Foraging in Nature for Holiday Decorating

Now is the time to think about holiday decorating … because early fall is the best time to forage for the natural ingredients that make spectacular centerpieces, tablescapes, and unique gifts. Foraging can become an autumn family tradition as you enjoy the cooler weather and beautiful landscape.  As you explore, collect items to create centerpieces and holiday gifts. Anything and everything can contribute to gorgeous natural holiday decorations.  All you really need is your imagination, a basket, and clippers.

Last week Dad and Buffy headed to Deception Falls along Stephens Pass near Skykomish, Washington, to forage. This is a rainy mountainous area that grows several varieties of beautiful moss and lichen. Moss drips off trees, branches, and rocks. Dad says: Buffy needs stuff, not everyday stuff, but flowers, moss, Birch bark, weeds, nuts, berries, fruit, seeds — anything she can use to make a centerpiece, bouquet or thing of interest!

Later in the week, they headed to Easy Street in Sunnyslope to forage nuts for holiday gift baskets. Easy Street winds through “old” orchard country with one-hundred-year-old homes and ancient orchards – a great area to forage.

Dad: While driving Easy Street I was looking for pear trees with ripe pears to cull.  I spotted an orchard with ripe fruit falling to the ground, whipped a U-ee, and low and behold we found a tree we’d never seen before. I thought it was some kind of pear tree so I bit one, it tasted terrible so I spit it out. A local farmer told us this beautiful fruit is a mock orange. It’s a protected tree and is poisonous! I’d never seen or heard of a mock orange tree. But they are Buffy’s kind of stuff, so she picked a bucket full!  Driving home we spotted Baby’s Breath and loaded up on that too.  

 Where to go

You may head to the mountains, the lake, or your own backyard. If you want moss then head to a wet, cool area in the mountains. Parks with lots of trees are a great place to find pinecones and nuts. While at the beach look for interesting driftwood.  Watch for neighbors to trim their trees and bushes especially curly willow and white birch. As neighbors trim bushes and trees expect to find birds nests, too! Unexpected color and texture are everywhere, any time of the year right before your eyes. Take the time to view your surroundings with a new vision. 

What to pick

Gather whatever catches your eye and gets your creative juices flowing. Now is the time to collect moss, pinecones, nuts, river rock, curly willow, birch logs & limbs, seed pods, and gourds. You may also be able to find wheat shafts, cattails, and hydrangeas. Not sure how it will store or last?  Pick it anyway and experiment.

Pick more than you need

As you gather natural ingredients be sure to pick more than you think you’ll need.  As you begin the creative process you’ll think of other ways you can use naturals for decorating and gift giving. Pick now what might not be available or accessible later in the year.  In cooler weather, everything will last longer and be ready for holiday decorating.

The day you create the centerpiece is the time to collect greens and berries. Look for varied colors and a mix of stem widths and leaf sizes for a rich, layered look. The centerpiece below has a variety of greens:  waxy holly, whimsical red-berried Nandina, and sturdy loblolly boughs.