Of course, I'm talking about evergreens-- Cedar, Pine, and Fir. Some people really love juniper, but I've found it's best for making gin. Juniper berries and needles have a very pungent odor that reminds a lot of people of mis-behaving cats.

The other evergreens, however, have that wonderful fresh smell; and if you treat them well, they'll last for the season. They're really thirsty inside since inside is usually quite a few degrees warmer than their natural environment, so make sure you make a fresh cut on the stems, and hydrate thoroughly. They'll do best if you keep them in water and keep the water clean-- but if you hydrate adequately, they'll look nice on your mantle for a week or two before drying out-- and if people play football in the living room, they degrade really fast! If you're using candles, definitely keep the greens in water-- fire hazard, you know.

If you're planning on cutting them yourself, look for boughs that are evenly spaced, and solid green needles-- no yellow or brown. To be kind to the standing tree, cut at the joints-- this will encourage branching next season. To be kind to yourself, wear gloves, and follow local regulations. If you're unsure where you can harvest, check with your local parks and rec department-- if they don't handle that, they can probably refer you ( Here in Alaska, you must cut 8 or more feet from the public roadway; stay out of the national parks; and if you're planning on selling your product, you better have a permit)

If you're buying boughs from a florist, look for greens that are even throughout the bough, clean stems, and pliable branches. Some Cedars are actually a 2-tone green, but again, the pattern should be consistent. The clean stems help your water stay fresh. Some perfectly fine product has dirt or debris on the stems, and it just means more work for you to prepare the branches for your arrangement. As with other floral materials, remove all the greens from the water line-- yes, I really do mean ALL the needles, no matter how tiny they are-- if it's green, there's chlorophyll present, the easier it is to attract bacteria, which means less life for your flowers, and more mess for you.

Finally, check container daily, keep full of clean water, and if it gets cloudy, grey or yellow, wash vase, fill with clean water, recut stems, and start all over. Happy holidays, everyone.