Whimsical and wild festive foliage
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December is the time for unapologetic decoration inside and out. Many of us can’t resist the urge to add to our cornucopia of baubles. But, as a floral artist, I’m inclined to shun the shiny, non-recyclable and man-made, instead choosing materials from the outdoors to create a festive display. And it doesn’t have to be traditional: there’s lots of opportunity for innovation, beyond hackneyed holly and mistletoe.
I try to go past simple decoration to tell stories. As someone with British and Grenadian heritage, I like weaving narratives — and understanding traditions and researching makers from around the world brings fresh insights into my displays. Recently, I’ve been inspired by textile artist Adriana Meunié in Mallorca, Ashn Earth floral studio in Philadelphia and Kong Min Seon of Seoul-based Midsummer Flowers, who all have a unique take on working with nature. They often focus on the nuance of one variety of plant, producing designs that softly whisper rather than loudly declare their charm.
Japan is also a huge source of inspiration for me, especially the ancient art of Ikebana. Its arrangements are rich in meaning and symbolism, often incorporating branches, moss and leaves. Jake Hobson, founder of the lauded gardening tool brand Niwaki, has a deep admiration for Japanese culture and practices. An expert in the country’s tree shaping and pruning art, he brings in coppiced stems taken from his garden’s Cryptomeria japonica tree at this time of year. This evergreen conifer has great longevity, making it wonderful to display in a vase. Its feathery lightness is also a welcome reprieve from the dominating thickness of Blue Spruce pine.
Hobson also likes to use stems that hint at the season ahead. “I like trying to use winter flowering cherry and blossom that hasn’t yet opened,” he says. “Bring it in in December and a little warmth from the radiators brings out the blossom. Sometimes it won’t happen until January, but even just having a big bunch of buds that are waiting to open can be really exciting.”
Using fallen, budding or pruned elements is a lesson for us all. Look at the garden with fresh eyes — is there something destined for the compost that could come inside? To me, rose hips have more appeal than commercially grown Ilex. I take leaves from Senecio varieties with silvery foliage such as Dusty Miller or the aptly named Angel Wings — the latter has the most capacious leaves, but both have a gorgeous frosted feel. This year, I welcomed Phlomis russeliana into my borders; outside, their seed heads provide winter interest, while indoors, they add stature to vase displays. And Garrya, with its long, tassel-like catkins, brings an organic nod to the festive season.
Outdoors, we often rely on lighting to add a festive feel, but there are colourful alternatives that don’t require a socket. Place a ball of chicken wire in a planter to act as a scaffold for tall, curly branches of twisted willow or red dogwood. These stems also work well added to the base of potted trees or window boxes and hanging baskets that would otherwise be empty or leafless at this time of year. The vibrancy of these sculptural and coloured branches brings seasonal cheer, a refreshing alternative to gold and silver spray-painted leaves.
“For whimsical wild Christmas decor, we collect the lichen-covered branches and twigs” agrees Therese Johansson, group head of floristry at Petersham Nurseries. “Hang them high indoors or display them in large, oversized jars or pots.”
More conceptual are the installations by London florist and artist Carly Rogers, often featuring large, undulating mounds of moss for head-turning impact. Last year, her work was showcased at the Garden Museum’s inaugural Winter Flowers Week, which returns this weekend (December 5-9). Her “Deconstructed Landscape” was a striking mountain of fragrant pine and moss, reinventing evergreens traditionally used in garlands and wreaths. “It was a pivotal moment creatively, to make something that felt very bold and sculptural,” she says.
Nostalgia is also an evocative element to weave in. Bracken is one of my most cherished winter plants. I use it on its own in mantelpiece and wreath displays, and it also surrounds Whinyard Rocks, the Welsh natural vineyard owned by my sister and brother-in-law. I’m part Welsh and the plant reminds me of childhood visits. Its auburn fronds are as evocative as hearing my wedding song, and make me think of happiness and family.
“Christmas is a time to let your imagination run wild,” concludes floral artist Harriet Parry. “Bringing the outdoors inside is a way to connect with nature in a new way” — not just visually, but through smells, sound and touch.
Robin Lane Fox is away
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