My first memory of holiday greens starts with Fernwood Botanical Garden, just a few minutes north of South Bend outside Niles, MI. I remember attending one of their annual greens workshops with my mom, all of maybe 10-12-ish years old, and I recall feeling almost overwhelmed by the possibilities…
Centerpieces! Swags! Garlands! And wreaths?!
And there was the fragrance. I know I’m not alone in this, but I think fresh fir, cedar, cypress, pine, and juniper – all swirled together with the crisp smell of the outdoors, is probably one of the absolute best smells in nature. (Right next to Petrichor, am I right?)
We spent the entire day creating together, and as the only pre-teen in the room, I was definitely an outlier. I just remember having so much fun that day. I can’t tell you what I made, but I think my mom made a pair of little mixed green trees on a wire frame, and I thought it was the coolest thing.
I was so hooked.
Fast forward a decade or so and I was back at Fernwood, this time on the horticulture staff, and I was actually harvesting the fresh materials that would be used in that year’s workshop. I even taught a couple workshops over the years. Full circle.
I always loved being able to share something so hyper-local in such a hands-on, immersive way. Of all the craft arts that utilize natural materials, I feel that working with fresh, seasonal greens is undervalued and underappreciated. It’s mindful, meditative, creative, relatively easy, and seriously fun.
Fun fact, these workshops started before Fernwood was officially a public garden, when founder, Kay Boydston, a lover of nature, the arts, gardening, and community, would host friends and neighbors to create fresh holiday décor, foraged from just outside their door. Greens continue to be a significant part of Fernwood today, more than 60 years later.
I’ve been in love with holiday greens ever since that first workshop. I think they’ve actually become my favorite part of the holidays, and that’s saying something from a kid who grew up addicted to twinkle lights.
When Botany came online, I knew greens would need to be a part of who we are – they’re in our DNA. And, truth be told, in many ways, I’m also trying to recreate and share that beautiful nostalgia of a Saturday afternoon at Fernwood with my mom all those years ago. I want more people to share that memory and have this thing in common.
Before I go any further, this is your gentle and final reminder that if you’d like to create your own holiday greens with us, there’s still a few tickets remaining for our workshops coming up in the next few weeks, and a few spots left to join us at Craft One Half on December 8th or 9th where we include cocktails and appetizers to accompany the greens. It’s a good day.
(Pssst! The 11am is sold out, and 6p on December 9 has only five spots left. Still plenty of room on Sunday at 2p.)
Ok, back to the greens. I think there’s a special power in growing something beautiful with the intention of sharing it, which brings me to the story I’m most excited to share with you today. Remember in last week’s garden tour note, I shared the gradient hedge? Well, here it was then…
And, here it is today, following this year’s first-ever greens harvest.
This may also be a good time to point out that yes, these shrubs were purchased and planted specifically with this intention in mind. I wanted them to be an attractive piece of our garden to enjoy year-round, a place for birds to land and play, a backdrop for other plants, and also a part of our greens work. “Beautifully productive” is the mantra here.
It’s also important to note that these species of juniper were chosen because of their upright, columnar form. I wanted to not only grow a selection of different colors and textures, I also wanted to maximize our growing space in the process, hence the tight pruning which lends itself to their natural form.
Trust me, they’ll bounce back next year without missing a beat. I also need to ensure all sides get adequate light and that I can easily harvest each season, hence the gaps between plants.
I love the long, wispy form of these varieties. The most vibrant color and texture is in the first or second-year growth, and my hope is that this method of selective tip-pruning will encourage more short side branching over the coming years, generating the perfect material for the absolute best holiday greens.
I didn’t really pay much attention to these junipers this year because I was too busy fussing over other things. First the Iris, then the Sanguisorba, then the raised beds, then planting more trees and shrubs… always something.
And then, on one of our first chilly nights a few weeks ago, I suddenly noticed how much they had grown this year. I wasn’t expecting that. As I looked more closely, I realized that… yes! I think we might be able to get our first substantial harvest this year!
Well, harvest started this week, and here’s a sample of what I’ve been creating.
There’s a lot of feelings to accompany this moment…
Love, pride, joy, excitement, hope. Recognizing the connection of memories and materials across time and spaces, lifetimes and landscapes. Realizing that about a year ago, I set out with an intention and took an important step toward a dream, which today feels a lot more real than it did back then.
A few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure if or when I’d share this story with you. I wasn’t sure if this was something that was ready to be shared.
But then these plants surprised me, and plant surprises are the best surprises. They need and deserve to be shared.
I’ll have a small stack of mixed juniper wreaths in 18” and 24” available first come, first serve this Saturday at our first-ever Holiday Open House, when we’ll also be selling Christmas trees for the very first time. Saturday, November 23, 10a-5p.
2024 has been a year with a lot of firsts, and I love that.
See you soon, plant lovers.
Ben | Botany Founder & CEO