By Pat Naughton
Bring the beauty of the backyard to your table to brighten up the holidays. Evergreens, pinecones, and bright berries can be used to make colorful centerpieces. Here are a few decorations made from plants in my backyard.
Set the stage for a centerpiece with a ring of ferns. Start with wire or a wooden hoop and secure ferns with green florist twist tie. The ring below was made with a base of Holly Fern with Autumn Fern placed on top.
![](https://bcmastergardenerva.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/fern-wire.png)
Add a little light to the centerpiece by placing tea candles in a bowl of water. Holly leaves and Camelia leaves placed at the bottom and around the top provide a nice green base. Bright red berries from a Holly tree or Yaupon bush can be floated to give it a bit of holiday color. If these berries are not available, then cranberries can be used. This centerpiece was made in November when a few flowers were still in bloom. It has Camelia, Azalea, Peaches Drift Rose, and Scarlet Sage.
Invite your guests to the table with swags on the backs of chairs. Prune a couple of pine branches full of long needles. Flatten the branches out by placing them underneath a heavy door mat. Tie the branches together with green florist wire. Finish it off by fastening a purchased bow to the branches.
For more decorating idea be sure to check out the Supply Senior Site calendar for Pam Duncan’s demonstration on holiday decorations using yard plants.