ENLIVEN THE FESTIVE SEASON
Greg Lehmkuhl is the creative director of the garden, home and outdoor lifestyle brand Terrain. He discusses ways to keep the holiday spirit by updating classic looks, integrating festive plants and natural elements and showing a willingness to compromise — especially when it comes to your father’s massive collection of heritage glass ornaments for the tree. Q I always hang wreaths on my front windows for the holidays. I change the ribbons occasionally, but do you have any other ideas to jazz up this classic look? A If you’re looking for an alternative to classic ribbon, I use red-striped upholstery banding or torn strips of cotton velvet. Anything with more humble origins is nice. In our travels overseas, I have noticed fewer looped bows, which I find refreshing. The flourish of a simple ribbon wrapped once around a wreath is quite elegant. Q The deer in my front yard eat everything. What can I put on my steps that would look festive for the holidays and not get eaten? A There’s always boxwood, but if you want to go with something in the pine family, deer typically stay away from firs. I like Korean fir, which is known for having many cones on a juvenile tree. Q I order amaryllis bulbs every November for the holidays. Any ideas for showcasing them? A Pair blooming amaryllis with armatures of various winter stems. I like Midwinter Fire dogwood, because of its orange-to-red colours, and curly willow for its bright orange. These stems add a growing structure that prevents the flowers from falling over, and also incorporate colour to the arrangement before your bulbs bloom. Q I’ve bought myrtle topiary trees several times for my mantel. What is the best way to keep these alive? They dry out so easily. A Keep them in a shallow tray of water to maintain hydration. I also recommend a self-watering pot that has a reservoir with a wicking system. You can actually make your own with torch wicks and a pot that sits elevated inside a larger pot. Q How can I convince clients that they will enjoy the holidays more if they simplify their food, decorations, parties and gifts? A The season is about sharing and finding a happy medium. In my family, the way we navigated through those situations was to compromise. One year my dad would get to display his over-thetop collection of family heirloom German glass ornaments (there were at least 1,000), and the next year my mom would get to display her Scandinavian birchbark ornaments for a simpler tree. As kids responsible for putting up and taking down all of the ornaments, we always liked the simpler tree. Q What are some holiday ideas for our empty window boxes? A: If you’re feeling adventurous, try making a miniature forest with a row of black spruce tips. Q I like to start planting amaryllis bulbs that will bloom during Christmas week. How many days before Dec. 25 should I start? A Generally, the rule is six weeks before Dec. 25, so you would want to start them on or around Nov. 11. Q What is your favourite way to decorate outside for the holidays — especially if you want your house to stand out? A The good news is that it can be fun and rewarding to come up with a different approach each season. The important thing is to look at the materials you have differently and remember that nature provides the best ingredients.