A change is as good as a rest...
Who said gardening was sedate? I had to put myself in isolation for 8 weeks – due to breaking a leg, not Covid – and stayed out of my garden. And so, this month's column deals with creating an indoor oasis.
As I was nursing my leg, I kept my children busy in the garden, telling them to snip off greenery or, when time allows, foraging in the neighbouring woodland with their Dad for ‘little treasures’. What better decoration to make as a family than a Christmas wreath!
The Christmas wreath is said to have originated in Northern and Eastern Europe during the 16th century. Evergreen plants were brought into the home during winter as symbols of power, resilience and hope.
Qualities that together, with the circular shape of the wreath, represented the promise of eternal life. Now, I don’t want an eternity in lockdown, but the promise of a longer life can’t hurt anyone. So, let’s have a go...
What you will need:
- Foraged items from your garden or hedgerow - holly, ivy, hawthorn berries, seed heads, pine cones, etc.
- Florist wire or pins
- Wire cutters, a good pair of secateurs, sharp knife or scissors
- A florist's ring
- Orange or lemon sllices, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, etc
- Grosgrain ribbon or string for a hanging wreath.
Obviously, these are only suggestions. I fully expect you to bring your own ideas to the table.
I also expect a little common sense when foraging. Do not touch endangered plants, or ones you are unsure of. Never disturb the root bed; do not trespass and never taking more than you need - as a rule of thumb no more than a third of a plant.
Take scissors or a knife to leave a clean cut, good gloves are a must, especially for holly, and carry a bag to put your pickings in.
Once you have returned home fresh with your foraged finds, pop on some Christmas tunes, crack open the Luxlait Eggnog, assign a task for each child and let the work begin...
Grouping is good
Start by finding a good area to put down your foliage. The floor or a large table works best. Lay some paper or tarpaulin to catch any debris.
Separate your greenery into groups and cut them into manageable pieces, around 15 to 20 cm in length. Next make approximately 10 to 12 mixed bunches of foliage, depending on the size of your florist ring, and tie together with short strips of wire. They should start to look like large sprigs of bouquet garni, which is exactly what you want.
Now you have your foraged bunches tied together, attach them to the florist ring. I like to work in a clockwise fashion, but it really doesn’t matter so long as you are methodical. Tie each mini bouquet to the ring with florist wire that you have pre-cut to fit your wreath or affix with florist pegs - whichever you find easier. Each sprig should overlap the previous one and cover any stems or fixings to get a full, lush, clean look.
‘I can’t see the wood for the trees’, is a common phrase for a reason. Close-up work requires a break. Step back every so often and examine your progress. If you notice bald spots or odd sections work to fill them in or trim them up so that you get a nice symmetrical shape.
Scent is very evocative. Nothing says Christmas to me more than the smell of pine, spice and citrus. Add some bunched cinnamon sticks or dried orange and lemon slices to your wreath. It’s a natural way of scenting your home, smells as good as any candle and will last longer.
Dislike Christmas scents? Add some herbs instead. Dried bunches of sage, fresh eucalyptus or rosemary work well.
Buck the trend and branch out in a different direction by choosing plants not normally associated with Christmas to create a modern fresh look. Succulents make a funky looking wreath and live longer.
No time to make a wreath? Create an early spring by growing beautiful bulbs indoors. The smug gardeners amongst us have been preparing their bulbs since early autumn to bloom for Christmas. If you are ahead of the game, good for you. If not, don’t worry you can still get the same effect by buying ‘prepared’ or ‘treated’ bulbs for this purpose.
I recommend Hyacinths like ‘White or Blue Pearl’, Daffodils, such as the ever popular ‘Paper Whites’, and the blousy Amaryllis - opt for the all white ‘Christmas Gift’ for a contemporary twist.
These bulbs are beautifully scented, even the subtle Amaryllis, and they look good grouped together. So, don’t feel guilty and get potting!
The final touch...hang that fresh picked mistletoe on high for virtual Christmas kisses! Happy Holidays!!
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