Posted on 12/24/2022 7:34:54 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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The Holly And The Ivy – History Of The Holiday Duo And How To Grow Them
For those of us who celebrate and decorate for Christmas, holly and ivy leaves in wreaths and garlands may be among the first signs that the festive season has arrived.
The History of the Holly and the Ivy
In fact, the history of holly and ivy at Christmas is quite an interesting one, dating all the way back to the Romans. In those early times the leaves were believed to have protective powers. Over the centuries, the symbolism of holly and ivy Christmas decorations would continue to change, representing both prosperity and abundance.
Some avid gardeners may be especially interested to learn more about how to grow Christmas holly, as well as how to grow English ivy.
How to Grow Christmas Holly
Those wishing to grow holly trees [1] may initially be drawn to their beautiful ornamental foliage. Though visually attractive, the glossy deep green leaves have exceptionally sharp spines. Holly trees also provide valuable shelter to birds and backyard wildlife.
Hardy to USDA zones 5-9, holly trees perform best when planted in full sun. However, they may benefit from part shade locations in regions with especially hot summer weather. Like many evergreen trees, holly plants prefer well-draining soil that is slightly acidic. At maturity, holly trees may reach heights upwards of 50 feet (15 m.).
How to Grow English Ivy
English ivy has long been planted for its ability to quickly and efficiently cover fences, walls, and even the sides of buildings. It is also a popular ground cover option for exceptionally shady backyards and sloped areas. Though it can be useful, there is much to consider before learning how to grow English ivy [2].
First, it’s important to research the plant’s status within your own growing zone [3]. In many places, English ivy plants are considered an aggressive, invasive species. In fact, the plant is often listed among other noxious weeds throughout much of the United States.
As ivy vines sprawl across the ground, each plant begins to produce nodes which root into the soil. English ivy plants thrive in garden locations which are cool and shaded, but it can also be grown well in full sun. Large plant specimens can easily reach lengths of 100 ft. (30 m,) and are known to frequently escape regular ornamental garden cultivation.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/the-holly-and-the-ivy.htm
The Holly and the Ivy: How Pagan Practices Found Their Way into Christmas
Every year, almost without thinking about it, we incorporate certain plant species into out Christmas celebrations. The most obvious is the Christmas tree, linked historically in England to Prince Albert – but its use in British homes goes back to at least 1761 when Charlotte wife of George III put up a tree at the royal court.
(It’s probably worth noting here that the first artificial-brush Christmas tree was produced using the same machinery that was originally designed to produce toilet brushes.)
Three other plants are intimately associated with Christmas: holly, ivy and mistletoe – and in all cases their ecology is closely linked to their cultural uses.
Holly, like ivy and mistletoe, is a winter green and the bringing of green vegetation into the home is closely linked to rebirth both of spring and of Christ. It is the holly that most closely bears the crown – its spiny leaves and red berries link to Jesus’ crown of thorns. But such a link does not explain why holly is linked to Christmas rather than Easter.
Holly was an important element in deer parks and old hunting estates – and the name holly still survives in modern place names such as Hollins, Holm Hodder, Hollyoaks and Hollywood – and were important for winter food. In the New Forest, in southern England, holly is still cut down as browse for the ponies.
The spiny dense canopy of holly also meant that it was useful as protection. It was sometimes planted next to saplings of valuable tree species to provide some protection from grazing animals and it is not unusual to see holly growing next to oaks and other trees, either from deliberate planting or a result of seeds being deposited by birds roosting on the branches above.
Holly has also been thought to protect the home – the holly you put around the door acting as flypaper for fairies, trapping any evil spirits who try to enter.
Holly and Ivy are often linked together at Christmas; this goes back much further, to the idea of the holly (male) and ivy (female) being burnt together at the pagan festival of Beltane.
Ivy, like holly, is an important evergreen edible plant species in UK woodland. One of only five woody climbers, like mistletoe it can form dense growths in canopies that can cause harm to the host. As with mistletoe it is linked with both Christmas and romance. Ivy is unusual among these species in being also associated with death and melancholy as well as rebirth.
Misteltoe: fertility plant
European mistletoe Viscum album is a partial parasite; it draws some nutrition from the host tree but also makes its own energy through photosynthesis. It is unusual in being a parasitic species that was deliberately spread by humans as it was thought to encourage fruiting in orchard trees. Pliny believed that mistletoe seeds had to be eaten by birds to germinate, indeed the name mistletoe means dung on a stick.
Mistletoe is most often associated with love, romance, courtship and the snog at the Christmas party. Its early associations are rather more sexual and when you look at its distinctive shape it is fairly easy to see why. Mistletoe has pairs of woody short stems coming off at right angles with two or more whitish ball-like berries at the junction of the stems. The berries when squashed secrete a white sticky liquid.
Most people associate mistletoe with orchards, but can grow on a wider range of tree species provided they have a fairly soft bark. Apple is the most common host species, but it is also found on limes, hawthorn and poplar. The 1970 and 1990 Botanical Society of the Britain and Ireland (BSBI) indicate that the decline in number of orchards and changes in management has had an impact on mistletoe abundance. More recent surveys indicate possible range expansion in the east of England.
Mistletoe grows in the canopy of trees, with no roots or link to the earth and it remains green in winter when the rest of the tree has died, With such unearthly vitality has easy to understand why mistletoe has been associated with magical properties. It is one of the few pre-Christian examples of plant magic to survive. Many believe mistletoe and poinsettias to be poisonous. Southern European varieties contain some toxins but UK varieties are less toxic and there are no known recent incidents of poisoning. It is strange that for a plant perceived to be toxic to have confectionary named after it. The Celts believed that mistletoe was an all-healing plant – and it has now been discovered to contain anti-tumour compounds .
So when you put up your wreaths of holly and ivy and take a kiss under the mistletoe remember you are taking part in some historic and less historic traditions and celebrate the natural history that is part of Christmas.
A Blessed & Merry Christmas to all - it will be a different one for us because of dad’s situation, in fact, it doesn’t feel like “Christmas” at all, but regardless, the “reason for the season” is the same and we will be celebrating.
Survived a bitterly cold night (single digits which is not ‘the usual’ for us) - sunny & very cold today ... high currently 13, might make it to 25. Took precautions with the pipes, well house & the old truck (haven’t tried starting it yet, but should be ok).
My rosemary will be deceased and the fig bush will be killed back to the roots. Sigh.
I had to use a sledge hammer to break the almost solid ice block out of the rubber pan I use for a bird bath - it’s a “happening place” on a regular day & I expect lots of birds to be visiting since all their usual water sources are frozen - it’s the least I can do.
A funny - made me smile: my niece posted (with pics) that my two little great-nieces (4 & 6) made “sprinkles with cookies” as opposed to cookies decorated with sprinkles - based on the pics, I think she got the description right on LOL!
Again, a blessed Christmas to all .... ~ Q
HO HO HO I hate cold weather in the Middle of Misery!
The plants in my greenhouse hate cold weather too. Heat mats and 1500w electric radiant heater aren’t enough to overcome below zero temps with 25mph+ sustained winds. I’ll know after the weather warms up if anything lived. Lesson for next winter... buy a bigger heater - one that runs on propane.
On the bright side, I warmed the workshop (to the extent that was possible) yesterday afternoon and did a bit of wrenching on Mr. Clarence. Got him back together enough to see if he wanted to run again. The old boy cracked right off and sounds a whole lot better than he did before I had the cylinder head overhauled. Now that he’s running I’ll be able to find and fix all of the little things that I haven’t paid much attention to up til now. With any luck he’ll be tilling gardens come springtime.
2 days before the big super freeze I harvested nearly all of my collards and make a huge batch before it was too late. Cooked collards with onion and little bits of ham are now in pint bags in the freezer (ironically).
Here in southern Ohio I can always grow cabbage family crops until about Christmas. Spinach and a few other greens go all winter. Cabbage family can live until it gets below 20 degrees for too long, and it reached 0 yesterday morning.
Looking through seed catalogs and wanting EVERYTHING is my only gardening adventure for the next three months.
My Baker Creek seed order arrived just yesterday. They’ve got a clever mailer with a message on it, something like “Oh boy! The seeds are here!” This seed-ordering habit is truly addictive. I’ve even bought the dollar store’s cheapo seeds, marked down to 5¢ a packet, 25¢ for a box of wildflower seed, mostly filler.
Thanks, Pete!
So much of it was picked during the holiday season (years past) that it is now protected and it is illegal to harvest.
We’re getting two or three seed catologs every day in our mail box. Must be a sure sign of spring..
We will probably have Christmas Dinner out on the patio.
Meanwhile, the last of my roses are blooming - I will cut them back next week:
And, my irises are starting pump out flowers - not sure if this is their spring showing - very early - or if these are re - blooming. They're so old, I've forgotten.
I think this is "Persian Beauty" - but it's been so long and the tags are long long gone.
They're trying to make nice for Santa and not chase each other around.
Your cat needs a Santa Hat, LOL! Will your doggie wear his Christmas Duds through the New Year?
I put Santa Hats on Beau’s animal mounts this time of year. He tolerates it. ;)
I hope you enjoy it.
Merry Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJBhmZUwDBI&t=11s
Merry Christmas to all from the frozen tundra of west Michigan. The house is warm and we have food. Biggest concern is will we be able to get to church tonight. We are counting our blessings for sure.
BUMP for later. Merry Christmas! :)
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