By special item

Author: Patricia R. Drackett Director of Crosby Botanical Garden, Mississippi State University, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture

At this time of year, we will explore new ways to decorate our home for the holidays. For many years, I have been thinking about holiday wreaths, homemade holiday wreaths and decorations made with local plant materials. It doesn’t take much time to cut some newspaper clippings from evergreen shrubs and add them to the dining table or mantelpiece. These can provide a simple, free but cute finishing touch!

Fresh evergreen plants, such as pine, magnolia, holly, cedar or juniper, will give the room a new look, especially when setting up candles (be sure to extinguish them when you leave!). The shiny brass bowl or urn filled with vegetables is very attractive.

Use an inner liner without drainage holes, and fill the container with water to extend the use time. Although they are not required, the form made of floral foam will provide additional support and shape for your project. Wreaths can be created by winding branches along the length of twine with floral thread. Ribbons, pine cones or string lights can be added to the holiday arrangement.

Two common holly found in this area are yaupon holly and American holly. These evergreen trees provide perfect greening for your wreaths and garland projects, and are very attractive when mixed with pine branches or southern magnolia spray.

Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) is a common small-leaf holly distributed on roadsides, forest edges, and fence lines about 20 feet long. Lace shrubs or small trees are extremely tough, both salt and drought tolerant. Due to its high caffeine content, Yaupon is also becoming more and more popular as a tea. Searching the Internet for yaupon and our state name and "tea" will produce the source. Although you may not look at this plant again, remember that birds and wild animals that need a late winter snack or a nesting site in spring will have a completely different view of this plant. Modern archers still cherish these branches to make arrow shafts.

The green plants from American holly have a history of being used as Christmas green plants. When pruning greens for your table or mantle, please carry pruning shears with you. Instead of just breaking branches from trees or shrubs, it is more friendly to plants to remove branches correctly and wisely. If you collect American holly, then you can make the project easier with a pair of sturdy leather gloves, sharp pruning shears, and extra patience and courage.

Do you have a large specimen of Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) that will not miss one or two limbs? The leaves make elegant holiday arrangements, especially when integrated into o wreaths or garlands, and may even be sprayed with gold or silver.

Elliott blueberry (Vaccinium elliotii) is a plant with bright burgundy autumn colors, currently glowing in the landscape. The locals call this native shrub and its close relatives "Bilberry". It is commonly found at the edge of forests, and sunlight promotes its best fall colors.

Winter brings many days of pleasant weather, which is very suitable for exploring the botanical garden. Plan to take a walk in our grounds during the holidays. Except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, we are open from Wednesday to Sunday during holidays.

The Arboretum gift shop has a copy of the new floral design book "The Promise of Good Things" written by Jim DelPrince, an outstanding floral expert from MSU Extension and his colleagues. Learn how to decorate your home in bright shades from harvest to holiday, using mum shades of deep red, gold, ginger and bronze, as well as pansies and kale, and royal purple, rose, and gold gemstone shades . This is a fascinating and inspiring book full of ideas, designs and examples. You can use it to "bring beautiful things into your home and landscape."

Stop to see the Winter Gallery exhibition, featuring abstract paintings of pitcher plants by Hattiesburg artist Martina Sciolino, which will last until the end of December. Her show was inspired by her trip to the swamps of Crosby Botanic Garden. Martina is a member of the Hattiesburg Women's Art Group. You can view more information on www.NiceCatStudio.com.

Participate in the guided forest therapy walk from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm on Sunday, December 12, with the trained INFTA certified forest therapy guide Nadine Phillips, or participate in another one in January or February with her walk. Forge Day is Saturday, January 29, 2022. Our Arbor Day plant promotion is to register for the course (pay the course fee), please call 601-799-2311. The Botanic Garden is open from Wednesday to Sunday and is located in Picayune, I-59 Interstate Highway No. 4, 370 Ridge Road. The entrance gate closes at 4:00 pm. Pets with leashes are always welcome!