THE CHRISTMAS SEASON IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TIMES OF THE YEAR. IT’S A TIME TO BE SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND LOVED ONES, AND LET YOURSELF GET CARRIED AWAY BY THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT, SHARING, SPREADING HAPPINESS AND GIVING PRESENTS.

Although for some people it’s a source of stress due to endless dinners and quite a bit of overeating, it’s also a great excuse to get your family together and enjoy some memorable moments.

Flowers and plants have also found their place in the festive season, although not as much as at other times like Valentine’s Day, but they do play an important role in decoration and gifts. The poinsettia is the true star for decorating your home. With its large red and green leaves, it fills any space with joy. This plant comes in many variants: completely red, or combined with other flowers such as roses, amaryllis, hypericum or lilies. It’s also common to add ornamental elements such as decorative pineapples or baubles. These plants can be used as centrepieces for the dinner table or to decorate furniture around the house. Other creative ideas are garlands and wreaths, which with pretty branches, a little wire and some Christmas decorations can be really attractive.

As for gifts, there’s no single ideal type of flower, as it depends on the person who’ll receive them. If they’re for your partner, red roses or orchids are usually the best choice. If you want to surprise a family member or a friend, you can choose one of the Christmassy ideas above, or a colourful and cheerful bouquet. Roses are still a classic, along with carnations, gerberas, daisies or lilies.

Main image by: HGTV. Second image by: Jane Packer.