There is probably more variation in Lenten altar arrangements than in any other season. You will find paraments of purple, ash, burlap, or none at all on altars. Candlesticks and alms basins may be wooden and altarware ceramic. You may find the usual floral arrangement, but more often wood and sticks or greens. I once saw a beautiful cactus garden in a Roman Catholic church. This article will address greens as they are used often in Lent and in summer where there is no air conditioning.

Greens should be treated just like flowers. Look for different shades of green or a variegated one. Different structures like tall pointed stems and leaves, rounder leaves, and different sizes. Always get more greens than you think you need and at least three kinds. Use the pointed ones to make the outline of your arrangement and then fill in the space, staying inside the points. With careful measuring of the first ones, you can make pairs.

When you cut your greens in a garden, take them in and wash them, cut off the ends again and lay them in clean water overnight. If the leaves have a furry back side, just put them in water. Do not lay them down. Be careful not to get new growth with green stems. The older stems are gray or brown and will last. New growth will droop fast.

Happy arranging at church and at home. †