Boxwood Holiday Garland

MATERIALS
  • Garland, homemade or purchased from a florist
  • Sprigs of evergreen and (optional) laurel leaves
  • BeGarland, homemade or purchased from a floristrry sprigs
  • Pears: Bosc, Red Anjou, and Green Anjou (10-12 per 10 feet of garland)
  • Additional pears for mantle (optional)
  • Pine cones
  • Florist wire
  • Wire cutters
  • Ribbon (optional)

If making your own garland:

  • Greens
  • Pruning shears
  • Baling wire (heavier florist wire)
  • ½-inch sisal rope the length of your garland
DIRECTIONS

Begin with a base garland. We used boxwood, but you could also create a more traditional look using a cedar garland. Insert a 12- to 16-inch length of florist wire through each pear crosswise, and wire them onto the garland approximately every 12 to 18 inches. For our garland, we attached them mostly in pairs, with a few singles interspersed for visual rhythm. Then, wire on a few pinecones and bows at the ends or at drape points if you’d like. We also like the simple elegance of a row of pears across the mantle. We alternated Bosc and Seckel, and simply tucked in sprigs of greens, and wound an organdy ribbon through the display. Quick and easy–no tools required! Florist wire and baling wire are available from a craft store or florist. A base garland can be purchased from a florist.

Making Your Own Garland

If you prefer to make your own garland, start by making little bundles of sprigs of greens with florist wire. Then use the baling wire to wire the stem ends of the bundles securely to the rope, overlapping as you go to cover the rope and wire. To complete the garland make little bundles out of sprigs of evergreens, berries and laurel leaves, using the florist wire. Tuck these bundles into the garland and wire them in place with florist wire.

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Begin with a base garland. We used boxwood, but you could also create a more traditional look using a cedar garland. Insert a 12- to 16-inch length of florist wire through each pear crosswise, and wire them onto the garland approximately every 12 to 18 inches.