Want to make the holidays more environmentally green? Look no further than your own backyard. Among the leaves and garden leftovers you’ll fine items perfect for decorating. Elements your great grandparents used to created decorations for what was called a “found” Christmas.

Historical accounts document American pioneers took items they found in the fields and nearby woods to decorate their holiday homes. Rick Zinno, Park Ranger at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial’s Old Courthouse, where historic holiday traditions are interpreted and celebrated each holiday season explained not everyone had a Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was introduced to this country by the Revolutionary War German mercenaries and wasn’t common until later in the nineteenth century.

“Those who did celebrate with a tree would find and use natural items to decorate the tree such as evergreens, pinecones or even a bird’s nests,” said Zinno. “When it came to holiday decorations you had to make due with what you had. Perhaps dad would whittle and carve a toy or ornament that could be hung on the tree while mother could have made a small doll from saved scrapes of cloth or ribbon or perhaps she had the extra ingredients to bake cookies.”

Springs of dried berries, nuts and pinecones tied with strings or ribbons were favorite items. And for those without a tree, one must not forget the use of evergreen branches and swags or the Yule Log, a favored tradition of St Louis' colonial French.

Missouri Botanical Garden’s Kemper Center for Home Gardening has taken the green Christmas concept into the twenty-first century. Each year the Center decorates its tree completely green using ecological friendly ornaments.

“Decorating the tree with natural items is a trend that’s become more popular over recent years,” said Tammy Palmier, Kemper Center’s Coordinator of Adult Education. “Beyond the natural items, one can use more environmentally friendly items such of the LCD lights, which burn cooler and use less energy.”

Among the items used on the Kemper Center’s “green” Christmas tree are dried flowers twisted into garland and tussle-musses, small bouquets of fragrant herbs or flowers. Gourds are another featured ornament on the Kemper tree.

“Gourds are great. They can be painted to make unusual ornaments,” said Palmier. “Go through the farmer’s markets and check out what gourds are leftover from Thanksgiving. My favorite gourd for decorating is the spinner gourd, they make really good looking birds.”

While searching to find Christmas at your house, here are a few decorating suggestions that will help make this years holiday a brighter shade of green.

• Make an apple garland by slicing apples crosswise, string and allow it to dry fro several days before use.

• Hot glue ribbons to pine cones or walnuts to hang on the tree. Either can be left natural or painted. Of course, glitter is always optional.

• Decorate with edibles you can enjoy later. Bowls of nuts or fruits, colorful squash, pomegranates, whole pineapples and more can create a festive look that’s later useful and healthful.

• A homemade gingerbread house or cookies are classic decorations and are tasty too.

• Reuse last year’s holiday items to dress up this year’s celebrations. Cut up old greeting cards to use as gift tags or place cards. Tape the front of old cards to inexpensive, plain-color gift bags with double-sided tape.

• Frame especially attractive old greeting cards to hang on your walls as holiday accents.

To “find” Christmas, visit the holiday exhibits at the National Park’s Old Courthouse in downtown St Louis and the Missouri Botanical Gardens where the traditions of the holidays will be found throughout the holiday season.