You have the lights, the tree and the garland, but do you have the Christmas flowers? Flowers are a great addition to any holiday decorating scheme. Just a few well placed pots of flowers can fill your home with cheer and accentuate the celebrations of the season. And you don't have to be an avid gardener or an interior decorator to create a festive look with flowers. To turn your home into a winter wonderland, all you need is a little time, this guide and your imagination.

When most people think of Christmas flowers, they automatically envision rows upon rows of poinsettias. But there are actually a lot of flowers in a variety of colors that bloom during the holiday season that you can use to decorate your home. You have your choice of Christmas Bells, Christmas cacti, holly, roses, ivy, mistletoe, chrysanthemums and carnations. Most of these plants can be placed in individual pots or vases to brighten a single spot or grouped together to create an eye catching centerpiece. To create something truly unique, just add ribbon and a little glitter.

The first place your guests will experience your hospitality is the walkway to your front door. Use Christmas flowers to create a candy cane effect by lining the pathway with alternating pots of bright red poinsettias and snow white Christmas roses. If you are fortunate enough to have columns or banisters on your front porch and you haven't already let a climbing plant have its way with them, you can intermix streams of silk ivy and colorful lights to give your home a festive glow. Top things off with a traditional Christmas wreath on the front door.

Moving indoors, there are lots of ways you can use Christmas flowers to express your holiday spirit. With the way it overflows out of its pot, the Christmas cactus makes a great window plant that will brighten up any window sill. Hanging baskets with cascading ivy looks great in corners. Make your dinner table stand out with a mixed vase of green, red and white carnations. And of course don't forget to hang the mistletoe. Be sure to put it in a place that ensures the maximum number of smooches from your sweetheart.

In addition to helping you spruce up your home, Christmas flowers make unique and lasting gifts. Brighten someone's day with a bouquet of red roses and white calla lilies tied together with a generous helping of red, silver or gold ribbon. If you want to give something a little more lasting, then here's where a Christmas cactus saves the day. When properly cared for, a Christmas cactus will bloom and bring holiday cheer for the next twenty years. How's that for showing enduring love?

So when out shopping for decorations, be sure to stop by the gardening department and pick up some Christmas flowers. Even a few red poinsettias or a basket of white chrysanthemums can have a big impact and turn a plain room into a warm, inviting space that welcomes visitors all holiday season.

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