A green and growing holiday centerpiece - sowing the seed for living centerpiece for Christmas

Sunset, Dec, 1990

Growing around a candle, tender green shoots rise from a plate to make a living centerpiece for the holiday table. The idea originated in ancient Greece, where children grew seeds on tiny platters to honor Adonis, god of eternal youth. The wreaths later appeared in southern France, where they're sown on December 4 (Ste.

Barbe's Day) to signify the renewal of life. To re-create this tradition, you can sow a plate with seed in early December. By Christmas Eve or earlier, the wreath should be lush enough to decorate the table and harvest for salads. This simple idea makes a great project for children, heightening the anticipation of the holiday season. If you want to have a fresh wreath for later in the holidays, sow another plate a week or so after the first. Choosing the materials. All you need is a box of rolled cotton (not polyester) batting or some blotting paper, and some untreated seed. Health-food stores sell bulk quantities of sproutable lentils, oats, wheat, or chives. You need about a cup of seed per dinner-size plate-enough to cover the dish s center with a single layer. On the plate, we used an 8-inch-tall, 3inch-diameter candle. For a longer centerpiece with two or more candies, you could substitute a shallow casserole dish. Sowing the seed. First line the center of the plate with a layer of cotton, then trim the cotton to fit. Next, cut a hole equal to the candle's diameter and place a glass in the opening. (Be sure to choose a glass with the same diameter as the candle.) Dampen the cotton, then cover it with a layer of seed or grain. Mist the seeds; pour out any standing water. To accelerate germination, cover the plate with plastic wrap. Stretched over the glass, the wrap creates a miniature greenhouse, giving plants room to grow. If weather is mild, take the plate outside, avoiding direct sunlight. Indoors, put it on a windowsill, again avoiding direct sun. Maintaining the greenery. After the seeds sprout, rotate the plate every day to give the young plants equal amounts of light. Check the moisture of the cotton every other day, misting or adding a few drops if necessary. After a week's growth, remove the wrap and mist plants daily.