812-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 9, 2000 Deck Your Doors With Greenery LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Fanning Staff LEESPORT (Berks Co.) In prep aration for the Christmas season, peo ple throughout the states are decorat ing their homes with greenery. Many people question where this custom began. Dieter Wolter told participants dur ing the Berks County holiday program, “The ancients believed greens had spe cial powers since they remained green throughout the winter. Decorating with evergreens began as a symbol repre senting Christ’s life everlasting.” Wolter said of holiday decorations, “Laden with traditions and customs, immigrants came to America on the boat. Since then, many of these tradi tions and customs have spread with each generation going a little more nuts and overdoing it.” He isn’t complaining. Wolter, who operates Temple Greenhouse, makes a living arranging greenery and and flowers for clients. Recently, Wolter and his sister, Shei la, revealed tricks of the floral trade when making wreaths, swags, and gar lands. “Don’t pick evergreens until after the first heavy frost. Then all the brown things have fallen off,” Wolter said. He prefers shipping in varieties of Noble fir and Norway pines, which hold up better than local evergreens. When creating swags, wreaths, and garlands, Wolter suggests creating a three dimensional-look by layering dif ferent sizes of greens together before attaching with number 22 wire. Che nille stems work well for attaching bows and for hanging. One of the things that has changed in recent years, is that Christmas deco rating is no longer limited to the colors of green and red. “All different colors are used in order to make the decorations fit with the style and colors of the rooms,” Wolter said. Put larger greens toward the outer edges of a wreath and smaller ones to ward the center. Remember that a va riety of greens cut in different lengths give a fuller three-dimensional look. Seeded eucalyptus, boxwood, juniper, and pinecones complement the greens. Sheila Welters shows off a wreath reflecting Christmas sym bolism: fruit branches symbolize the hope of the world, pinecones represent the seed of faith sown by Christ, grapes reflect the joy in the miracle brought into the world by Christ, and the dove repre sents Christ’s peace. Swags and garlands appear three-dimensional when greens of different sizes are layered, according to Dieter Wolter. but “too much is too much,” said Wolt er who believes “brevity” is often more appealing. “Just plunk a doll in a wreath,” he said of the ease of which one can make a stunning statement. Wolter showed several ways in which to customize arrangements to fit the personality of the owner. One of the most outlandish was a wreath stuck with bullet shells, bow and ar rows. Williamsburg-style arrangements that use natural materials are popular, but Wolter warned that placing oranges and apples next to holly will cause all the holly leaves to drop off within a few days. He created a wreaths with meaning ful symbolism. He said that fruit £ Laden with traditions and customs, immi grants came to Ameri ca on the boat. Since then, many of these traditions and customs have spread with each generation going a little more nuts and overdoing it. 5 Dieter Wolter Temple Greenhouse branches symbolize the hope of the world. Pinecones represent the seed of faith sown by Christ. Grapes reflect the joy in the miracle brought into the world by Christ. The dove represents Christ’s peace. Regardless of what designs are used, Wolter said it is important to protect doors and woodwork surfaces from sap by covering the back of stems with rib bon. While people rush to put up holiday decorations, Wolter reminds them, “May the light, joy, hope, and peace of Christmas always be yours.” SEE YOUR NEAREST & I\EWHOLLAI\D DEALER FOR DEPENDABLE EQUIPMENT & SERVICE PENNSYLVANIA Messick Norman D. Clark Equipment & Son, Inc. RD 1, Box 255 A Honey Grove, PA 717-259-6617 717-734-3682 Loysvilie, PA « c. oa 717-789-3117 Annville.PA BHM Farm Equipment, Inc RD 1, Rte. 934 717-867-2211 Carlisle. PA R&W Pitman. PA Equipment Co. Schreffler 35 EgWiM Street Equipment 717-243-2686 Pitman, PA ' 570-648-1120 Messfck Tamaawa.-£A Equipment s SSHST'** Snyder,^ R.D. 3 ■ 570-386-5945 greenoastie. pa Meyers Implements, Inc. West 6rovft..,PA 400 North Antrim Wjay S.Q.Lewis & Son, Inc. •* rtMviile Rd. 610-869-2214 1-800-869-9029 Halltott Sweigard Bros. R.D. 3. Box 13 717-896-3414 ' Frederick. MD HagsretOWn.lVlD Ceresville Ford New Antietam Ford Holland, Inc. Tractor, tnci ■ Rt. 26 East 2027 Leitersburg Pike 301-662-4197 800-553-6731 Outside MD, 800-331-9122 301-791-1200 Rising Sun. IflP ~ , Ag Industrial Equipment Route 1, 50 N. Greenmont Rd. 1-800-442-5043 Washington. NJ Smith Tractor & Equip., Inc. 15 Hillcrest Ave. 908-689-7900 6 KiWHOLLAN} j9StI\EWHOLLAI\D Company A.B.C. Groff, Inc 110 South Railroad 717-354-4191 k> 1