Wendy’s Wanderings

Florida Traditions

December 8, 2025

I was enjoying Thanksgiving with family and friends when I mentioned that growing up, we would head out to a U-pick sweet corn field and gather fresh ears for our holiday meal. “Pick corn in November?” they asked, incredulous. That’s when I remembered — not everyone grew up in South Florida, where winter meals still include freshly picked vegetables and a holiday pie made from calabaza squash rather than pumpkin.

Florida offers its own set of holiday traditions, shaped by our unique climate and plants. Instead of poinsettias tucked in pots indoors, we’re treated to full-sized shrubs, glowing outdoors in the landscape. And while our northern neighbors wrap lights around their dormant shrubs, we wind ours up the trunks of palm trees, Norfolk Island pines and native cedars. If you’re fortunate enough to have citrus trees — lemons, satsumas or kumquats — this is their moment to shine. They’re ready to be picked, displayed on the holiday table or transformed into something delicious.

Our Florida foliage brings a natural elegance to seasonal decorating. Holly leaves and bright berries make a festive garland, cycad fronds lend themselves to graceful arrangements or swags, and glossy magnolia branches create wreaths with dramatic, timeless charm.

And as you look around your garden, you may find it’s also a wonderful source of heartfelt gifts. Seeds saved from a favorite bloom, small transplants tucked into decorative pots or simple arrangements crafted from your own landscape can all become meaningful presents. In true Florida fashion, our gardens don’t just grow plants — they grow traditions that carry us joyfully through the season.