Make holiday wreaths from your garden

With the holidays upon us, have you considered making your own handsome wreath to welcome friends to your abode? Brighten up your festive season by making your own wreath with fresh foliage and berries from your garden. Then put it on display and enjoy your visitors' compliments this special season.

Making holiday wreaths will be part of the "Making Your Own Wreath and Swag" workshop at 8:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday during December at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. We'll show you the basics of making the decorations using plant material from the preserve's garden for you to take home. I teach the Saturday workshops.

I've often made my own wreaths, swags and tabletop decorations, so you know they are easy to do. Go on a scavenger hunt in your yard for fresh plant material to use in your arrangements. Take a large bag with you to gather your clippings. Collect whatever catches your eye. I focus on a variety of characteristics, including background foliage and fillers as well as material for color and texture. With these in mind, it's easy to collect several bags in a short time.

Friends might let you do some nipping in their yards for other unusual eye-attracting plant materials. Tell them you're helping them do their annual pruning. Cut small branches, clusters of leaves, berries and pods that are appealing to your eye.

You can use several common plants for base material, such as grapevines, honeysuckle, and climbing rose and/or Lady Bank's rose canes. As long as you can twist and warp these canes into pleasing forms, they'll make ideal bases. Create the form immediately while they are still pliable and allow them to dry until you are ready to make your wreath. When selecting grapevine canes, try keeping the tendrils attached. Tendrils lend a feel of carefree living that's hard to match.

You also can use grapevine and straw wreath bases available at craft stores. If you want a wreath that is open and airy, with a more rustic or natural appearance, start with a grapevine circle.

In addition to base material, you'll need to add filler, color and texture. This is where the fun begins! Some possibilities include nandina, cotoneaster and pyracantha berries; small fruits of pomegranates; rose hips; acorns; and pine cones.

Also think about using herb clusters of marjoram, thyme, oregano, lavender stems and flowers, sage leaves and rosemary sprigs. And remember to include seedpods, especially from Texas mountain laurel, Texas ebony, mesquite, crape myrtle, chaste, Mexican bird of paradise and carob trees. Right now ornamental grasses will make excellent filler material, contributing a baby's breathlike effect to your creation.

Color is always important when creating wreaths. By adding blooms while they're still fresh, they can dry in the arrangement and retain their shape and color. Roses hung upside down dry nicely and remain sturdy enough to work with. Lavender flowers and dried sunflowers stay colorful and add texture. If you're into pressing flowers, especially pansies and violets, they make welcome additions. Carefully position them on the wreath properly, because they dry exactly as you leave them.

Now do some experimenting.

Regardless of which base you choose or what materials you've collected, create a professional-looking wreath by first gathering a small bunch of plants and wiring the bottoms together. Cut off the excess stems and wire each cluster directly to the wreath. Continue adding small clusters directly adjacent to the one previously applied as you carefully work your way around the wreath filling all the space. Next, inspect your work for evenness, Fill in or cut back as needed to create a balanced, uniform look.

Now create clusters of filler material to add interest and texture to the wreath. Before attaching anything, lay the filler material out on the wreath. Stand back and look carefully at what you've added and move or remove items until it's pleasing to your eye. Have confidence in yourself; only attach what you love. Finally, attach the materials to your base.

When your project is complete, attach a wire hanger to the back. Then spray the wreath with a floral preservative or clear spray paint to retain its shape and color. Hang it out of direct sunlight to preserve it longer. If kept free of dust, most arrangements retain their fresh appearance for years.

Linn Mills writes a garden column each Sunday. You can reach him at linn.mills@ springspreserve.org or call him at 822-7754.