Christmas

Holidays and Occasions
Christmas

Christmas is a time for personal celebrations and traditions shared with family and friends. Flowers and plants have long played a special role in Christmas festivities and are as personal and individual as the people doing the celebrating.

The giant of Christmas holiday floral products is the poinsettia. Click here for more information on the poinsettia.

Decorating and Entertaining Ideas

For a festive and unique centerpiece, create a table-scape with 4-inch plants in matching pots with ribbon, ornaments and/or candles as accent pieces. When guests leave your holiday party, give each a plant as a memento. Or create a table-scape with fresh flowers in coordinated vases.
For a fun theme, ask your florist to create "snowballs" and "snowmen" using white carnations.
Ask your florist to fill the pots from your container gardens with poinsettias, cyclamen, amaryllis and ivy.
If you are invited to a dinner party or open-house, send a floral arrangement or centerpiece to the host or hostess ahead of time or as a thank-you gift after the party. It will make them feel special and appreciated.
Greet guests at the door with a wreath holding a personal tree ornament for each of them to take home.
Use fresh flowers on your Christmas tree in water vials. Florists can recommend long-lasting varieties and tell you how to add water to vials. Dried or treated flowers are also a beautiful choice.
Use wrapped boxes, festive bows and flowers as table decorations. Give wrapped "packages" to your florist in advance and he or she can create floral designs for them. Place your "packages" with flowers under the tree or on the mantle.
Wrap the pots of poinsettias or other holiday plants in festive paper and ribbons.
For an elegant celebration take advantage of all places where candles could be displayed:
- Line a walkway with votive candles in luminaries leading up to a door.
- Place garland on the mantle with fresh flowers and candles to beautifully grace your room and make the most of light by enhancing the fire.
- Float candles and flowers in treasured crystal or silver bowls to create a fabulous effect.
- Place scented candles with fresh blossoms in each powder room.
If an open house is on the agenda and many persons will be in a room, it is important to give special attention to the larger display areas such as the front door, foyer, mantle, buffet or serving areas, powder rooms, windows and staircase. This will help you get maximum impact because with many people in a room smaller arrangements placed around will not be seen at all times . Additionally, by focusing on a few focal areas in each room, more space is made for glasses, cups and food plates...and there is less chance of an accident.
As guests leave, have a vase of loose flowers by the door and invite them to take one home as a gift.

Christmas Wreaths
Nothing says home for the holidays like a Christmas wreath made from evergreen or holly. Your florist can s pruce up your wreath with a modern look. Be the first on your block with a square or oval wreath made from magnolia, ivy, lemon leaf, herbs, f ruits and berries. Ask your florist to create a �lifestyle� wreath by using a single variety of flowers, foliage, berries or fruit.

Decorating tip: Wreaths aren't just for your front door or the wall. Wreaths make beautiful centerpieces. Fill the center with a trio of pillar candles or with fresh fruit, candies or glistening balls.

Christmas Trees
Less is more. The 4-foot Christmas tree is hot. What's hotter: Grouping three small trees together, with the tallest one near the center. Decorate all three or just the tallest one.

Decorating tip: Ask your florist to create a nativity scene in your tree.
Decorating tip: Instead of wrapping garland around the tree, place garland on the tree from top to bottom for a different look.
Decorating tip: Ask your florist to recommend fresh flowers for your Christmas tree.

Christmas Colors
In addition to the holiday colors of red and green, below are other festive and beautiful Christmas color combinations. For the best options for your home or loved one, consult your florist.

Chartreuse greens with reds in deep shades.
Natural greens in different textures, such as: Ming fern, cedar, long needled pine and arborvitae are beautiful with twigs and deep red berries. This combination is comforting and welcoming for the holiday.
Think pink. Not traditional pink, but deep shades. For impact, combine pinks with red-orange. Shades of violet, sage and deep pink also work well together.
Red and burgundy create a warm, sophisticated look.
White, winter wonderland. Accent with burnished gold, not shiny gold.
A combination of white and silver looks elegant and makes your home sparkle.
Any shade of red � separate or together � accented with gold or bronze.
Ivory, mellow gold and cream. Pearl garlands and jewels give these colors a romantic flair.
Blue accents add flair.
Make a bold statement: Bright citrus colors of orange and lime green paired with hot pinks and teal shades.

Give Plants
Plants make great gifts, especially for Christmas. Some popular choices: cyclamen, kalanchoe, poinsettia, Christmas cactus, holly, spruce, boxwood, amaryllis, narcissus paperwhites, tulips and hyacinths. Tropical flowers make unique gifts: Ginger, anthuriums, birds of paradise and orchids stand out in any design. Your florist can recommend plants and flowers that are perfect for your friends and loved ones.

Office Gifts
Floral gifts are perfect for clients and employees. It's scientifically proven! Research from Texas A&M University proves that flowers and plants enhance problem solving skills and productivity in the workplace. Office gifts should be sent the week of Thanksgiving so your gift is among the first to arrive for the most impact.

Make an impact: Ask your florist to deliver a beautifully decorate wreath, festive floral arrangement or a showy poinsettia to your most valued clients.
For something creative and fun, ask your florist to create an arrangement presented inside or down in a vase. Beautiful mini callas or tulips styled inside a glass container make for a welcome addition when combined with fresh seasonal foliage or decorative grasses.
Take a coffee mug with your company logo to your florist. Ask your florist to deliver the coffee mug filled with flowers or a plant.
Door swags made from fresh greens.
A large fruit and flower basket can be enjoyed by everyone in an office. Ask your florist to include plants in the basket.