This scene is dominated by symmetry, which was probably suggested by the double doors. Each door has a Christmas wreath. The matching dwarf Alberta spruce trees simply continue the theme of symmetrical balance. The little things can often make a difference when designing a small decoration. That’s why an unusual creative touch can have a great impact in a window box. If you look at this window box closely you can see the four brownish objects. Those are lotus pods, which can be bought at craft stores. The color, though, is provided primarily by the bright red berries of winterberry holly. The versatility of garlands for Christmas decorating is impressive. In addition to hanging them around doorways or on fences, here are some other possible uses:
Running along deck railings Spiraling down lamp posts Wrapping around porch columns Decorating mailbox posts Stringing along arbors, trellises, archways, or pergolas
The color green is furnished by the wreath and by the garlands on the porch columns. Red is also worked into the design via the berries on the wreath and the ribbons and red branches in the urns. Those branches come from a shrub called “red-twig dogwood.” Stems of pussy willow have also been used in the urns, but these are of value mainly for up-close viewing (they do not show up well enough to have much of an impact from the street). Note that the pineapple has long been a symbol of welcome. Decorative pineapples are also used in this way at gate entrances. These homeowners have simply arranged some holly in a basket, adding pinecones for variety. Another fun Christmas craft project is to make a kissing ball, using holly or other real plants.
