Feature Article - for release the week of December 2, 2007

Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent

 

Surround Yourself with Holiday Greens

Last week our office had a deep whiff of fresh-cut evergreens.  No, we have not set up our fresh-cut Christmas tree, but instead received a shipment of fresh – cut green holiday wreaths. 

Paula Daniels, one of our local 4-H club leaders holds a fundraiser with her Bits-n-Spurs 4-H Horse club members.  They take orders in the fall for fresh-evergreen holiday decorations.  The boxes have now arrived in Okeechobee.  So if you see one of those beautiful fresh evergreen wreaths hanging on the door of a home or business, know that they are a supporter of our local 4-H program.

If you missed out on these pre-ordered holiday items, a visit to any one of a number of garden centers, florist shops or retail stores will put you in front of all kinds of wreaths and cut green decorations.  Today’s column will give some background on the mystery of wreaths plus help you pick out a quality product.  And, based on some recent emails, your wreath choice may have a big impact on local environmental quality. 

 

Folklore & History of Wreaths

First off, what’s with these round-shaped rings of holiday greens?  I checked a few sources that all point to the Greeks and Romans who first awarded prizes made of rings of plant materials.  Athletes received Laurel wreaths; military hero’s earned wreaths made from olive branches, while the aristocracy added jewels to “wreaths” of precious metals, creating a crown.  (Corona in Latin means wreath.)  These signs of victory would be hung on doors – and this is the basis of hanging wreaths on doors.

Wreaths are a circle, without beginning or end, that can symbolize eternity and hope.  During winter, ancient Europeans brought these circular shaped bundles of evergreens indoors, and added candles as signs of hope for the return of spring.  The green colors and circular shape symbolized everlasting life.

Early Christians adopted these symbols. By the 16th century, Catholics and Protestants used these symbols to celebrate their Advent hopes by creating “Advent wreaths”.  These are rounded sprigs of evergreens with four candles (three purple, one pink) that are lit once each week thorough the Advent season.  A central candle is lit on Christmas Eve.

Wreaths use many different types of vegetation. To Christians, the prickly holly may be a reminder of the Cross, and decorations of nuts, pinecones and other seedpods symbolize resurrection and life.  During the Victorian era, lavish holiday arrangements were created using such greens such as ivy, hemlock, yew, laurel, and bay. 

In the 1800’s, an American custom was to use evergreens boughs as memorials, weaving the branches into wreaths, Christmas stars, and crosses for graves. Later in the season, these decorations would be removed from the cemeteries by family members and brought home. 

This tradition of using wreaths to decorate gravesites continues today.  A national campaign began 15 years ago, when a wreath maker in Maine took extra wreaths to the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC.  Wreaths Across America is now a national effort to do the same all over the country.  On Saturday, December 15th, 2007 at 12:00 noon (EST), wreathes will be provided locally at the South Florida VA National Cemetery in Lake Worth and the Royal Palm Memorial Gardens in West Palm Beach.

 

 

 In the early 1900’s natural foliage and greens had become less available in some areas, so artificial Christmas foliage was begun to be used.  Realistic plastic holly, evergreen, and berries were among these early reproductions, and in the early 1960’s, silk and vinyl decorations were used as life-like Christmas decorations.

Dangerous Exotic Decorations 

Today it seems that markets are encouraging the use of different, exotic plant materials in holiday decorations.  This past week I received several e-mails about the use of “tallowberries and pepperberries” in Christmas wreaths and other holiday decorations.  While they may look attractive and seasonal, these are a problem:  these are the seed of two terribly invasive plants that are impacting our own Florida Yards. 

The white “popcorn-like” tallowberries are seed of the Chinese Tallow tree. Pepperberries are the small red clusters of the Brazilian peppertree or it California cousin, the Peruvian peppertree. We know what peppertrees will do in southern Florida.  Ask anyone in Northern Florida or any other southeastern state about the popcorn tree - they will tell the same sad story of trees taking over our native lands. This is why it is illegal to sell either of these in Florida. 

Imagine a Christmas wreath that is discarded in the back compost pile. The pepperberries and tallowberries can sprout and create problems.  Some of our concerned park managers have been trying to find out if these products contain real or artificial examples of these seed, or if they are real, if they have been freeze-dried or otherwise treated to make them incapable of growing.  My advice to person buying these decorations - ask the vendor if these seed can grow – and if they can’t tell you, take your business elsewhere.

And a final word of caution about the artificial versions – there has been some concern that some imported artificial greens may contain high concentrations of lead-based colorants.  Again, buyer beware.

 

Fresh Wreath Care

So buy that fresh green wreath, and enjoy.  To keep it longer, don’t hang it where bright sunshine will reach the foliage.  Fresh green wreaths last longer if displayed outside the home – the inside home environment is drier and moisture will be drawn out of the cut greens. Spraying the wreath daily with a spray bottle of water will keep it fresher for a longer period of time. Keep them cool and shady for the longest lasting results.

The traditional placement on the front door may not be the ideal place, as eventually the needles will fall on to the doorstep, allowing them to be tracked indoors.  Wreaths can be hung on bare walls near the front door for equally attractive placement.  Use a piece of clear fishing line strung across a wall - this can provide a suitable hanger, and fashion a short piece of  a wire coat hanger bend into an "S-shape" to hang the wreath on this invisible string.  

After the holidays, wreaths made of cut greens can be dried and may continue to be used until too many needles fall off the branches. Disassemble and place the branches in yard trash collection piles, add them to compost piles in your Florida Yard, or break up the branches and add it to mulched areas of your landscape.

Ghosts of Christmas (Articles) Past

If you need more information on the many different kinds of  holiday plants or want to know more about the folklore and traditions associated with them, go to our county Extension website and take a look.  And if you have any special holiday plants that I’ve not covered, please let me know and I will see what I can find.

I’ve placed more information on our Okeechobee web page, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu.  If you need additional information on Christmas Wreaths, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469.  Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 3 PM on Tuesday afternoons.  GO GATORS!

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References

Advent Wreath.  Wikpedia. 11/30/07. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent_wreath 

DeGroot, David. "Christmas Wreaths".  CVC Christmas Page,  12/2006. http://members.aol.com/davewdg/wreath.htm 

Hall, D.W.,  Vandiver, V.,  Sellers, B. and and . Langeland, K.  Brazilian Pepper-tree, Schinus terebinthifolius  [SP 37].  Gainesville: UF/IFAS Florida Cooperative Extension Service,  5/2006. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FW/FW03700.pdf 

Hampson,  Rick "Gift of wreaths touches nation."  USA Today, 12/15/2006. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-12-14-wreaths-cover_x.htm?POE=click-refer  

Langeland, K.   NATURAL AREA WEEDS: Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum.)  [SS-AGR-45] Gainesville: UF/IFAS Florida Cooperative Extension Service,2/2006. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AG/AG14800.pdf 

Wreath.  Wikpedia. 11/30/07 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreath 

 

Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean Last update: 11/30/2007.  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert.