Boxwood Tree Centerpieces Provide a Lovely Holiday Touch

Last week, due to a schedule conflict, I sent my husband, Dick, to cover the Boxwood Tree making event at the Arnold Senior Activity Center. He proudly clipped on my PRESS badge and grabbed my camera. But he drew the line at lipstick and mascara. The man can only be pushed so far.

When I caught up with him Wednesday evening, he had 47 pictures (!) and the following report to deliver. Sounds like they all had a blast – but see for yourself:

Founded in 1924, Four Rivers Garden Club is the oldest garden club in Anne Arundel County and one of the oldest of the 112 clubs in the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland.

Club members donate funds, time and talent to numerous nonprofit organizations, such as Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and the Hammond-Harwood House. Every holiday season, they make over 60 boxwood wreaths to donate to local organizations.  This year they donated wreathes to the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Annapolis Senior Center, and the Edgewater Senior Center.

But on this cold and sunny December day, Garden Club members Mary Carruthers, Kim Morrow, and Louise Devanney are busy spreading fresh cut boxwood tips on four large tables with 18 eager patrons of the Arnold Senior Activity Center.  In short order each person receives a silver bowl with a damp and secure oasis and instructions to flesh out the tree with the boxwood tips. 

Anita Cavanaugh starts at the top with a strong branch.  "It's important to start at the top and work down", she says.  "Otherwise you don't get a good shape. 

Neighbors Judy Luke and Yvonne Steele agree and in no time full and vibrant boxwood "trees" begin to appear. Meanwhile, Mary, Kin, and Louise are tying tiny ornaments to florist "picks" and passing them out.

Judy tells me that she is planning to add some more light ornaments when she gets home. "Not too many and not too heavy" she says. "That way it will be more festive."

"This group is the most adept we've seen," says Kim. "They just set right to work and have built some wonderful centerpieces. Now we just need to clean up!" 

"This was fun," Anita tells me. "I enjoy the chance to socialize and the boxwood centerpiece will look nice at home." 

It certainly will. And in just over an hour you could make one as well.  Here's how to do it yourself:

Materials:

About 40 English boxwood tips.

1 full block of florist foam
1 bowl or other waterproof container that will accommodate a piece of   florist foam stood upright on one end.
Florist waterproof tape (about 2 yards)
About 30 6" wooden florist picks (more or less depending on ornaments)

30 small ornaments including miniature candy canes, bulbs, bows, clusters of hemlock cones, etc. Fresh flowers such as mini carnations, baby's breath, and statice that have a long vase life or dry well. (optional)

Knife (for cutting foam; any kitchen knife will do)

Bucket for soaking boxwood tips

Most craft stores will have foam, tape, and picks; Dollar stores have ornaments, and bowls.

Directions:

1. Soak boxwood in a bucket of water for an hour or so. This can be done outdoors as the box is not hurt by cold.

2. Place the foam upright in the bowl, tape it in place being sure that you do not cover the center with tape. Run two pieces diagonally across the corners down to the top of the bowl and then run a third piece around the edge of the bowl covering the ends of the two diagonal pieces. This makes a strong structure to support the water soaked foam, boxwood tips, and ornaments.

3. Shave off the edges to provide a surface for inserting the box tips.

4. Begin inserting box tips about 6-8' long first in the top and then in the bottom. These will set the dimensions of your tree.

5. Continue to insert tips from the bottom or top as you feel comfortable being sure to make the tips slowly tilt upward to fill in around the tip piece of box.

6. Be sure to rotate the bowl as you work so that all the foam is covered and you end up with a cone shaped tree.

7. Using the wire on the end of each pick, wire an ornament on the end of the picks and insert the pick into the foam among the branches of box. Most ornaments are too heavy to put directly on the ends of the boxwood tips so you will have to wire and pick-in most of your ornaments.

8. Add water to the bowl. You will have to add water almost every day as it evaporates quickly. Keep the tree in a draft free place out of direct sunlight for best results. If the foam goes dry the boxwood will slowly dry too and become brittle and lose its shine. It will, however, retain most of its color so it will be attractive for weeks.