It’s a great idea to keep a packet of evergreens tucked away in a cool place to use as the decoration occasions arise throughout the month of December. End snippets of white pine, spruce, balsam or cedar can be stored in a cool, dark place or with their ends submerged in to water until you are ready to use them. This will keep them fresh and fragrant until you are ready to use each piece.

White pine is blue-green in colour and is fluffy and fresh used as an accent branch in fresh flower arrangements. Re-cut the end of each branch prior to submerging in to fresh water in the vase and add lovely seasonal cut flowers like amaryllis, roses, red and white candy-cane speckled carnations, freesia, sunny-faced gerbera daisies or any flower that you wish. Poinsettias can also be used as an unusual cut flower. Cut the colourful bracts (“blooms”) and be sure to dab the milky white sap that secretes with a paper towel and then quickly sear the end of the stem under a candle or match until it is sealed. Put the Poinsettia bloom into luke-warm water and it will remain fresh for about ten days. If it wilts in the water in the first hour, re-cut the end and try re-sealing it again.

When using evergreens in fresh flower arrangements, cut the pine branches at various lengths to provide various levels of height with some branches flirting with the blooms at the top of the vase and others dancing over the sides of the vase. Small pieces of pine can also float in wide-mouthed bowls of water that also have ruby coloured floating cranberries (yes, regular fresh cranberries from the grocer float) and lovely floating candles. This simple, shimmering bowl makes a lovely, simple and safe table centerpiece.

Collections of evergreens can be added to plastic water vials (the kind one would get at the base of a single rose from a florist) and tucked into real or artificial garland along a mantle, around a door frame or down a banister. Holly, small fresh flowers and mistletoe can also be added into these arrangements in this fashion.

Small pieces of pine can be paired with cedar, spruce or balsam, tied with a ribbon and placed behind picture frames, curled around candle stick stems, at each place setting, tied to goodie gift bags or perched on present tops. This is best done a few days prior to an event or social gathering to ensure optimal freshness.

Adding evergreen branches to potted plants adds pizzazz and originality to standard seasonal plants. British Columbian Cedar (also known as Western Cedar), Boxwood and White Pine are the best evergreens to use for this project. When firmly placed in the soil of the potted plant these evergreens should not dry out (the moisture from the soil will keep them hydrated), but if they did become dry from being placed in the plant too early (best to do a few weeks or less prior to an event), BC Cedar, Boxwood and White Pine do not show their dryness. They may appear dry to the touch, but will not look dry and unappealing.

Enjoy seasonal decorating with fresh evergreens and lovely fresh and potted flowers!