For starters, herb wreaths are a wonderful way to provide color during the holidays. To create one, start with a dried wreath base. The form will already be covered with green plant material. Now, add different kinds of herbs. Examples would include dried chili peppers, dried oregano, and whole cloves of garlic with the stalk attached. For more color, add dried yarrow. Yellow and pink would look especially nice.
Using this same approach, you can make an herbal swag or herbal garland.
If you have seedlings or cuttings of herbs, you can create your own living herb wreath. This is done by planting them in a moss ring. Until the plants are well-established in the wreath form, set the wreath on a flat surface. Later, it will be ready for hanging.
A lavender wreath is colorful enough for Christmas. These can be made by using a wire wreath form, and attaching swirls of lavender until the form itself is no longer visible. As a final touch for the holidays, add a natural raffia bow.
Use metal or woven wall baskets or pockets full of cut or live herbs for holiday color. Fill these containers with cut rosemary branches and colorful variegated herbs. Assuming the weather is mild, these containers can be hung outdoors on walls and doors. Otherwise, keep them indoors.
Usually made of old sap buckets or old barn roof tin, these metal containers are usually painted and decorated with various garden motifs. There's an entire line of metal herb pockets that would be perfect for the holidays. The assortment includes basil, lavender, sage, and thyme. Each pocket is appropriately colored to suit its name. Thus, lavender is purple.
You could also create a gorgeous, fragrant herb basket for the holidays. Place it on a table near a sunny window where the herbs can receive some sunshine. Start with a large woven or wicker basket. Use stencils to decorate it with various herb motifs. Attach a colorful holiday bow. To keep this basket simple, leave the herbs in their original pot. Just set the pots right into the basket.
Candles are an important part of holiday décor. Why not make your own, and decorate them with herbs? Use the directions in "Candle Creations-Ideas for Decoration and Display" by Vivian Peritts, published by Krause. The author provides 100 different projects with complete instructions. The projects feature all the various techniques, such as twisting, carving, and coloring. These are suitable for novice candle makers as well as the more experienced. As with other candles, place them on inflammable surfaces before lighting them. Otherwise, there is a fire hazard.
