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Moose Mountains Regional Greenways presented a combined educational and creative craft workshop on the first Saturday of December, just in time for the holidays. Attendees at this “Greens for the Holiday Season” workshop took home hand-decorated kissing balls and sprays assembled from freshly pruned evergreens.
The workshop started with a tour led by Job Batson, professional landscaper and tree steward, on the private conservation land of Janice and Tim Long in Milton Mills. The placement of the easement on the Long’s land was facilitated by Moose Mountains Regional Greenways in 2002.
Jon Batson demonstrated proper pruning techniques on a variety of evergreens. People gathered pine, juniper, balsam and spruce as well as reindeer moss. They learned to avoid invasive plants such as bittersweet, which used to be a favorite for making wreaths before it was discovered how detrimental it is to spread the seeds of this destructive vine.
The group of 10 participants created holiday swags and kissing balls under the tutelage and imaginative guidance of Dawn Evans, decorator at Spider Web Gardens. Dawn divulged the secret of making kissing balls - a potato at the center to hold the stems! Refreshments of cider, hot soup, and other edibles, provided by the Longs and MMRG’s Education coordinator, Kari Lygren, rounded out the day.
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