Whether I'm going for a look that's simple and serene or an over-the-top display, fabulous greens are the most important ingredient in my holiday decor.

Of course on my list of gotta-have greens is a wondrous Christmas tree. Like most of us, I'm a sucker for awe-inspiring trees that look like something from a magazine.

Each year, I have fun reinventing the look of my trees. Once I perched a tree atop a table, looped it with leathery magnolia leaf garlands, then covered it in silver, pearl and white ornaments. It made a stunning centerpiece for my Christmas buffet. For a more whimsical feel, I festooned another tree with huge cherry-red balls and topped it with a massive red bow.

But picture-perfect trees aren't the only way to go. A friend introduced me to the fun of selecting the strangest tree on the lot. At a Christmas party, someone told me about this friend's penchant for odd trees. Filled with holiday cheer, we all decided to tromp to her house and beg her for a peek.

Before us stood a magnificent tree I'm sure many people had rejected on their quest for the quintessential cone. But under her artistic hand, this uniquely shaped pine had become a piece of natural sculpture.

When I decorate for the holidays, I also use miles of garland. After my entry table was marred by sap, I switched my allegiance to faux fir because today's fakes are so lifelike that you can hardly tell the difference. The secret is in their imperfections. Natural greens are full of flaws, and the realistic garlands I love are also flawed. For instance, the holly garlands I'm using this year appear to have dried tips, just like the real deal.

For a knockout look with garlands, weave tendrils of sparse, gnarly greens throughout the branches of a fallen tree limb, then drape the limb over an interior doorway or over your mantle.

Because I'm all about instant gratification, I always decorate my dining-room chandelier with garl
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