This Christmas bring a bit of the garden inside with some of these simple table settings using plants from garden and local parks. Take the kids on a walk and let them be creative.
I found some great ways to add a little character by using little hessian bags. Depending on the type of flowers or folage you add it can create a very different look.
The addition of little paper Christmas messages mean you can personalise them. You can also recycle the bags and messages for another year.
Any left over folage just pop in Maison jars and decorate the table.
Some common plants around your neighbourhood are geraniums, conifers, Liquid Amber and Acer tree leaves, you can even try agapathus.
Agapanthus are very common. Just make sure you take them from your own garden rather than snip the tops off someone else's.
Geraniums are commonly found in Australian gardens.
Acres have magnificent leaves that turn vibrant reds, orange and yellow in Autumn, however their bright summer green leaves are stunning and make a truly joyful display. Here I've added a Liquidambar seed pod.
You might also have Japanese Maples or be lucky enough to have an Oak tree.
You'll find a conifer in most Melbourne streets.
Oak leaves line many Melbourne suburban streets. Tee are quite a variet with many different leaves.
Japanese Maples have stunning leaves coming in a variety of colours and shapes. This one adds a vibrant lime pop of colour to the table.
If you have rosemary in your garden try making a little wreath out of it.
Above some of the native plants like Queensland Silky Oak, Bottle Bush flowers and seed pods, Banksia leaves and seed pods and Grevillea make gorgeous Australian themed place settings. You can use ribbon to make it look a bit more festive and you can even use wooden clothes pages as little name cards.
Above: Grevillea
Above: Queensland Silky Oak
Above: Bottle Brush flower (after petals have fallen, prior to seed pods forming). You could use the seed pod or the flowering plant too.
Above: The Banksia seed pod provides a truly Australian asthetic and is reminiscent of Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie. You. Oiled also try Gumnuts and Gum Leaves.
The Bouganvillea flowering in Australia's Summer gardens is a great bright cheering addition.
You'll find many white flowing native shrubs at your local park. Get the kids to pick a few little pieces very carefully to fill a little bag. It's a great way to engage them with decorating and appreciating the local flora. Look out for the Australian Native Christmas Bush, the Spirea, or Diosma.
Some final tips. Prepare your place settings preferably on the morning of your function. You can always collect the folage the day before and store in a cool spot in water. Dab them try so they don't wet your napkins, any folage you suspect have sap coming out you can wrap with green florists tape. Plus always be careful with little ones around any plants, even the most unsuspecting plants can have adverse effects if eaten so make sure babies and toddlers don't handle the folage.
I've enjoyed experimenting with these so much I've decided to do a completely random table setting with a mix of whatever my son and I find on a walk on Christmas Eve.
Enjoy your decorating and have a fabulous Christmas. ❤️
