Advent - with beautiful ideas through the pre-Christmas season.

When Advent arrives, people have already gotten used to the cold season. For many, the best part of snow and frost is that Christmas is soon approaching. Not a few shorten the last few weeks before Christmas not only for the children but for the whole family with an Advent calendar. A plant lover would be delighted to find ideas for the next sowing in 24 little pouches. If there are radish or cress seeds among them, they could even start planting them during the winter months.

You can also delight them with plant tags that indicate where each botanical result is expected. Those who enjoy gardening may have already thought about the winter months in summer and pressed some particularly beautiful flowers, which are perfect for crafting bookmarks. For those who love to cook, dried herbs are a great addition to a pre-Christmas calendar. How wonderful it is when sage, lavender stems, and the like have been picked from your own garden! That’s when they truly come from the heart. Diligent people sew the fragrant plants into bags for an aromatic atmosphere in the wardrobe. This version is also appreciated when a door is opened.

For all the residents, it’s time to make things especially cozy. For most people, this includes the poinsettia. But an Advent wreath and a nativity scene are also essential in many households. Both go perfectly with some plants that come from Christian tradition. Above all, the boxwood symbolizes immortality and lasting love. A few branches of this evergreen plant make a great addition to decorations. In addition to rosemary and thyme, lavender also accompanies the Holy Family on their journey. Those who incorporate these symbols of the Christmas story into their Advent displays can enjoy the scent of the essential oils as well.

But it's not just inside the house that things should become festive. Now, it pays off if you've also thought about coniferous trees in your garden design. How beautifully fairy lights shine in them! Many firs and spruces are left standing, even though they've reached the perfect Christmas tree size! Because the proud owner knows they will still enjoy their appearance for many years to come.

Christmas feelings naturally arise as soon as Mother Nature brings snow. White caps on a green backdrop create a cozy atmosphere. When red accents peek through the arrangement, it warms the heart of the viewer even in freezing temperatures. Perfect for this is the Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen), which serves as a year-round evergreen ground cover. Just in time for November, it produces pearl-like berries. You can place a few branches in a vase, perhaps with a bowl nearby containing the harvest from the walnut tree. Do you have a winter apple in your garden? Then your arrangement is perfect!

What else is needed, besides delicious cookies and Christmas stollen, to create a peaceful and cozy atmosphere? Of course – candles! Candlelight is particularly popular during this time of year. A beautiful candle, framed by pine greenery, is always a great choice. For those who want to emphasize the Christmas atmosphere even more, they can attach small labels to their Advent wreath candles with the Advent themes "Hope, Peace, Joy, Love."

Don’t forget: The Barbara branches! While Advent, with its meaning of "arrival," is the time of preparation for the birth of Christ for all Christians, the tradition of blooming branches in the middle of winter stems from a Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox custom that honors Saint Barbara. The refreshing sight will surely delight all observers! If you want to see the flowers, framed by green foliage, in time for Christmas, cut the branches on December 4th. The most popular trees for this are cherry and apple trees. However, if you have a hazel tree or a forsythia shrub in your garden, you can achieve the same little miracle. Now all preparations are in place, and the celebration of love can begin!