From Mélie’s Garden
Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of
children they are all 30 feet tall. Larry Wilde
I loved this quote that Sam Bridge Nurseries used as the start of their December newsletter, because it is certainly true in our family. The most important thing to do with a new tree, no matter what size, is to give the trunk a fresh cut once you bring it home. Some people even make the cut and soak the tree for 24 hours in a bucket of water. We usually put it in the stand and pour either Sprite or Orangena in along with the water. I was told that the combination of citrus and sugar is good for the tree. Place the tree in a cool area, not near a radiator or fireplace, so it won’t dry out and top off the water in the stand every few days, so the tree
stays fresh.
At this time of year, it is nice to cut greens to bring inside. You can make a pretty small arrangement in a flowerpot to use in your house or give as a gift. First, pick a nice variety of greens and give them a good soak overnight, so they stay fresh. Take a small flowerpot and put a plastic glass inside. Fill the glass with water. Place on top of the glass a plug of oasis. (You can cut the oasis to form a plug that fits the top of the glass before filling it with water).
The reason a plug is a good idea is that it holds the greenery, but allows the stems to go through to the water. Once you have a nice arrangement, you can add a ribbon, decorations or little flowers. I use small red carnations, because they last quite a long time. These little flowerpot arrangements look nice in groups or just by themselves.
