After a long weekend snowboarding in Vermont, I came home to a pleasant surprise.
My Christmas decorations came alive!
This year, I bought large bunches of winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata – no idea what variety) and put it in simple arrangements with variegated boxwood in vases all around my house. There was water in the bottom of each vessel, mostly to fend off quickly crisping box leaves that I don’t want my to cats to catch wind of (a certain mess). I had weakly hoped that the water might also keep the berries plump but that didn’t work out. But what has worked is that roughly 25% of the stems have leaves now! I estimate my inadvertent propagating I will reward me with at least three of four new shrubs! I have created the beginnings of a hedge in my own kitchen while thinking I was spreading holiday cheer.
Are any of your holiday decorations showing signs of life?
I’ve had good luck with dogwood rooting in my outdoor arrangements after a winter/spring stuck in wet soil.
Andrew – I will have to try dogwood too….I am so excited about my free winterberry — there are a few of my variegated boxwood that have not gone crispy and I am wondering if I leave them long enough if they will root too? (we will see) . I have had this happen before with forsythia — but at the moment…it is the last thing I wish to propagate more of for my garden.
How nice for you! I love Winterberry Holly. Years ago (many!) I was working at a nursery. It was Fall, and in the distance I saw this bright red splash of color. As you have guessed I am sure, it was the berries of this lovely Holly. Now I need to find some to follow in your footsteps!