot of lights, ornaments, glittered bows or bling when decorating. Simply contrast their forest hues with cheerful scarlet-red velvet bows for a look that's at once traditional and elegant.

Cindy Webster has access to the wide variety of fresh greenery at the nursery, of course, but she also collects cuttings from her yard to include in her decorations.

"I use boxwood, yew and cedar from my yard. It's right outside the front door," she says.

Her home is a showcase of decorating ideas. And the majority don't require special vases or containers; they begin with ordinary objects such as cigar boxes, charger plates or cake stands that any DIY decorator keeps on hand.

The foundation of the dining room table's beautiful 3-foot centerpiece is cigar boxes stacked at varying heights. The boxes are covered in a length of burlap topped with layers of cedar, fir, berries and large sugar pine cones. A dozen flameless candles are staggered along the greens.

Around the table, lengths of red-velvet ribbon are tied around each napkin then angled across the adjacent place setting. Each guest's name is written on the ribbon for a festive place card. The red-loop theme is repeated on the back of each chair, where a small fir wreath is suspended by a ribbon loop.

The doors of a nearby corner cabinet are open to display Christmas collectibles, drawing the eye up to a spray of Western cedar draping the top shelf, which is held in place by pines cones and a red poinsettia.

A 10-foot noble fir is the focal point of the living room, decorated in 2,000 white mini-lights, white ornament-shaped lights, and red and gold ornaments. Wired picks shoot outward from the branches, adding holiday touches of colorful red berries and frosty pale-gray pearls.

Almost every side table or counter holds an arrangement of greens. Sometimes a wreath has been centered with a lantern or flameless candles. In the kitchen, a countertop arrangement nestles antlers into live greenery, as a nod to the hunters in the family.

Paperwhites bloom from three barnwood boxes centering the living room's coffee table. Their scent is a natural air freshener that works as well in a guest bath as any living area of the house.

The trick to using paperwhites, says Webster, is to plan ahead.

"They take about three weeks to sprout," she explains.

And, in a move that may seem counterintuitive, she also turns down the thermostat during the holiday season.

"I keep the house cooler during the holidays to prevent live greenery from drying out too quickly. I also don't put up decorations until two to three weeks before Christmas so they will last through the season," says Cindy.

Donna Dent, lead designer at The Barn, offers these tips to help live greenery last longer and forestall needle drop.

- Wait a little later than normal to decorate. While the trend now is to decorate the weekend of Thanksgiving, wait at least until the second week of December.

- Before hanging greens, mist them with a bottle or lightly spray them with a hose so they can absorb moisture. Let them dry in a shady spot, then hang.

- If using a live wreath or garland outside, also mist or spray them to prevent dryness.

- Try to keep live greens out of direct sunlight in the house and away from heating vents. When possible, draw curtains on nearby windows.

- Never drape garland from the center of the mantel to dangle above the fireplace. Lay garland straight across the mantel and let it drop on either side of hearth. This is not just for the obvious fire precaution but also proximity to the heat source, which will quickly dry out greens.

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.

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