6 Ways to Get Ready for the Holidays With Your Garden

As the holidays grow near, parts of our lives become busier, but everything in the garden is slowing down. Despite this seasonal slumber, your garden can still play an important role in your holiday celebrations and decor. By gathering bits and pieces of your garden’s beauty now, you’ll be ready to create stunning handmade holiday projects in the weeks to come using art supplies gifted by Mother Nature.

Here are some simple yet stunning holiday project ideas from the pages of In Her Garden to get you started.

1. Seedpod Poinsettias

While reorganizing her bins of botanical materials, Vickie Kammerer came across some milkweed seedpods. As she sorted them by size, shape, and whether they were open or closed, she started to see flower shapes take form — and these metallic seedpod poinsettias were born. Vickie encourages experimentation for this project by playing with the many potential variations, like using various pod shapes and sizes, creating different flower types, and playing with paint and glitter colors.

Learn more in the Winter 2025 Issue of In Her Garden.

2. A Simple Swatch & Sprig

If your decor style leans toward neutral tones, try this stunning wrapping idea. A kraft-colored box is a wonderful neutral blank slate. In lieu of ribbon, add interest by tearing fabric instead, allowing the frayed edge to bring a touch of shabby-chic texture to the presentation. Loosely wrap the box with the fabric and tie it in a messy bow. As a final touch, slip a couple greenery sprigs into the bow. Simple yet elegant, casual yet refined, this gift wrap idea will make a statement.

Learn more in the Winter 2026 Issue of In Her Garden.

3. Easy Ball Ornaments

When Stampington & Company’s director of photography, Johanna Love, first moved to California after leaving New England, she found the Christmas season hard to identify without the telltale seasonal changes. Eventually, she found the colors of a New England holiday season in California’s diverse plant life, like pink peppercorn seeds instead of holly berries. She captured these colorful bits of nature inside clear ball ornaments, which need nothing else to become beautiful additions to the tree.

Learn more in the Winter 2025 Issue of In Her Garden.

4. Leaf-Printed Wrapping Paper

Rubber stamps are a wonderful way to add imagery and pattern to a project, but nature also offers a treasure trove of items that can be used as interesting stamps. Here, a freshly picked leaf was coated with metallic gold paint and pressed, or “stamped,” upon simple white butcher paper for a stunning effect. By pressing the leaf gently, the paint renders the overall shape of the leaf and the intricate details of the veining without leaving behind a heavy imprint. You can combine different leaves for added interest, or use multiple colors of paint for a more playful style.

Learn more in the Winter 2026 Issue of In Her Garden.

5. A Tabletop Twig Tree

Tabletop decor can bring instant cheer to any corner of the room, and this tree is sure to make your family and friends smile. Gather small sticks when you’re in the garden. Then, all you need is a bit of paint, book text, and a wood slice to create this charming display.

Learn more in the Winter 2027 Issue of In Her Garden.

6. A Leaf-Wrapped Candleholder

Candlelight is a welcome addition to any holiday celebration, emphasizing the warmth and comfort of gathering together with loved ones. A humble pile of leaves and Styrofoam cones can be transformed into a showstopping pair of candleholders fit for any winter holiday. For these stunning pieces, artist Vaida Lileikienė used gold paint and tiny wooden stars to make the candlelight shine even brighter.

Learn more in the Winter 2027 Issue of In Her Garden.