Holiday wreaths adorn many houses this time of year. They can be traditional evergreen wreaths with pine cones, winter berries and dried grasses or creative takes on the traditional.
Here are five different takes on the holiday wreath you can try:
The Morning Walk Wreath: This is a wreath made from natural materials you find along your morning walk in the woods or fields. Bring along hand pruners and a bucket to collect colorful dogwood stems, berries from viburnums, lichen covered branches from spruce trees and spent wildflowers. Then attach your treasures to the wreath using a glue gun.
Grape Vine Wreath: There are many wild vines growing along the forest edge. Keep the wreath simple with just a vine and a few evergreen leaves or make it packed with all types of natural materials.
Dried Flower Wreath: Use the flowers you dried this summer and fall from your garden like lavender, ornamental grasses, strawflowers, roses, yarrow and many other blooms. Attach them to a metal wreath ring or wound up vines, such as grape and American bittersweet, that create a ring and insert the dried flowers all around.
Squirrel's Best Friend: Attach acorns, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts with glue to give your wreath an edible feel.
Kitchen Wreath: Make a dried herb wreath that's beautiful and utilitarian. Hung in the kitchen, the wreath will slowly disappear as you use the dried oregano, thyme, rosemary and other herbs for cooking.
And now for this week's tip: Dig a hole in the yard now if you intend on planting a living holiday tree after Christmas. Save the soil in a garage or shed where it won't freeze and cover the hole with boards.
