How to Decorate a Gardener's Christmas Table

Gardeners can have a field day decorating the dinner table for Christmas. Here are some inspirations.

Things You'll Need

• Nursery Transplants
• Place Cards
• Raffia
• Ribbons
• Baskets
• Candles
• Holly Shrub And Cuttings
• Miniature Holiday Ornaments
• Pins
• Topiaries
• Napkins
• Tablecloths
• Twine

Instructions

1. Decorate a tiny "tree" such as a Norfolk Island pine, a topiary rosemary or ivy, or a 1-gallon berried holly shrub for a centerpiece. Or use a potted plant you already have, such as a fluffy fern, and stash it in a holiday basket (sprayed red, green or metallic gold and trimmed with a bold ribbon).

2. Embellish a pair of taper candles and holders with a sprig of greenery (holly, ivy, pine, bay leaf or rosemary). Tuck it into a narrow ribbon tied in a bow just above the fluted lip of the candleholder.

3. Continue the growing theme with place-card holders made from 2- or 3-inch potted herbs, red pansies or other starter plants from a garden center. Wrap the pots in festive holiday paper and put a leaf design on a solid-color place card tucked into the plant's foliage.

4. Use almost any compatibly colored tablecloth - even a holiday print - under your dishes and tableware. Pin sprigs of greenery such as holly, ivy, rosemary or pine onto the edge of the tablecloth at its corners (or between chairs at a round table).

5. Roll up each napkin and tie it with a piece of twine, raffia or ribbon and tuck in a piece of greenery such as holly, ivy, rosemary or pine. If you wish, use fabric paint or markers to embellish one corner of each napkin with a compatible leaf design.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have shield-back or spindle-back chairs, you can tie a ribbon - and tuck in sprigs of greenery, possibly along with an ornament - on the back of the chair.

• Some hollies can be very stickery. If you use a holly centerpiece or sprigs of it in your decor, use a less-spikey variety or situate it so that guests won't be imperiled.