DECK THE HALLS
It might be hard to get into the holiday spirit when you’re trying to pinch pennies, but festive decorations always help – especially when they’re (almost) free! Here’s how to deck your halls with plants that are likely growing in your own backyard, or at least nearby.
Use Lowcountry cones and foliage and flower cuttings: Camellia, nandina, arborvitae, holly, ligustrum, pittosporum, podocarpus, viburnum, pyracantha, Hollywood juniper, saw palmetto, fatsia, loquat, magnolia, pinecones.
Shown here: Fatsia leaves and flowers, Hollywood juniper sprays, holly twigs and berries and hydrangea leaves.
Tips: Immerse cuttings in lukewarm water until you are ready to use them. Dip all fresh foliage in a tub of acrylic floor wax to seal in moisture. Bind items together or to wreath base with floral wire or hot glue, available in craft shops and department stores. For added character, spray cones and leaves with gold or silver paint.