Decorating Naturally

Just recently I had the opportunity to create my very own holiday decorations at the Runge Conservation Nature Center. There were several craft stations setup throughout the building, each with a different idea on how to decorate your home using natural materials to create items such as place cards, candle rings and greeting cards. One of my favorite crafts was making pine cone flowers, using sliced pine cone, scouring rush and bittersweet, and then using them to garnish my wreath.

Decorating naturally is a fun and inexpensive way to bring the Missouri outdoors into your home this holiday season. It can be as simple as putting sweet gum fruit ornaments on your tree and wrapping the whole thing in a possumhaw (deciduous holly) garland to making a grapevine or buckbrush wreath, which you can enjoy all year round.

When collecting items to decorate with you must remain conscientious of what materials you are harvesting. If not collecting on your own property, make sure you obtain permission from the proper area authorities beforehand. Below is a list of some great natural items that are safe and beautiful to help you deck your halls.

Cedar and pine boughs: Cut straight from the tree in different lengths. Use for decorating cards, wreaths or candle rings.

Possumhaw (deciduous holly): Cut straight from the bush in different lengths. Use for garland or on wreaths.

Grapevine Stems: Use while still a little moist to make wreaths.

Sweet everlasting flower heads: Dry  before using. Use for decorating cards, wreaths, candle rings or to make a bouquet.

Milkweed pods: Dry before using. Use for decorating cards, wreaths, candle rings or to make a bouquet.

Sweet gum fruit: Spray paint and/or add toothpicks to make ornamental stars for the tree.

Scouring Rush:  Use for decorating cards, wreaths, candle rings or to make a bouquet.

Pine cones: Cut across the axis to make flowers to use for decorating cards, wreaths or candle rings. Or use whole as ornaments for tree.

Osage orange fruit aka Hedge apples: Slice and dry. Use for decorating cards, wreaths or candle rings.

Kentucky Coffee tree pods:  Dry before using. Use for decorating cards, wreaths, candle rings or to make a bouquet.

Acorns: Use for decorating cards, wreaths, candle rings or to make a bouquet.

Rattlesnake Master fruiting heads:  Dry before using. Use for decorating cards, wreaths, candle rings or to make a bouquet.