It’s that time of year when we trim the trees, deck the halls, and splurge on flavorful calories. Somehow through it all, greens have a way of adding life and freshness to the chill of winter. For the month of November, the Simpsonville Garden Club has focused on greens- from microgreens to evergreens.

At our meeting, we learned how to grow our own microgreens with or without soil. These two growing methods, yield fast growing microgreens that are packed full of vitamins and nutrients. They hold a palate of different flavors from spicy mustards to sweet and nutty sunflowers. Microgreens also make great garnishes on those holiday dishes. 

Speaking of holidays, when there is food there are decorations. Evergreens are timeless and can be used in any season to bring some cheer. A few cuttings in a vase can bring simple elegance to any space, or a few springs of rosemary in boiling water can freshen the atmosphere. Try incorporating some live greens in your artificial decor- it can certainly enhance the look. For inspiration, go for a walk around Gracely Park at the new municipal complex in downtown Simpsonville. The Simpsonville Garden Club added some trimmings of Christmas cheer to the stage area and pots around the new municipal complex. 

We didn’t stop there. We also decorated the Chamber of Commerce, Pots Around Town, and the Center for Community Services entrance and alphabet garden. Simpsonville Garden Club’s holiday cheer even brought cookie décor to the kitchen of the Historic Kilgore Lewis House in downtown Greenville too. For more decorating ideas and inspiration visit the Kilgore Lewis House located at 560 N. Academy Street, Greenville, SC  29601. Christmas tours are available until December 21. Each room of the house is decorated by a different garden club within the Greenville Council of Garden Clubs. To learn more about Simpsonville Garden Club and all we do, join us Dec 9 at the Sycamore Ridge Clubhouse, 2 Turnhouse Lane at 1pm. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!●