Done with flowers just because it's winter? Think again. Flowers lift our spirits throughout the year, and are especially welcome during the hectic holiday season. Whether from the florist or the supermarket, adding flowers to your home will boost your attitude and make you smile.

Roses, carnations, or lilies in red and white are the stars of the holiday season. In vases, in bowls, or individually, use your imagination to transform your holidays from festive to magical. Try these ideas from the Flower Promotional Organization.

Make a jar of water enhanced with floral preservative to use for all your holiday flowers. When using individual or small groups of flowers, always place them in a florist's water vial, and check the water daily.

Jazz up an evergreen wreath with seasonal twigs and berries. Then add the finishing touch of groups of three bright red flowers tied together with holiday ribbon. Evenly space these beauties around the wreath and be the envy of the neighborhood.

Carry the look throughout the house by laying flowers along a bookcase or tucked into the china cabinet. Place them at intervals along an evergreen garland with ribbons and pine cones for a unique look. Spray paint different sized pine cones silver and gold to add extra sparkle to any winter arrangement.

Place individual flowers in beautiful glass ornaments filled with water and hang them from the tree, the chandelier, or a holiday swag. Fill a crystal bowl with golden glass ornaments and tuck red flowers around or in the ornaments. Or, fill the bowl with white flowers and accent it with deep green ornaments. For a festive Chanukah centerpiece, fill a silver bowl with blue glass ornaments studded with white roses.

Fresh flowers and candlelight are a match made in heaven for holiday decorating. Both flowers and candles come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors that they provide limitless possibilities throughout the home. Whether your mood is festive, elegant, or whimsical, decorating with candles and flowers will add just the right touch.

Transform your holiday table with a circle of vines, greens, and flowers around a grouping of pillar candles. Choose many colors, two colors, or a monochromatic theme for the flowers and candles.

Stand tapers in a variety of sizes in crystal candlesticks, and add crystal vases or bowls full of flowers arranged on a sideboard or entry hall table. Then, multiply the luminous beauty of the candles, flowers and crystal by placing a mirror behind your arrangement. Dazzling.

For a whimsical look, lay a strand of garland across a buffet and decorate it with candy canes and red and white flowers. Then let it twinkle with little star-shaped candles.

Don't forget the champagne. Get some extra champagne glasses for your New Year's celebration and fill them with water and your favorite flowers. Group the glasses in the middle of the table, march them in a line down the center of the table or scatter them around the place settings. Choose flowers in many colors for a white and gold-themed table, or your favorite color flower to compliment your patterned china.

Lift your spirits this holiday season. Change your mood from hectic to heavenly. Just add the tranquility of flowers.

Try making these fun ornamental flower pots from the Flower Promotion Organization. They make great placecards for a holiday dinner.

You will need:

Round holiday ornaments

Key rings

1 flower (rose, carnation, lily, or your favorite flower)

Floral preservative

Clippers

Permanent marker

Directions:

Remove the cap from a round holiday ornament and fill it with water that has been treated with floral preservative. Place the ornament on top of the key ring to keep it steady. Cut the flower to about two inches in length and insert it into the ornament. Use a permanent marker to inscribe the ornaments with your guests' names.

Lori Pelkowski, The Midnight Gardener, May all your weeds be dandelions from a child

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