Jane Powers's floral guru foresees beads, feathers and glitz dominating this year's decorations
Bling is in. Or so I've been told by one of Ireland's leading floral artists. Carol Bone (whose Yuletide jobs include decorating both Farmleigh and the Taoiseach's office) says that fashion-conscious folk are going for a glitzy look this year: "sparkly baubles, and lots of glass and feathers".
Confusingly though, she adds: "Tinsel is out, by the way. Any tinsel at all." Instead of tinsel (but what could be more blingy, I wonder), Christmas trees will be garnished with beading, she says.
In this household, our decorations are mostly home-made and slightly bockety - more and more so as the years roll by. But they are augmented with gleanings from our garden (and the gardens of generous friends), and with cones and interesting things picked up from the forest floor while out dog-walking. I love this way of decking the house, as it makes me feel all Christmassy in a warm, old-fashioned way. And bling - essential for the glitterbugs among us - is easy enough to conjure up with some gold and silver spray paint, and the odd bit of shimmering ribbon.
The wreath for the hall door is a most satisfying project - if you can set aside a long and leisurely evening. And if you have children who are still at the amenable age, they may be convinced to help, especially if they are allowed to wield the spray can (in an airy place, away from open flames, and under supervision, of course).
Pick the foliage the day before, and "condition" it by standing its stems in water overnight. This allows it to take in more moisture, and thus last longer. With ivy, however, the best method of conditioning is to soak it in a bath, according to Carol Bone. Any evergreen foliage is suitable for wreath making. If you are aiming for a sophisticated look, restrict yourself to a single species. Yew with pearls, says Carol, is excellent. "People adore it. But keep it simple, don't go pushing other things into it."
Bay and ivy also work well on their own, as does gorgeous Magnolia grandiflora, which has shiny green leaves backed by brown suede. Add some berries, flowers or other eye-catchers, and a big bow (allow at least 1.5m of ribbon, preferably wired). Single-foliaged wreaths may require a practised hand, so that the leaves are all arranged in a pleasing manner. With a mixture of leaf types you have more room for error. Fine foliage (such as juniper or cypress) looks good when contrasted with broader and glossier leaves, such as laurel or ivy.
But how does one actually make a wreath? The simplest way is to buy a floral foam ring and use that as a base. Submerge it in water, take it out when it's soaked, and if you're feeling meticulous, wrap it with cling film, or strips cut from a dry-cleaning bag (this will help retain the moisture). Attach a cord or ribbon to the ring, to hang the wreath over the door.
Stick foliage into the outer edge of the ring (make sure the leaves are lying at an agreeable angle), then into the inner edge (around the doughnut hole, as it were), and finally, fill in the face of the ring. Use neat sprigs of foliage, with just a few leaves on each, so that your wreath doesn't look like it's having a bad hair day. When the ring is evenly covered with with greenery, add the other bits and pieces.
Or, you can make a simple-looking twiggy ring with pliable stems such as dogwood and willow. Longer stems (1.5m or more), are easier to work with (leave the side stems on). They should be no thicker than a pencil at the base. Bend the first stem into a ring (about 45cm in diameter), and secure it temporarily with a bulldog clip, wire or tape. Feed in the other stems one by one, twisting them around the ring; hold them in place with clips, wire or tape. When the ring is thick and even, bind it in several places with cord, thin ribbon, or raffia (for a more rustic look); remove your temporary fixings. Weave some ivy, or other festive foliage and berries into it, securing them invisibly at the back with florist's wire.
Scent, says Carol Bone, is also in this Christmas. It can be a naturally occurring waft from aromatic eucalyptus, fir, pine or rosemary foliage, or from cinnamon sticks and clove oranges. Scented candles are also a handy provider of fragrance. But if you are lighting candles, don't leave them unattended in the midst of your resin-heavy evergreen foliage and dried plant parts. You may just get more bang for your bling than you bargained for.
GARDEN GLEANINGS TO DECK
THE HALLS
EVERGREEN FOLIAGE: holly, ivy, bay, box, laurel, eucalyptus, euonymus, elaeagnus, pittosporum, choisya, Magnolia grandiflora, photinia, rhododendron, rosemary, yew; and foliage from conifers such as cypress, fir, juniper, spruce, cedar, pine.
TWIGS FOR TWISTING INTO WREATHS: dogwood, willow, birch, hazel.
ACCENTS: red berries such as holly, skimmia, cotoneaster, pyracantha, rose hips; pale green or black ivy berries (spritz with a bit of gold spray if you like); other berries: pink, white or red Gaultheria, white snowberry, purple Callicarpa; cones from pine, larch and cypress trees; dried seedheads including: teasel, love-in-a-mist, , opium poppy, fluffy clematis heads, Chinese lanterns (Physalis), honesty, some lilies and irises; dried hydrangea flowers; fresh flowers (some may not be long-lasting) such as sprigs of heather, sprays of Viburnum tinus, skimmia buds, mahonia, winter jasmine; ornamental grasses; chilli peppers; ornamental gourds