Holiday shoppers took a break Friday afternoon to watch Mare LeMay from Mindful Gardens give a demonstration on building a tabletop tree. Nestled in a corner of the Nickels-Sortwell House barn, which was the location of the Holiday Gift Shop, the tabletop tree demonstration was part of the first day of Wiscasset’s Holiday Marketfest.

Tabletop trees “make a nice centerpiece for the holidays,” LeMay explained as she carefully snipped greens to create a tree. Beginning with a cone-shaped piece of oasis, a foam-like material florists use as a base for floral arrangements, a tabletop tree is built by first placing 1-3 inch pieces of greenery around the base, LeMay said Pieces of greenery or “tips” are then added, working upward on the cone; in each row, the tips are placed between the ones in the lower row to give the tree a fuller look. “As you get closer to the top, the pieces need to be shorter to make it look like a real tree,” LeMay explained.

LeMay frequently sprays the oasis as she’s working to keep it moist. That, and snipping each tip before placing it, helps the greenery last longer. LeMay also likes to place moss around the base. This helps the oasis stay moist and “it’s just a nice accent,” she said.

LeMay was using Ilex Glabra, a native holly-like plant, to build a tree for the demonstration but said any type of greenery could be used. The greenery she uses for tree-making is obtained through a process called “tipping.” She uses bushes and trees on friends’ property and forages on her walks in the woods to get materials for her creations.

Visitors to the Holiday Gift Shop were also able to view the “Wreaths Around the Holidays” display of wreaths decorated by businesses and organizations. This year's theme was “Over the Top.” Visitors were encouraged to vote for their favorite wreath and the ”People’s Choice” award was to be given on Sunday, the last day of Marketfest. The wreaths are donated to families through Toys for Tots, according to a Marketfest press release.