Nature-inspired wreaths bring new life to a holiday tradition

By SUE TREIMAN 

Picture a holiday wreath that has no sprigs of pine branches and lasts well beyond winter. You’ve described the latest trend in wreath-making.

“This winter, we’re seeing natural looks with lots of asymmetrical or crescent shapes that can be hung on windows, not just doors,” said Lauren Chillemi, co-owner of Bedford Village Flower Shoppe.

Wreaths have endured for thousands of years, their circular shape symbolizing renewal. The traditional variety has waxy leaves, bright berries and sprigs of evergreen. Sales of wreaths top $1 billion each year. Currently, the most coveted wreath designs are decked out in earth tones. Increasingly, they look more like swags, wall hangings or garlands than the classic wreath. 

Best of all, according to the wreath wizards at Westmoreland Sanctuary in Mount Kisco, they convey a growing awareness of sustainability and the natural world. That is particularly true at Westmoreland’s annual wreath workshops, held at the preserve’s  670-acre site on Thursday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 13.  

“We see this as a gateway program,”  said Executive Director Ann Paul. “People who might not normally think about conservation come here, make a beautiful wreath and leave with a deeper connection to nature.”

Paul, along with Conservation Director Stephen Ricker and designer Nadia Ghannam train participants to identify and collect the lovely flora from their own backyards and along nearby roadways. 

“We emphasize dried flowers, pinecones and berries that are found, not purchased,” said Ricker. 

The Westchester and Putnam branch of the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State takes a similar tact. Each year, their members handcraft dozens of wreaths for donation to local senior centers, libraries and fire stations. Their creations fully leverage local vegetation. 

“The garden club community is more aware of the reduce, reuse and recycle approach,” said Sandy Walters, director of FGCNYS ninth district chapter.

Westmoreland’s wreath workshops go a step further. Their emphasis on invasives targets harmful vegetation that tend to overrun native flora. Wreath-makers learn how to distinguish the “nasty” from the “nice” plants. 

“It’s like a pottery painting class with music and wine where people come because it’s enjoyable and leave with something meaningful,” said Ricker. 

A Westchester native, Ricker began building wreaths as a child. He knows that anyone, given time, patience, and the right materials, can transform their backyard bounty into a brag-worthy design. 

Steps for wreath-making 

The wreath-making class at Westmoreland Sanctuary includes wine, music and a bit of crafty holiday joy to take home. Photo Courtesy Westmoreland Sanctuary

— Assemble the materials. In Westmoreland’s classes, teachers can provide the supplies, but they appreciate it when their students bring in interesting plants, particularly invasive ones. Lists of the undesirable varieties, as well as pictures and explanations, are available on numerous websites including those of the Cornell Cooperative Extension and the National Invasive Species Information Center. The only additional tools needed are strong scissors or a wire cutter.

— Create the form. Forget store-bought wreath frames. Ricker strictly uses pliable vines that can be flexed to serve as the ornament’s backbone or frame. 

“The thinner the vine, the easier it is to shape,” Ricker said. He advises foraging after a rainfall or early in the morning for stems of invasives such as the oriental bittersweet or multiflora rose plants. Be sure to strip away and carefully dispose of their leaves.

— Shape the display. Coax the frame into its desired shape by slowly wrapping it with a smaller, sturdy vine or with a natural-looking length of florist’s wire. If the plants are brittle or resistant, quickly soak them in warm water or wrap them in a damp towel. The vines, said Ricker, will “tell you how much they want to bend.” Meanwhile, a strong wrapping reinforces the wreath while creating “pockets” where individual elements can be inserted and secured. 

— Decorate. Insert small bundles of native woody species, seed pods, acorns, dried flowers, berries or other design elements along the frame, tucking each one into the thin stem or wire that wraps the entire wreath. For a round frame, consider building a fuller appearance by alternating bunches that face right and then left, or by overlapping them. Small trinkets, colorful ribbons, dried citrus or grasses can fill gaps visible between the bunches. Don’t aim for perfection. Finally, add a wire or ribbon for hanging. 

“Sometimes all the decorations end up on one side and that’s what makes it unique,” said Ricker. 

Display your masterpiece away from direct sunlight or a heat source, spritzing it every few days. Later, you can update the wreath with spring flowers, summer plants and autumn flora for a year-round look. 

The final magic ingredient in a truly memorable wreath, said Ricker, is joy. 

“In our classes, once people relax and realize they are not being judged, they take creative risks and end up proud of what they made.”

For registration and more information, visit westmorelandsanctuary.org.