Dear Highland Park Neighbors As the holiday season approaches, the Highland Park Garden Club is excited to continue our community project that will bring a touch of nature and festivity to our neighborhood during the winter months ahead. We’re reaching out to you with a special request that will help make this project feasible and special. We’re looking to collect evergreen foliage, branches, twigs and berries from your gardens to create the decorations that will adorn the 27 plant containers outside participating merchants along the length of Bryant Street. These natural arrangements will not only make our business corridor look cheerful, but will also bring a sense of togetherness and warmth during the festive season. If you’re willing to share any cuttings from your evergreens your contribution will help make our community sparkle with the spirit of the season, and we’ll ensure that these materials are used creatively to enhance our neighborhood. If you're keen to be part of this initiative, please respond to this email at hpgcpgh@gmail.com. We will coordinate with you on when and how to collect your evergreen and foliage cuttings. We plan to decorate the containers soon after the Thanksgiving weekend. Thank you for being a part of our vibrant neighborhood. We look forward to seeing the magic your evergreen contributions will bring to our community. With warm regards, Highland Park Garden Club (Bryant Street Planter Committee) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here is a list of the plant and foliage items we’re seeking: ● Branches from holly, spruce, fir, cedar, cypress, juniper, arborvitae, yew, pine; ● Cuttings from plants with colored branches or twigs, such as red- or yellow-stem dogwoods; ● Cuttings from shrubs with twisty, curly branches like curly willow or Harry Lauder’s walking stick; ● Branches with colorful berries such as winterberry, chokeberry, or nandina (heavenly bamboo); ● Dried flower heads and the distinctive foliage from oak-leaved or other hydrangeas of any kind ● Any grass plumes; ● Cones, of all shapes, from evergreen trees; ● Birch logs, as they look striking with their distinctive bark. -- Highland Park Garden Club, Pittsburgh PA