Decorating our homes with greenery for the winter holidays is a ritual that dates back many centuries. Among the greens that are important this season we find evergreens, like balsam, spruce and fir, as well as holly, mistletoe, ivy, laurel and rosemary. All have great significance attached to them and most of it predates Christianity. For thousands of years, evergreens have represented signs of hope and life. Not only do they remain green when everything else in nature appears dead, some of the plants actually bear fruit.

Summary of Ten Natural Principles to Guide your Landscape Practices

(excerpted from Integrated Landscaping: Following Nature’s Lead by Lauren Chase Rowell, Katherine Hartnett, Mary Tebo and Marilyn Wyzga, UNH Cooperative Extension, 2007)