The holidays are a wonderful time for the entire family to come together and enjoy the company of one another.  Whether hosting holiday guests at the house, or traveling to an exotic location for the celebration, the Thanksgiving holiday decor can be simple and elegant.

Ornamental Cabbage and Kale
One of my favorite staples in preparing for the Thanksgiving holidays is potted kale and cabbage plants.  They come in various hues of dark green and deep purple.  Variegated varieties are available as well.  These plants are available for purchase at home improvement stores such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, as well as many local greenhouses and produce markets.

Kale and cabbage plants can be planted outdoors, indoors, or incorporated with holiday centerpieces.  My favorite place to plant decorative cabbage plants outdoors are in a pair of urns flanking either side of the front door.

This beautiful arrangement was created by combining two varieties of ornamental cabbage with seeded eucalyptus in a beautiful terracotta pot.  To recreate this centerpiece for your holiday table:

1) Select a decorative pot or container to display the arrangement, and fill with potting soil.
2) Choose a large, single ornamental cabbage or kale plant, or several smaller plants.
3) Plant the kale or cabbages around the edge and center of the container.
4) Fill in the empty spote between plants with the seeded ecualyptus.

Remember that the seeded portion os the eucalyptus is heavy, and can cause the stem of the plant to bend.  Be sure to leave 5-6 inches of the eucalyptus stem after cutting and push it deep into the soil.  This will hold the eucalyptus in place, preventing it from spilling out of the container.  And since the eucalyptus keeps a fresh look as it dries, there is no reason to keep the eucalptus watered - only the ornamental cabbages.

If kept in a warm, moderately-sunny location with slightly damp soil, this arrangement will last through Christmas.

Thanksgiving Table Setting
The smaller the number of people one has for Thanksgiving Dinner the easier it is to create a beautiful tablescape.  As the number of dinner guests increases, it can be difficult to put as much thought and effort into tables subsequent the main dining table.  But decorating all Thanksgiving dining tables equally can be simple and cost effective when using this design.

Various dried gourds, neutral-colored fragrance-free candles, bittersweet vine (or willow), and colorful holiday berries comprise this Thanksgiving centerpiece.  A decorative piece of wood, such as a long cutting board, stained piece of 2″X6″, or butcher’s block can be used as a base for the candles and goards.  Once arranged, run the bittersweet vine (or similar vine) throughout, and accent with stems or red or orange holiday berries.

The napkin ties can be made using a festive grosgrain ribbon and a leaf with vibrant fall colors.  If you prefer using a dark colored napkin such as cinnabar or orange-red, raffia can replace the grogain ribbon.

If you prefer to use a lasting design that can be used year after year silk arrangements, such as this beautiful gourd and bittersweet vine in a rubbed oil bronze footed bowl, are available for only $35 from the online retailer Fiori Belli.

Utilize these simple holiday ideas when preparing to entertain your family and extended family this Thanksgiving holiday season.  They promise to be a stress-free addition to your preparations.

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