By Peg St. Clair
Enquirer contributor

Keith Mueller celebrates thinking "outside the box." The nationally recognized floral designer works his magic in a gorgeous studio on Main Street in Over-the-Rhine.

On his way to teach a floral design class I attended several years ago, Mr. Mueller stopped to pick up a hubcap by the side of the road. In it he created a magnificent centerpiece.

What I learned: Art is all around us, in the most ordinary places. We can make anything beautiful. Being different is good. Celebrate life with flowers.

GREENHOUSES CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS

Open house at H.J. Benken Florist & Greenhouse, 6000 Plainfield Road, Silverton, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today and Sunday and next Saturday and Dec. 1. 891-1040. Open house at Mattfeld's, 8730 Cheviot Road, Greenfield Township, 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. next Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Dec. 1. 385-6577. Christmas Open House at Berns Greenhouse, 825 Greentree Road, Middletown, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and next Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 1. (513) 737-3705.

How does such an imaginative artist decorate for the holidays?

"Christmas should be happy, cheerful, a time of giving, a positive time of the year," Mr. Mueller says. "Think big, think abundant - that is what the season is all about."

For holiday arrangements, Mr. Mueller uses plenty of material from the following list:

• Magnolia and hydrangea. "The combination is great," he says. "The velvety leaves of the magnolia are elegant. Use them in wreaths and garlands."

• Red dogwood branches.

• Lots of nuts and berries.

• Rose hips.

• Dried artichokes.

• Dried cranberries.

• Orchids.

• Hypericum, a rusty-red berry in clusters.

• A variety of seed and pod products from Australia (These are available in his studio.)

• Lots of candles ("You can never have too many.")

• Fresh flowers, such as Casablanca lilies, "Opium" roses (red), "Orange unique" or "Miracle" roses (both varieties are orange.)

For his tree, Mr. Mueller likes old-fashioned European handblown glass ornaments. He uses one color of lights and changes the color each year. (Last year it was purple; this year it's green.)

Ribbons and fabrics in the tree provide texture. Sometimes he uses crushed velvet or faux mink.

Keith J. Mueller Flowers and Beyond, 118 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine. 421-5004. Final Friday celebration at the shop will be 6-10 p.m. Friday.

Contact Peg St. Clair by phone: 541-4680; Web site: www.gardenersnetwork.org.