Keeping Holly Fresh

Jake'sGran

We have a lot of different types of holly in the garden and I'd like to try
filling the top of the fireplace with an assortment of it with bright things here and there. Trouble is, I don't know how to keep it fresh. In the past it seems to have dried out quite quickly. Does anyone have any good ideas for keeping it fresh?

lostinrates

Jake'sGran wrote: »

We have a lot of different types of holly in the garden and I'd like to try
filling the top of the fireplace with an assortment of it with bright things here and there. Trouble is, I don't know how to keep it fresh. In the past it seems to have dried out quite quickly. Does anyone have any good ideas for keeping it fresh?

We keep it in bucket of water in our shed, which has very little light and no heat. It lasts brilliantly up to christmas week.

cjb02

if it is over a fire, it will dry out and die very very quickly. I make some wreathes up at Christmas with holly in and they last for ages (6wks plus) but that is because they are on an outside door. If I bring it inside it does not take long to die (1/2 weeks max)

Jake'sGran

I had thought there was some way of tying up the ends with wet cotton wool or similar and then covering it with plastic. Must have dreamt that one. Strange though that at this time of year magazines etc often show pictures of holly in living rooms and hallways. Thank you both.

knithryn

I remember seeing somewhere (about 20 years ago or more) how to preserve branches of trees using water with gylcerine? in it - you left the branch in the water mix, eventually it just preserved it. It ws used for branches with autumnal leaves.
It might be an avenue to follow up....

buddywitch

Holly and Ivy Superstitions

• Christmas evergreens represent endurance while the berries represent resurrection of life. Since the 15th century, holly and ivy were essential part of Christmas decorations for church.
• If the holly used for Christmas decorations is smooth the wife will be master.
• If the holly used for Christmas decorations is prickly the husband is the master.
• Prudent couples use both kinds of hollies on Christmas to assure balanced and harmonious home.
• Holly was used as a protection against witches and thunder.
• Holly leaves were scratched with the initials of the close admirers by the unmarried girls and sown into night clothing or kept under their pillow. It was said that it would bring them dream of their future husband. For this charm to be more effective, a borrowed wedding ring was worn on the third finger of the left hand.
• Holly is regarded as a masculine plant and ivy a feminine one, hence, too much ivy is believed to bring bad luck.
• A leaf of ivy was left in a bowl of water on Hogmany (New Years Eve) until the eve of Twelfth Night (Little Christmas) on 6th January. If it remained fresh and green a good year was expected. If it withered and had black spots by the end, ill health was prophesized.