Eliza Waters

The surprise snow storm on Thanksgiving gifted us with a lot of windfall, as many branches broke, unable to hold the heavy, wet snow, leaving the ground scattered with debris. The timing was perfect, saving me from having to cut greens for my seasonal holiday decorating. That’s Yankee thrift for you!

We have only one balsam fir on our property and it is 50′ tall, so cutting young growth is pretty much impossible. I was delighted rather than dismayed to see three large boughs on the ground. I dragged them to the garage where the snow could melt off, to await my use. I did the same with several pines boughs.

Not every year is a good one for pine cones, so in a prolific year I collect the fine ones when I see them. They can be saved and re-used for many years.

I needed a base for my wreath, having used my wire base making a hydrangea wreath this fall. I recalled a tangle of wild grape vine that we had to cut and pull off one of our trails, so I headed down and wound several long vines into a simple, strong, firm base about 15″ in diameter.

I clipped a large pile of 6-8″ pieces of balsam and pine, attaching bunches of four or five pieces at a time to the vine base with spool wire. It didn’t take long and I enjoyed the process of creating this symbol of the unending yearly cycle. Checking for symmetry, I stuck extra pieces into the frame until pleased with the result. A bow, pine cones attached with wire and it is finished with sprigs of winterberry. I most often prefer the simple natural look, but in years past have made a range from glitzy gold to fruity della Robbia.

I hang the wreath on the wood shed where it can be seen from the road. I decorate the mailbox post with a swag as well. We don’t get a ton of visitors, so these are my ‘public’ displays.

On the front porch, next to the door, I filled a wooden bucket with an arrangement of greens, again using the windfall and pieces of winterberry and holly clipped from the bushes in the yard.

I have a little basket that hangs under the porch light that I change with the seasons and this gets fresh cut greens as well. Both get bows, of course! They lift my spirits every time I come and go, adding to the festive feeling in this season of Light.

Participate in the Forest Garden’s Wreath Challenge by posting your holiday decorations by December 13 & link to FG ‘holiday blog hop’ posting. If you don’t have a blog and want to participate, there are instructions provided. I look forward to seeing how folks in various parts of the globe decorate. What do wreaths look like in Australia, Florida, Great Britain, Arizona and other places that offer different vegetation? Show us your wreaths!