Cedar greens picked from your garden or by the wayside are terrific for holiday decorating. On their own or combined with other hearty greens commonly grown in Bermuda, cedar greens will stimulate your imagination to create the simplest or the most extravagant holiday decor. Although Bermuda cedar (Juniperus bermudiana) is the best known, there are several other species of ornamental junipers in Bermuda which have slightly different leaves and are good to use for variety – and to spare our precious Bermuda cedar. Among them, Darrell’s cedar (Juniperus silicicola) and Virginia cedar (Juniperus virginiana) are particularly close in appearance to Bermuda cedar. Floral designer Suzan Sickling gives us four festive – and simple – DYI projects for you to deck your halls this holiday season.
Organic yet elegant, a pair of these on your dining table or sideboard will give a festive and truly Bermudian feel.
For the candleholder: Find a log in the woodpile (preferably dried out) about 4.5 inches in diameter. We have used cedar. Clean off all the bark so the surface is smooth. Cut the wood to the desired height (ours is about six inches) and then drill a hole in the centre of the log to fit a standard taper candle. Spray the log gold, or leave natural for a rustic effect.
For the candles: To glitter candles, purchase standard taper candles in gold and desired colour of glitter. (We used bronze.) Wrap tape from the middle of the candle to the top, so glitter will only be on the bottom half. Spray with glue and dust with glitter.
For the circle of cedar: Pick about a dozen small sprigs of cedar, all about the same size. Hot glue each sprig to a glass bobeche, layering as you go. Allow to dry.
