Since our last cold spell about the only thing with color is my large holly tree with red berries. But what do you know about Holly and its Christmas tie in?
Holly, Ivy and other greenery such as Mistletoe were originally used in pre-Christian times to help celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival and ward off evil spirits and to celebrate new growth. … In pagan times, Holly was thought to be a male plant and Ivy a female plant.
What does Holly represent at Christmas?A holly’s pointed leaves symbolize the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head before he died on the cross. Holly is known as christdorn in German, meaning “Christ thorn.” Both of these symbols are meant to serve as a reminder to Christians of Jesus’ suffering, but they aren’t the only stories tying holly to Jesus.
Holly facts :
Ilex, or holly, is a genus of about 480 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide
Often grown as a specimen plant or in woodland gardens, holly trees are of particular interest in winter, when evergreen species display bright berries and foliage while other trees are bare. Holly berries are inedible to humans, but they do provide food for birds and other wildlife.
Growing Conditions
Ideal growing conditions for holly trees include full sunlight exposure and moist but well-drained soil. They will also tolerate light shade. Hollies prefer slightly acidic soil with moderate fertility. Early spring is the best time to plant holly trees; once established, they can be pruned in late winter or early spring to promote fruiting and control size.
Holly Wreath :
Mine grows on the side if the house and stands as tall of the house. And this time of year family and friends come by to cut clippings to use for holiday decorations.
- Grapevine wreath
- Holly
- Rubber bands /floral wire
- garden shears
Grapevine wreaths are ideal foundations for many types of wreaths because even if the wreath form shows through . With garden shears, cut stems of holly to about 8 inches. . Using rubber bands, tie the holly stems into bunches of three stems each. Be sure to place a stem with berries on the top of each bunch. Also, try to position the stems so that the leaves all face forward. Tie one end of 24-gauge paddle wire to the grapevine form. You can purchase paddle wire in your local craft store. Place your first bunch of holly on the grapevine form, and wrap the wire around the holly. Be sure to go around the bunch twice with the wire – once in the middle and once where the rubber bands have tied the bunch – so the holly is secured in place Place the next bunch of holly on the wreath form so the top of its leaves cover the exposed stems and the rubber band of the first bunch. Keep winding the wire around this holly bunch in the same way. Continue to add bunches of holly as you go around with the paddle wire, making sure that all the leaves go in the same direction. Fill your wreath ,add a hanger and Bow and enjoy…. Lisa