There was a time when most Christmas greens and decorations were real, but with the development of technology, many of these items have been replaced by man-made replicas that can be used year after year. Fresh Christmas trees have been replaced by reusable plastic trees made from petroleum and various other chemicals until last year. Their fresh scent has been replaced by sprays and scented oils, adding fuel and vinegar to the next Christmas season. Apart from regular dust removal, they rarely require extensive retouching.

Fresh green plants have also been replaced by artificial garlands, garlands and swag, which can be decorated with new color schemes and ribbons every year. The interior decorations can be changed and put in the closet, just take out some new artificial flowers or decorations again to decorate them. As we all know, these man-made objects can withstand blows and continue to function, which is different from their physical objects.

The other side of the artificial world is that most of these products are produced overseas, while fresh products are grown locally or at least throughout our region. It is also a renewable resource and is well managed through green forest farms.

Fresh products are not as expensive as many people believe. Depending on the type of evergreen tree selected, the price of fresh garlands ranges from US$1 to US$5 per foot. Inside, they fill the air with the wonderful pine smell and should be kept away from heating elements to maintain freshness for a longer period of time. Outdoors in winter, they can last almost the entire season without discoloration or loss of freshness.

Fresh Christmas trees can be purchased for as low as $35 and tend to rise from there, depending on the size and type of evergreen trees. The choices of spruce, white pine or Scots pine or Fraser fir are the most common. Of course, if you have enough room indoors, you can look for any size from 3 feet high to 15 feet high. There is a Christmas tree farm nearby, where people can cut down their own Christmas trees at a symbolic price as a family tradition. There is nothing more like the pine smell of fresh trees at home. As long as they are watered every day and never dry out, they will stay fresh during the holidays. Fresh trees can be recycled after the holidays to make mulch so that nothing is wasted.

The market and nursery also provide fresh wreaths and swag. Most are sold in plain colors, but some can buy seasonal decorations, especially if the local flower shop asks in advance. Many people choose to decorate these items themselves to achieve their own personal style. Some groups even sell these items for fundraising activities, so this is a win-win situation for buyers and sales organizations.

Poinsettia is available in a variety of colors to match your holiday color scheme. Buy live ones, you can get them at a lower cost, but they must be watered frequently to prevent them from wilting. Once plants enter the complete withering stage, they usually do not fully recover and drop a lot of leaves.

Although all fresh products are for personal use, some people may be allergic to various types of products. In these cases, manual selection will serve its purpose. Some people also like man-made products because their internal wiring is easier to shape and will never dry out. Mixing some fresh products into man-made objects actually brings more life to the fake composition. For example, put some flowers inserted in a water bottle into an artificial center, and soon the green plants will take on a natural appearance.

Adding other natural products to objects, such as decorations, wreaths, garlands and swag, creates a new dimension for life and man-made products. Choose items from your yard and garden, such as pine cones, ornamental grass feathers, dried berries, and dried baby tones to add depth, color, and texture to your greens.

When it comes to combining fresh, dry and man-made products into your overall design, the opportunities are endless. Please always keep in mind that there is more than one way to do things, but to use your imagination and try a series of new ideas to see which way is best for your decoration.

If you mainly choose to use artificial products in your decoration scheme, try adding some fresh products to get different smells, textures and depths. If you only use fresh products, please add some artificial decorations to add new sparks to your design. Whether using fresh products or man-made products, they all have a place in our holiday design. Enjoy the fun of decoration, enjoy this season, because it will pass soon.

To read more columns written by John Zvirovski, click here.