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Christmas Door Garland/Wreath
You've probably seen these on the website, but I've posted the links in case you haven't.
I've not made one from scratch for ages, when the children used to help me and it was more about what they wanted than how it looked.
What I do now is to buy a plain holly wreath from the market, and then add to it and alter it. I don't have enough evergreens in the garden to make the base, but I have enough bits and bobs and things in the house to prettify a plain one.
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Here's one I made earlier - last Christmas, in fact. Base is plaited Phormium & palm fronds, plus grape vine and hazel 'wands' woven in between. Greenery is principally Bay, plus Hydrangea heads after drying in the garage since early October/ November. The only 'imports' were the robins - scrumped from the Xmas tree decorations box. Great fun, & only took 2 days to manufacture! [Yes, I am retired, so time is not at a premium!!].
Hope you have enough time & home-found materials to be able to fabricate your own personal wreath.
One year I bent some wire into a circle and completely covered it in pine cones that were individually wired on. Finished it off with a red bow and it looked lovely but was very sore on the fingers to make. Probably why you don't see too many of them.
David yours looks lovely
I have a plain willow one which I bought many years ago, and I attach various 'bits' onto it. Rhododendron leaves and buds are good - especially sprayed gold. Any bits of holly, ivy etc are good - easy to attach - and I have cinammon sticks, red beads (berries) and pine cones which I wire on. Finish it off with wire edged ribbon for hanging on the front door.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
LesleyK & SueP; I've grown some red dogwood this year , plus the 'annual' crop of hazel, so I'm musing on a somewhat more modest wreath. I'll still have plenty of Bay wands to weave in - gorgeous when it gets warmth from the radiators in the hallway! *I don't use holly, even though mine have virtually prickle-less leaves - they dry out too quickly & tend to disintegrate long before 12th Night! * I delay making the wreath until about late 'teens, early 'twenties of December, 'cos I prefer an intensive Festive Season rather than a overlong, drawn out trudge from late October [post Hallowe'en], that the commercial world tries & tries to foist on weaker-willed members of society!!!
*I'll post this year's efforts in due course.....
I felt strangely attracted to door wreaths whilst at the farm shop today. I have never done one before but I can feel quite a strong urge to go on a foraging session in the woods then buy some silver and gold spray paint. Some great ideas to get me going being posted.
I like the idea of using dogwood
I always like to make my own and over the years have tried various styles but my favourite without doubt is just evergreens, a few fir cones with a big red bow on top. I stick some birch twigs in to give it some movement.
should have said I buy the plastic wreath, filled with florists foam for pennies from the market. Our front door is high and gets all the prevailing winds so I have to wire.
A A Milne
I blame you lot!
I've just hunted out the old wire frame I used to use and ordered some more florists winding wire and wire stubs. Now I've got to hunt out some holly and ivy on a walk down to the marshes .... I shall start from scratch this year!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I managed to get a circle of polystyrene with oasis glued to it and I have used this for nearly 10 years to do a wreath for xmas. I use the foliage from shrubs in the front and back garden and add any berries from my plants. I must be doing a good job because the blackbirds try to take the berries.
As headstone restorers, could I just say that if you are making them for a headstone or cremation tablet, only use the polystyrene forms, the wire will rust and that will soak into the stone, there is nothing that will get it out.