As the signs of fall are slowly beginning to show themselves, I make wreaths. I was originally inspired by the wreath making classes Michelle Nelson taught at the Flower Tree. The truth is she taught me many things, about wreath making, gardening, painting, cooking the list goes on. I cannot think of anything she is not good at. She was a wonderful coworker and is an even better friend. Wreath making is a nice way to spend time in your garden, to use up some extra foliage and do a bit of tidying/fall clean up. I often leave surprise wreaths on the doors or garden gates of friends. Another tradition on our farm includes celebrating the season by hosting wreath making parties. In the cool air we drink cider, sip pumpkin soup, and make wreaths by an outdoor fire (I might skip that part this year - quick heartfelt thank you to all the hardworking firefighting folks!).
If you’ve been with me through a few columns, you know I adore a mulberry tree. Adding to the list of reasons I love it - young pliable branches make excellent wreaths. As do willows and grapevines of course too. Now is not the time to do any serious pruning on your trees. Major pruning should be done, when your trees are dormant in the late winter or early spring. Taking a few branches for your project should be just fine though. Be mindful of leaving the space arborist call, the collar. When you look at the branch you are about to prune, you’ll often notice a bit of swelling around the place it connects to the tree. You might also hear it referred to as the shoulder. On younger branches it is a small area, maybe only a few centimeters. On larger branches it can be several inches. A proper cut is made just outside of that area. Cutting flush with the bark encourages cavities, decay, and not good insects, don’t do it! As you make your cuts, think of it as allowing the tree to grow out to the wound. Kevin says, “Don’t forget to sharpen your tools first. Sharp tools make better cuts." Start with several longer branches, on mulberries I look for the ones growing straight up, sometimes called watersprouts. With a little twisting and weaving, I wind them into a circular shape. Oval shapes also look great. You can use floral wire to strengthen the structure, but I find wrapping with smaller branches, sort of lashing them together seems to be sufficient. The base will just be covered up so no need to obsess. It took me about an hour to harvest and make these wreath bases.
Take a walk around your garden and gather for your wreath. Look for small snips, several inches long. As many birds and good insects take refuge in your garden during the winter, you want to leave them some material. Shoot for a range of textures and colors. Blue Spruce or Blue Junipers, Lamb’s Ear, Amaranth, and Artemisia break up greens. Grasses, berries, and old flower heads look beautiful. Herbs like basil and mint give you some lingering fragrance.
There really is no right way to style your wreath. Layering small bouquets with several interesting textures is usually my go-to method. Consider the material will shrink as it dries, so you might add a little extra to each bundle. I often start around the 7 o’clock area, securing my bundle to the wreath with a piece of floral wire wrapped around the base. I layer the next bundle over the previous, working in the same direction around the wreath until you tuck the last bundle under the first. Artists regularly talk about the focal point of a painting. You can add one to your wreath. The spot that draws your eye when you first glance at it could be a clump of small sunflower heads, rose hips or maybe a few pinecones. If you’re keeping it natural, try something other than dead center at 12 or 6 o’clock. Also, you might also consider nature is not really flat. Add a little dimension to your wreath, with a few items sticking up and out. If you hang your wreath indoors, seed heads like Nigella can sometimes burst open in the warmth of your house. In addition to drive by wreathings, I usually make one or two for the birds to snack from.
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