I you're like me and prefer decorating your home with natural rather than artificial evergreens and such, then look no further than the Rosemary bush growing outside your door or the one available at a local nursery. Holidays are only a short time away, and if you would like to honor the upcoming winter solstice, this hardy and fragrant evergreen offers many possibilities for enhancing your home, office or business all season long.
As you might already know, I'm a pine cone freak, and they work well together with Rosemary as decorations during this or really any time of the year. Here's a visual of how I've combined them along with a few other seasonal items on my own fireplace mantel:
Adding twinkle lights to an arrangement like this can bring a dash of winter magic!
Yes, the downside is that live evergreens such as Rosemary tend to dry out quickly from heaters and fireplaces, but the good news is it's easy to replace them if you have your own source handy.
Boughs of Rosemary tied with bright red string or ribbons, along with bells, ornaments etc. can be put together in minutes for a quick, front door holiday welcome. I like to just gather a few branches, adding touches of color to make a natural looking decoration, but you can also make them into a wreath with all the trimmings.
Instead of giving cards to those you celebrate with in person, take a sprig of Rosemary and tie a red ribbon at the base, and watch your friends enjoy breathing in the fresh scent.
These simple decorations also work nicely when set on or alongside a place setting if you entertain company for holiday dinners. They can be attached to wrapped packages, elevating the meaning of a gift with a treasure from nature. And while we're on the subject of being creative, why not attach a smaller version to a hat, headband or coat collar!
I think the spirit of Rosemary would be honored by such practices.
An unexpected benefit to working with this herb is that your fingers will hold its crisp, invigorating fragrance for hours. On the subject of scents, a longer lasting way to invite the energy of Rosemary into your home or work environment is with aromatherapy. My two favorite winter scents are, you guessed it, Rosemary and Pine, followed by Clove, Ginger and Eucalyptus. Using these pure essential oils (as opposed to artificial fragrances), either individually or in combination encourages cheery moods, lively conversations and cleaner air.
For those of you who are into cooking I don't have to tell you how this herb can enhance the flavor of meat, poultry or potatoes any time of the year. But if you want to get especially fancy, check this idea out→
In case you're wondering, no, I didn't prepare this confection myself...it's way above my pay grade. But the Rosemary trim brings just the right suggestion of the chilly outdoors to your table.
Of course, these ideas can be adapted to any evergreens such as pine, spruce, juniper etc. I believe the spirits of these trees and bushes are pleased to be included in our winter celebrations! Just remember ask permission before you clip and then to thank them as you pinch and prune, and maybe leave a little token of appreciation like tobacco, cornmeal, a tiny crystal or something you made yourself.
Two of my earlier posts last year focus on Rosemary, but I wanted to call attention to her again. In the spirit of full disclosure, I do have an ulterior motive. My Rosemary plants took a negative turn last spring due to my own neglect, and I had to do some damage control to get back in her spirit's good graces. I thought it wise to give another shout out to her many virtues as an additional effort to make amends!
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For now, here's wishing you
along with wellness, wisdom and bloomin' vibes!
Wonderful ideas on how to bring the scent of the season to people in gifts, food and decorations. I was looking for something To add to my gifts this year. Happy Holidays! I look forward To your next article.