Decorating with Greens was created to show the community you could create beautiful wreaths, swags, and centerpieces using evergreen plants from the landscape.   The community learns the types of evergreens that you can grow in our local landscape and gains the skills to create an arrangement.  Participants for the program ranged between the ages of 2-70.

A total of 262 individuals were reached during these programs (156 youth & 106 adults).  Programs ranged from community-wide programs to after school youth clubs.  On average these arrangements cost $15-$50 if purchased from local stores.  The cost is about $20 from local stores to purchase DIY craft greens to create one arrangement at home.  Participants learned the skills to create their own arrangements as well as learning about the types of trees they can use from their own yard or to plant for the future.  Although it is hard to put a price on the skills learned and how much money that may save an individual in the future, an overall costs savings from making their own arrangement at our Decorating with Greens programs in 2023 is around $3,500-$4,000 for the 262 total participants.  

The family event called Reindeer Games with one-hundred and ninety participants was a partnership between Boone County Parks department, Boone County 4-H, and the Boone County Environmental Agent.  This program included various games, crafts, cookie decorating and the families created cup centerpieces from fresh cut greens from the landscape.  The participants from this event it was their first time working the evergreen materials and it was family creation.  The bonding between the family members showed during the community and hearing all the of laughs. Reindeer Games and Decorating with Greens was such hit that all partners plan to expand the community program in December of 2022.

All Partners Involved:

• Boone County Parks
• Boone County Extension (4-H & Natural Resources)
• Local Boone County Elementary Schools (private and public)
• Boone County Arboretum