Evergreen arrangements, winter flowers bring holiday cheer

Winter doesn't have to mean saying goodbye to greenery and flowers. Jackie Lambert, buyer retail manager at Culver's Garden Center and Greenhouse, offers tips for festive arrangements and seasonal flowers.

Arrangements

Outdoor evergreen arrangements can last almost until March, Lambert said, and can add a festive touch to a front step or porch. Greenery can be purchased or collected.

'I think the best thing people can do is look around their own yard,' Lambert said. 'There are always twigs that are cut, things that need to be trimmed.'

Start with a pot filled with sand, and water the sand before arranging evergreens branches, twigs and berries in the pot. The wet sand will freeze as the temperature drops, holding the arrangement in place and keeping the greenery fresh.

Spruce keeps color and shape well in outdoor arrangements, Lambert said. She likes bringing it inside on Christmas Eve for its fragrance, but it will quickly loose its needles in the warmth. Noble fir and cedar, cut and placed in water, work well inside.

Fresh berries can be used outside, but they will eventually turn black, while rubber-dipped berries will keep color longer.

Magnolia tips, eucalyptus and ming pine are good plants for indoor arrangements. Both indoor and out, silver or gold spray paint can add sparkle, as can battery powered twinkle lights.

Flowers

With a little planning, fresh flowers for the holidays are also possible.

Buy a locally grown poinsettia at the beginning of December for peak color around Christmas. Amaryllis, paperwhite and hyacinth bulbs take six to eight weeks to bloom and don't need soil inside — just put them in a shallow dish with the bulbs resting on top of rocks and water. Lambert's other favorite holiday plants are peppermint, grown on her windowsill, and Christmas cactus.

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Culver's Garden Center and Greenhouse makes outdoor living dreams come to life. Stroll through the gardens, nursery, greenhouse and gift shop for inspiration and see why Culver's grown plants are 'Bigger Blooming and Better Performing!'