Mo, I just vacuum the whole business up before I start to take down anything. I don't even try to save any from year to year. Maybe I should consider the cotton batting that Jamie suggested. I've always used the snow because I've found it covers up a multitude of sins. Hi Kathleen, Thanks for the vocabulary lesson! My mother is turning over in her grave because I didn't bother to look it up myself BEFORE I posted. Thank goodness I used the right spelling in the title (pure luck though). Now, weed out the cwap and get things set up. OA

I only use the real stuff, much of it harvested here on my farm. Over the weekend I made an arrangement for a recently bereaved neighbor family made up entirely of stuff cut here on the farm (which they used to own.) I used fresh hemlock, white pine, winterberry, rose hips, sensitive fern fertile fronds, Christmas fern, larch branches with cones, ground pine, arborvitae, beech leaves, rosemary twigs, evergreen woodfern, and running pine. I had conventionally grown flowers and greens on hand but the arrangement went together so beautifully I didn't need to use them, afterall. I do a lot of arrangements and this one will always stand out in my mind as one of my most successful. Sometimes the stems, flowers, Oasis or container will defy my best efforts, but on this occasion, it just fell into place, exactly as I had hoped. That rarely happens. I always hand make Christmas wreaths for my own and my family's houses and for family graves. I use local greens from here and specialty ones from the Pacific NW (noble fir, incense cedar, etc.) For the folks with allergies: have you tried washing off the greens? Most greens by this time of year won't have any pollen on them. Any residue of pollen or mold can easily be washed off. It seems such a shame to forgo the pleasure (and scents) of fresh greens over the holidays. L.

Oakley - Don't get me started on amaryllis! I also got started with a kit, probably 15-18 years ago, saw that flower bloom, and was hooked. In terms of refrigeration, I put all new bulbs in individual paper bags in the fridge, mostly in the meat and veggie bins (w/out the meat and veggies, of course). I use the fridge because, if I stored them in our shed, they would sprout faster than I want them to. Here is my main suggestion though, and you can take it for what it's worth. Ordering your own bulbs and planting them yourself for gifts is much more fun - In My Opinion - than buying kits. There's much more color variety and in the long run it's less expensive. Some hints: 1. Use an unglazed terra cotta pot, preferably Italian, very inexpensive and looks better than plastic, and is much heavier and more stable than plastic. And an unglazed saucer, too. Pot size should be 3-4 " greater in diameter than the bulb, as amies like to be rather snug, and center the bulb. 2. Use regular potting soil for container gardening. Amies aren't fussy; they grow in almost anything. I bolster the soil with a little Root Blast, but that's not crucial. 3. Plant the bulb up to its shoulder, so that some of the top protrudes above the soil. 4. Water liberally the first time, and then only when the soil is nearly dry. 5. Place the pot in a sunny location, but when the bloom is about to open, move it away from direct sunlight, which will cause the flower to wilt faster. According to your picture, you've done that. If it's to be a gift, tie a ribbon around the plain pot. What could be prettier! And from your pictures of your gift wrapping, you would create a beautiful present! I now buy almost exclusively from John Scheepers. JS's service is excellent, their selection is very complete, their prices are good, and, in the hundreds of bulbs I've forced over the years, none has ever failed. If I'm feeling flush I may also order a few bulbs from White Flower Farm, whose flowers are just amazing, if a bit pricier. If you look at the WFF catalogue or website, their prices for pre-potted amies are usually at least 2 or 3 times the price of a bare bulb. It's ridiculous, when doing it yourself is so easy and more fun. BTW, your flower is a lovely color. Looks like the second scape is just about to bloom... There is an amaryllis forum on the other side of the GW which I read regularly, but don't contribute to, because those folks are virtual pros. They regrow bulbs from one season to the next (IMHO most amies on more than one season don't produce the same quality flower), and they harvest the seeds to create new colors. Sadly, they don't post pictures as often as they used to, because there have been problems with photos being stolen and used, e.g. on Ebay. One spectacular photo was actually stolen and published by a bulb company in the Netherlands. I think that I gave you way too much information. As I said, don't get me started on this subject. It's wonderful that you are keeping up a family tradition. Such an easy thing to do, and so much beauty as a reward. Happy New Year!

Thank you everyone. You all have given me many good ideas and inspiration photos. I have now just added some bronze colored balls in the green bowl and tucked in some greenery with pine cones. I realize I'm mixing Christmas with autumn and I think I could do better utilizing many of your ideas but this is my first year in the house and I'm feeling my way and figuring out what works from my old stash. I just want the house attractive for my husband's company party we're hosting but I hate to rush out and buy all new things at once. I've already bought lots for my outside decor. I think that with your help I have it where I'm happy, but now as I see things on trips and next year I'll know what look I'm working toward and what colors work in this room. So much of the bronze is formal and this is in my keeping room/hearth room that is part of the kitchen. I want to keep in relaxed and fun. This year is a learning experience for sure and thank you all so much for your help in getting the mantel under control and for making me lose the snow :-) Mimi