| With only gray skies surrounding it, a house in | | | | get those colors, of course, in abundance: scarlet |
| early winter can look stark. But hang a wreath or | | | | cranberries, blood-red rose hips, crimson |
| a swag on the front door, and your house will | | | | Pyracantha and a cavalcade of |
| spring to life. Cuttings of evergreen are sweet | | | | greenery-silver-green eucalyptus, blue-green |
| compensation for the leaves that are missing | | | | cedar, deep-green boxwood, and the astonishing |
| from most of the trees, and the tart hues of | | | | chartreuse and olive-green of the intriguingly |
| winter berries are reminders that nature has not | | | | named golden hinoki false cypress. But there is |
| forgotten about color, even though the garden is | | | | also the tangy purple of privet berries, the |
| no longer in bloom. Add wide ribbons and twinkling | | | | spongy gold of kumquats, and the yellow pods |
| lights, and holiday spirit brims over. | | | | and wild-red centers of bittersweet. |
| The Victorians, who never willingly left a surface | | | | To make decorations for your front door, you |
| unadorned, are sometimes credited with the | | | | may find all the raw materials you need growing |
| custom of hanging Christmas wreaths on front | | | | in your own yard or garden, but if you don't, visit |
| doors. In more recent years, front-door displays | | | | garden centers, florists, Christmas-tree lots, even |
| have taken many forms, from flashy tinsel | | | | greengrocers. If the greenery you have chosen |
| wreaths with silver-metallic bows to electric-light | | | | feels sappy or prickly, be sure to wear work |
| garlands that spell out "Season's Greetings." The | | | | gloves. And remember that although there is |
| most eloquent outdoor ornaments, however, are | | | | nothing wrong with a big spray of holly tied with a |
| usually simple and natural, made from the hearty | | | | red bow, embellishing the traditional recipes can |
| fruit and greenery that flourish while almost all of | | | | yield lovely results.. |
| the landscape hibernates. | | | | If you select cuttings that are as fresh as |
| Winter's harvest abounds with unexpected | | | | possible, and the weather stays cold, your |
| textures and shapes, like spiky pinecones and | | | | outdoor displays should last for weeks, spreading |
| smooth little eucalyptus seeds. And the palette is | | | | holiday cheer throughout the season. |
| more than the red and green we expect. We do | | | | |