Area Advent Calendar - 16th December

Behind the 16th door on our Virtual Advent Calendar we have an idea for a welcome arrangement to decorate outside a house or a porch.  The design comes from Rosina Horton, Executive Member and Chairman  of Folkestone Flower Club 

Scroll down to below the design for Rosina's instructions on how to recreate the design and some step by step photographs.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow

MECHANICS:
 
This is a no foam arrangement for which you need:

1. A deem container, urn or pot
2. Tall sticks/twigs such as birch, cornus, reeds, ting-ting
3. Plastic to line the container
4. Very damp compost
5. Xmas baubles, fairy lights (optional)

 
FOLIAGE:
 

1. Selection of seasonal evergreens such as holly with berries, ivy with berries, laurel, pine, conifer, broken/cut branches of Xmas tree, yew, cotoneaster, crab apples, apples, kumquats, orange slices etc.
2. Large pine cones

 
METHOD:
 
Line the container with the plastic and fill to the top with the very damp compost.  Press down to make it very firm. 
 
Starting in the middle, I have pushed in the reeds and birch.  Next the yew and conifer.  This will help support the central placements. 
 
Surround with the rest of the foliage, starting with the tallest and graduating towards the outside of the container with the shortest stems.  Have some of the foliage hang over the edge to soften it.  Add the ivy berries, holly berries and large pine cones.
 
Keep watered and outside in the cold to prolong the arrangement.  If the soil dries the arrangement will start to move.
 
The possibilities for this design are endless.  Use whatever you have available to you, dried or fresh. 
 
Have fun