Festive Decor: Capturing the Season

from Michiana House and Home December 2020

by The Papers Inc.

Six Winter Skills to Master

By Kathleen Moran, House and Home Writer

Many would argue that it is never too early to start decorating for the holidays. One way to spruce up one’s home and capture the holiday spirit is to display festive greenery such as wreaths and garlands. Whether opting for reusable artificial pieces or live, disposable ones, these festive decorations are versatile and can be featured both on the exterior and interior of a home.

Andy Flickinger of Flickinger Farms in Wakarusa explained their trees were planted back in 2014, and the farm is preparing to open for its second year on the day after Thanksgiving. In addition to offering a wide selection of trees for cutting, premade live Fraser fir wreaths are also available for purchase. According to Flickinger, “These wreaths hold their short, soft needles better than a spruce would and they smell great!” He added, “Another popular item that will be available for purchase is the kissing ball made of either boxwood or Fraser, which would make for a great complement to traditional wreaths.” Spherical and full of greenery, they are distinct in presentation from mistletoe. Kissing balls can effectively adorn similar areas to those of wreaths such as adding character to a homeowner’s front door or a prominent window. Also, like wreaths, kissing balls have a potential place within one’s home, including above a fireplace mantle or hanging from a chandelier. It should be noted that their ideal environment is in “a cool, shaded place out of direct sunlight.” In this situation, wreaths and kissing balls can easily last until March. Yet, if brought inside, they may not last as long due to the variability of inside temperatures, which may cause them to dry out quicker. According to Deborah Carpenter, ASID, of Sweet Water Interiors in Goshen, festive garlands can be showcased outside the home on lamp posts and around columns of a front porch. “There are even more options when it comes to featuring festive garlands indoors, such as on stairways, door frames, mixed in with a centerpiece of some sort and around a canopy bed frame of a young girl’s room, to name a few,” Photos courtesy of Flickenger Farm described Carpenter.

The nice thing about garlands is they offer an opportunity for a homeowner’s creativity and imagination to be on display as well as the actual decoration itself. For instance, “homeowners can create their own garland to express the season or work in custom ideas that reflect their favorite and/or collectable items,” such as fruits, doves or angels.

“One can also add holiday decorations like pine cones to a garland to establish a rustic theme,” explained Carpenter. There is even the possibility of incorporating branches, some type of chain and lights to form the base. A final suggestion includes designing garlands from fresh or artificial evergreens or soft pine. This would allow one to weave in a string of pearls as a base to enhance the original character of a garland. n