Waukesha Floral’s Christmas Tree Recipe

We design and assemble many beautiful holiday trees at Waukesha Floral, and I wanted to let you in on the secrets of what makes the perfect Christmas tree recipe.  A good sturdy tree, prelit is an essential.  A variety of gorgeous silk flowers, ornaments in many different shapes, finishes, coordinating or contrasting colors, some unexpected “pops”, some time, experimentation and patience are all important, but let’s take this step by step.  Here is a tree in our back greenhouse being assembled, with all the steps to cook up the perfect Christmas tree recipe.

The ingredients for this tree include:

  • One 7-1/2′ prelit fir tree, on a rolling stand  (essential!)
  • 18 plain red velvet poinsettias  (red/plain)
  • 18 gold sparkle circle stems  (gold/sparkle)
  • 12 red velvet crab-tree like flowers  (different texture, and on long stems that will jut out of the tree)
  • 18 platinum gold solid leaf sprays  (solid leaves contrast with the gold sparkle circle stems)
  • 6 large red and burgundy waterproof berry sprays  (rich look, slightly shiny, different texture)
  • 12 three-stem poinsettia sprays with gold trim and centers  (commands attention, nice play of gold on plain)
  • 36 gold key ornaments  (different shine and shape than ornament balls)
  • 12 bundles of copper, red and textured ornaments (36 ornaments total)(bundled makes 3 ornaments into 1)
  • 8 large shiny copper ornaments (highly shiny, these are attention grabbers)
  • 8 large not shiny red ornaments with sparkle gold diamond pattern  (a contrast to the copper ornaments)
  • 16 loops of sheer copper ribbon  (ribbons shape the tree into a more cohesive design)
  • 16 loops of textured burlap and copper ribbon  (contrast against the shiny/velvet/sparkly look)
Start with a permanent, pre-lighted tree. Assemble the tree and pull all the pine tips on the branches so each is going out in different directions. We call this "fluffing"!

Start with a permanent, pre-lighted tree. Assemble the tree and pull all the pine tips on the branches so each is going out in different directions. We call this “fluffing”!

Before putting any decorations on your tree, plug it in to make sure the lights work. It's no fun to take off all the decorations due to faulty lights.

Before putting any decorations on your tree, plug it in to make sure the lights work. It’s no fun to take off all the decorations due to faulty lights.

Choose your decorations based on color, different shapes, sizes, textures. You want some sparkle, some shine, something dull, small flowers, large flowers, solid leaves and lacey leaves. The more variety the better!

Choose your decorations based on color, different shapes, sizes, textures. You want some sparkle, some shine, something dull, small flowers, large flowers, solid leaves and lacey leaves.
The more variety the better!

These poinsettia stems will be nice. They are velvet with a gold edge and centers, and each stem contains 3 flowers. I will unwrap and unfold the petals, clip the stems back for less weight, and distribute these evenly from top to bottom on my tree.

These poinsettia stems will be nice. They are velvet with a gold edge and centers, and each stem contains 3 flowers. I will unwrap and unfold the petals, clip the stems back for less weight, and distribute these evenly from top to bottom on my tree.

Another nice color and a different size flower that has a bright red look will add to the variety on this tree.

Another nice color and a different size flower that has a bright red look will add to the variety on this tree.

Now I take everything I have chosen for my tree and do a "test decorating" to see if the decorations play well together. I am looking for a red and copper tree with gold accents, a rich yet vibrant look. I think these work!

Now I take everything I have chosen for my tree and do a “test decorating” to see if the decorations play well together. I am looking for a red and copper tree with gold accents, a rich yet vibrant look. I think these work!

I like to have interesting spots on my tree, which entails combining some of my decorations together. I take my gold tinsel circle pick and zip-tie a plain red velvet poinsettia to it. This is a nice contrast of sparkle and simple and adds interest.

I like to have interesting spots on my tree, which entails combining some of my decorations together. I take my gold tinsel circle pick and zip-tie a plain red velvet poinsettia to it. This is a nice contrast of sparkle and simple and adds interest.

The next items on my tree are the stems of berries, flowers and leaves, dispersed evenly.

The next items on my tree are the stems of berries, flowers and leaves, dispersed evenly.

Next, I take three ornaments and bundle them together with wires. I have a bumpy-textured copper, a smooth caramel and candy-apple red ornament that will go onto the tree as one.

Next, I take three ornaments and bundle them together with wires. I have a bumpy-textured copper, a smooth caramel and candy-apple red ornament that will go onto the tree as one.

My bundled ornaments go into the tree a little deep, to draw your eye in and cover any trunk that may show. I have already put most of my sticks and flowers into the tree by this point, distributed evenly.

My bundled ornaments go into the tree a little deep, to draw your eye in and cover any trunk that may show. I have already put most of my sticks and flowers into the tree by this point, distributed evenly.

For different texture and color, and to give your tree a finished and interesting look, a few loops of ribbon with tails is nice. This is a wired burlap ribbon with a copper shine.

For different texture and color, and to give your tree a finished and interesting look, a few loops of ribbon with tails is nice. This is a wired burlap ribbon with a copper shine.

My tree is done! It's amazing how little of the tree you actually see. Also in this picture is a white and silver tree going to another corporate account.

My tree is done! It’s amazing how little of the tree you actually see. Also in this picture is a white and silver tree going to another corporate account.

 

 

 

About the Author: jane