Fruits are suitable for every kind of arrangement--from wreaths and garlands to swags. Decorate a wreath with fruits. Start with a plain, ready-made wreath. Red and green apples, such as 'Granny Smith,' can be attached in appropriate places. The petite 'Lady' apples are a favorite for such projects. In addition, lemons look just stunning.
A wreath with fruits need not be hung. It can become a lovely centerpiece for the holiday table.
In addition to fresh wreaths, dried ones made from everlastings add color during the holidays. It is very easy to add fresh or dried fruits to these. Unlike traditional Christmas wreaths, dried ones can be used for several seasons.
Use all kinds of dried fruits for holiday décor. Add slices of dried citrus and apples to garlands and swags. Or make a dried fruit garland by tying the fruit slices together on a string.
Colonial Williamsburg is known for its fruit decorations. The doors are festooned with swags, garlands, and wreaths of fruits. I saw instructions for a gorgeous pear swag in a magazine, though I can't remember which one. They started with a standard swag of Christmas greens, and then added pears and English walnuts.
Create delightful fruit topiaries using styrofoam topiary forms, available in various shapes, such as trees and standards. There are two ways to make fruit topiaries. You can start by covering the styrofoam with Christmas greens, and then add whorls of fruits. The other method is to only use fruits. Between the larger fruits, insert cranberries.
There is another simple way to decorate with fruits during the holidays. Layer the fruits in an attractive, clear glass container. Usually it works best to use an assortment of related kinds. For example, combine oranges, lemons, and limes. When picking your own citrus for this, leave some leaves and stems on the fruits. This adds an extra touch of color to the arrangement.
A beautiful bowl of fruit is decorative enough for holiday displays. For this, choose the most beautiful container you have. Fruits like pomegranates and limes look nice enough to use alone. For the more common fruits, you might want to mix and match colors.
Windowboxes work beautifully for displaying fruits. These can be used indoors or out. Fill the basket with an assortment of different Christmas greens. Add some curly willow or a few stems of 'Harry Lauder's Walking Stick' for architectural interest. Finally, nestle the fruits on top of the greens. Pomegranates and red apples are just perfect for this. For outdoor use in cold climates, you might want to spray them with clear lacquer. This acts as a preservative to keep them looking fresh.
