I’ve been busy putting some final touches on my Christmas decorating before my “kids” (who are grown adults) show up soon for a nice long visit. Each year, I try to incorporate more fresh greenery from my garden into my decorating scheme. There really is nothing more beautiful than what God has created in nature!

I am always amazed how my Christmas cacti (Schlumbergeriaor Zygo-cactus) know to start blooming right on schedule in the middle of December. I have one with white blooms opening now and one with pink blooms getting ready for its Christmas show.  I’ve had these two for several years and I think the secret to my success is benign neglect! Christmas cacti don’t need lots of water and they actually prefer to be a little pot bound. As temperatures cool, it signals the plants to begin getting ready to bud. Since we turn off our heat at night, the plant enjoys temperatures in the low 60s.  I have both plants hanging near a south facing window.  They seem happy and content to explode with Christmas color and cheer at this time each year.

Christmas Cactus blooming right on time for the holidays.

It’s always hard for me to know where to put tender container plants when I bring them inside the house before the first frost. This year I decided to incorporate my little collection of succulents into my Christmas display. I just placed the small terracotta pots inside a big terracotta drain tray and set the tray on my kitchen table. I added a few Christmas balls and voila – I have an unusual holiday centerpiece. Succulents are so interesting with all their various shapes and sizes. It adds a bit of whimsy to your decorations.

This collection of succulents make an interesting holiday centerpiece.

My friend, Kay Gorman, who is the owner of Le Fleur Florist & Design in Senoia, showed me how to create a mailbox display using the greenery from my garden. I just purchasde a few basic supplies – a mailbox saddle and floral oasis - to create the frame for the display. I had a fun time wandering around the garden selecting a few sprays of this and that for the design. I used some viburnum in bud, magnolia leaves, nandina with berries, holly with berries, loropetalum sprays, ivy and some ornaments to add a bit of color. This is an easy and inexpensive way to create big impact in your front yard.  Merry Christmas!

I had a great time collecting greenery from my garden to create a mailbox display for my mom's mailbox.

An easy, inexpensive and beautiful mailbox display