Hi friends. We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I have been packing up all the Fall decor around here. Christmas is now in full force. We still haven't decided if we are doing a live tree this year or getting a new artificial tree. I have had a beautiful flocked tree for many years now but honestly it has seen better days lemme tell ya! It may be time to break down and get a new one. 

Speaking of Christmas...it is hard to believe it will be here in twenty eight days. For all you junkers...that's only three  weekends in which we have left to go pickin. Here is a fun Christmas countdown site in case anyone is interested.  Just click here to bookmark it. 

We got a lot of questions about live greenery from the blog post we did on November 18th. If you missed that post you can click here to read it. This is going to be a follow up to last post.   

The most asked question we got was "Where can I find live greens" Well, try your own yard first. You will be surprised what you might find once you really start looking around. You may be saying that's great for you, but I live in the city. If this is not an option for you, try a family member or friend's yard. If plan B fails then visit your local nursery, hardware store or Christmas tree farm/lot. Those places clip off branches and then toss them out. I can't tell you at the free clippings I have scored at Christmas tree lots. Fortunately, now I live in a wooded area so I have a plethora of lush greens to choose from. 

A good friend of mine hit the jackpot at Home Depot. The stores that sell xmas trees clip off branches and then toss them in a designated bin. Of course, she asked first before she took some. She did ask if other Home Depot stores did this and she was told the ones that sell trees do. But if you decide to go this route just make sure to seek permission from a store manager first. 

If you are not feeling all Daniel Boone like then the stores that I just mentioned above also sell greens. They just don't make it known they toss this stuff out. 

The next question we were asked was how to preserve greens. That question is easy. Just as you would keep a Christmas tree in water, you will want to keep a spray bottle with water sitting around. Make sure to mist your greens two to three times a week and especially if these are indoors. If you are decorating outdoors like a doorway or porch railing etc, you will not need to give the greens as much attention. Cooler temperatures help to naturally preserve them longer. 

The best time to purchase greens is a couple of weeks before Christmas. Also, make sure your greens are fresh before you purchase them. 

The last question we got was what kinds of greenery are best. Honestly, it's just personal preference. I love to decorate with Cedar, Leyland Cypress and Pine tree branches. I have a couple of Magnolia Trees and a Holly Bush in my yard too so I grab a few sprigs off those too. 

Some other greens you can use are: 

~Boxwood 
~Noble Fir
and last but not least...mistletoe.