Garden Gift Toppers

For a gardener's approach to holiday wrapping, we're turning to a staple from the potting shed this Christmas. Available in a rainbow of colors, Nutscene twine makes a playful topper when paired with fresh botanicals. Each colorful Nutscene spool has been made in Scotland since 1922, and the twine is still made using the company's original machinery. The first color they produced was a dark green that blended into the garden; because it was "not seen" among the plants, the name "Nutscene" was born.

To get the look, we started by wrapping our packages in simple kraft paper. Next, we plucked a few stems of protea and eucalyptus from a fresh bouquet, cutting them to size for each package. We chose Nutscene colors to complement the fresh cuts--blue to match the eucalyptus pods, and traditional green for contrast with the dark protea--then wrapped the twine several times for a substantial splash of color. For a more traditional look, swap the protea and eucalyptus for sprigs of fir and holly.