Foraging for holiday greens and outdoor decor involves checking your own yard (and maybe your neighbour’s), local woods, and parks for items like evergreens boughs, fallen branches, pinecones, dogwood, berries and more.
Mandatory rules: ensure you have the landowner’s permission and are foraging responsibly by not harming plants or taking too much.
Handy tools include gloves, pruning snips, long handed loppers and bags to collect items like pine, cedar, boxwood, holly, and interesting twigs and seed heads for decor.
What to look for:
Evergreen boughs: Pine, spruce, fir, cedar, boxwood, and cypress are great for wreaths and garlands.
Berries: Holly, nandina, and other berry-laden branches add a pop of color.
Twigs and fallen branches: Curly willow, dogwood, birch, and red-osier dogwood offer interesting shapes and color.
Cones and seed heads: Pinecones, dried seed heads from flowers, and other natural pods can be used for texture.
Vines: Ivy can be used for garlands and wreaths, though it can dry out quickly.
Where to forage:
Look at your existing plants and bushes and maybe even at your neighbours, they might need a trim too.
Check with local or park authorities, to see if you can get a permit to forage on public lands.
Responsible foraging guidelines:
- Be responsible and only take what you need.
- Never uproot living plants.
- Prune branches neatly with clean, sharp tools and avoid damaging the plant or leaving a mess.
- Remember to leave plenty of berries and leaves for birds and other wildlife for over-wintering.
- Be sure about what you're collecting and avoid poisonous plants.
- Take care of your finds by conditioning greenery and living twigs in buckets of water before use.
Please avoid collecting moss especially from the forest floor as it takes many years to regenerate. If you need it, purchase moss from a sustainable source.
Editor’s tip: Keep an eye out for craft moss at your local thrift store.
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