It is Christmas time! My FAVORITE time of the year.

Since this is the first year that we are really focusing on our homesteading lifestyle, I thought it would be great to look at what we can find in our backyard to use for decorations.

We have a section of evergreens and we actually have a few different varieties of bushes and trees that we could experiment with.

Why purchase expensive evergreen wreaths and garland when you can so easily make them at home?

They create such a cozy and inviting atmosphere, and they smell amazing!

This is the first year we are doing this, so we are experimenting with several different natural materials.

These materials were either found for free in our backyard or are seasonal fruit that we were already purchasing at low prices at the grocery store.

These materials include:

• oranges
• cranberries
• evergreens

What I found so interesting about these natural decorations, is that they really bring an old-fashioned, vintage feel to your decor. Also, while they are so simple and easy to put together, they are also so elegant and classic.

Oranges and Boxwood Centerpieces

I have these two bushes that line a small set of steps that we use daily when walking too and from our cars.  I never noticed them much and I think we have only trimmed them back once or twice.  In preparation for this post, I did some research and surveyed our property for any evergreen trees or bushes that could be used.

These two bushes are known as “Boxwoods” and are commonly used in holiday decor arrangements, centerpieces, and wreaths.  After some quick trimming (killing two birds with one stone!)  I brought some cuttings inside.  Boxwood is great for this type of project because the braches don’t really wilt.  Instead, after about a week they will dry out and get brittle but for the most part look fresh for some time.

Who would have thought that I have one of the most common plants used in decorations right outside my back door!

Oranges are in season around the holidays and have always been a staple in natural decor.  Add the bright orange color to the deep, fresh green of the boxwoods and you have a cheery, vintage, and cozy centerpiece.

If you want to get really fancy with your oranges, pop some whole cloves into the oranges in various patterns.  Not only does this combination smell amazing, but it also looks classy.

I only had a cranberry colored tablecloth but I think that a deep forest green one would be really beautiful against the milk glass!

Cranberries and Juniper Centerpiece

I don’t have a cranberry bush on my property but you can easily find bags of whole cranberries at the grocery store.

For this centerpiece, I reused a glass jar from a Yankee Candle and filled it with whole cranberries.  Add some water and a floating candle and you have an elegant centerpiece.  The aroma that the cranberries have when floating in water is so festive.

Juniper and I have a love-hate relationship. I have so much of it in our backyard and I HATE weeding it.  I keep saying that I am going to rip it all out so, in the meantime, I will try to enjoy it!

I actually like using it in decorating so I will probably leave at least one bush for that purpose.

Juniper also has a strong pine/evergreen smell to it.  Be careful trimming and arranging juniper branches because they are very sharp and prickly.

I really do love the silver/green tints of the needles, coupled with the colors of the cranberry, this combination really does make for a beautiful centerpiece.

Dried Oranges

I never really thought about orange slices before but while I was researching for decorating ideas, images of them kept popping up.  I realized that they are actually a common decor for an old-fashioned, Victorian Christmas.

They are also really easy to make.

Here is step by step instructions on how we made ours:

1. Cut Oranges into 1/4 inch slices
2. Preheat oven to 180 degrees
3. Line baking sheet with parchment paper
4. Lay out orange slices flat on a tray
5. Bake orange slices for 2.5 hours and then flip slices
6. Bake for another 2 hours
7. Timing might vary depending on the thickness of orange slices

This worked great for us, and they smell amazing when baking!  However, even after 4.5 hours of baking, there was still some moisture left in the slices.  I pulled them out because they were starting to brown.  Give them an extra day to lay out and they will be ready to use!

Once ready, I just took some embroidery thread that I had easily accessible and strung the slices together in a garland.  If I had any extra cranberries on hand I would have included them in the garland as well.  I then put the garland on our tree but it would look great alongside any greenery that you have in your Christmas decor.

The result is a vintage looking garland that you made yourself with natural ingredients!

I had some extra slices so I made some individual ornaments by adding some star annis.  I thought they turned out very nicely!

They will also last for quite awhile.  Try it for yourself!

Simple Red, White and Evergreen

Additional Natural Decor Ideas

While the ideas for natural decorations are endless, a few great ones that you could use today are;

• Pinecones
• Branches
• Leaves
• Holly and other berry bushes

I really wanted to incorporate some pinecones into the decor this year, but I had a difficult time finding any quality ones to use.  I think that next year, I will start trying to forage for them earlier.

I do not have a holly bush on our property.  How awesome would it be to have a holly bush accessible for cuttings?!

However, as much as my boys love berries of all kinds, incorporating them in the decorations would probably have to wait until they are older.  With that said, I might try to plant a holly bush next year so that it can have time to grow for when we do want to use it.

The possibilities are really endless! Go check out your backyard to see what kinds of materials you can incorporate into your decor this year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Leaf Family!