Each fall as the season shifts, I long to capture the last bit of the summer harvest and combine it into a unique display of my own. The simple joy and pleasure one can receive from exploring yards, neighborhoods, tailgate markets, or roadsides for intriguing items can inspire us to look at the fruits of nature with a new eye. The decorations that can result from a single adventure through the backyard can lead to wonderful arrangements to be hung on a door, over a mantel, or given as a gift. Creating a vine wreath base can be a fun and simple way to bridge the seasons.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN WOVEN VINE WREATH BASE
Creating your own wreath base can be done with several different materials that can be easily found in our southern woods. Grapevine, honeysuckle, and bittersweet vines are all great base makers. Grapevine is my favorite, particularly because of the curly tendrils that the vine uses to attach itself to trees and other objects. The trick to making wreath-making easy is using fresh or pliable vine. If your vines are not pliable, immerse them in a tub of hot water for twelve to twenty four hours so they become supple enough to work with. The amount of vine you use will depend on your desired diameter and thickness. I recommend weaving your wreath frame where you find your material, for several reasons. You will assure that the vine is fresh, making it easy to shape. Being at the source has its advantages, allowing you to pick through choice pieces and, just in case you run out, scrambling back into the woods. Carrying your woven wreath base to its final destination will be much more pleasant, since hauling grapevine can be quite unruly, even for short distances. Here is how to make your wreath base.

Strip off any remaining leaves from the vine. With one hand, hold the longest strand at the thicker end. (You want your initial strand length to be about one and one half the size of your desired diameter.) With your other hand, bend down the opposite end of the vine to form a circle that is slightly smaller than the desired diameter of your finished wreath.
Weave the remainder of the strand in and out along the circle you have formed. When you are finished, the circle should hold by itself.

Take another long strand of vine and weave it in and out along the circle until you have used up that piece. Each time you start a new strand of vine, place the thick end along the weakest part of the wreath. Continue with this process until you have reached your desired thickness.

Attach a hanger using thick gauge wire; make it large enough to be found once the wreath is decorated.

Now that you have a base you can use for all seasons, it is time to go foraging. Beware before you go exploring that poison ivy is still alive and kicking in November and it has a white feathery puff ball type of seed pod very similar to Virginia creeper; make sure you can tell the difference!

The material possibilities are endless. This is only a hint at what you could use. Play, be creative, experiment with all you find intriguing. What makes great wreath material? First, you must like it! The material must be fairly tough. Give it the shake test! Do all the berries fall off when you brush your hand over them? Remember as you handle the material that some pieces or parts are going to break away. Also, consider how easy it will be to attach the material to the base. Does it have stiff stems to wrap with floral tape and wire onto the base? Are you going to have to use a hot glue gun for hours to attach all those tiny acorns?

Attaching your finds is done by several methods. Using florist wire (20 to 22 gauge) is an excellent way to attach durable items such as a pinecone. Wrap the wire around the center of the cone, place on the wreath in a desired location, and continue the wrap around the wreath, twisting the two ends together on the back side of the wreath. With less sturdy items, you can strengthen their stems by using floral tape. To use floral tape, gently pull out a length of tape to stretch it. Wrap a stem or stems by overlapping the tape as you twist it around the stems. Then the stems can be wired onto the wreath. You can also use a glue gun to affix material. They are quick, effective, and sometimes a tad messy.

Taking advantage of that dwindling warm sunshine to bring a bit of fall into your own home is easier than you may think. Handmade projects are rewarding and inspiring for you and those that may receive them. Nature has a plethora of materials that make creativity simple and enjoyable.

Jenifer Miller is a member of the family owned Fisher Branch Farm, located in the Grapevine Community of Madison County. Fisher Branch Farm grows specialty cut flowers and unique plants. Starting in November, the farm focuses on custom designed holiday decorations, wreath and garland orders. Contact them at 828-689-4505. We enjoy hearing the thoughts and ideas of others.

Sources: The Ultimate Wreath Book, Ellen Spector Platt

Foraged finds for your wreath
Fruits/seed pods/cones
Maples White Ash
Eastern Hophornbeam Sycamore
Southern Magnolia Eastern White Pine
Hemlock Holly
Oaks Rose Hips (Most domesticated
Sumac (Harvest as early as possible; roses have large hips. Smaller
multiple frosts will discolor and clusters of hips can be found
deteriorate the seed head.) on the many multi flora rose bushes.
that dot southern roadsides and pastures.)
Local Tailgate Markets
Pumpkins Broom Corn
Indian Corn Apples (Slice fruit in quarter inch
Gourds (Choose small for gluing pieces and dry in a dehydrator or
or shapes that can be easily warm oven overnight.)
wired fruits.)

In your yard or your neighbor's
Hydrangea Achillea (Yarrow)
Artemisia (Wormwood, Mugwort) Siberian Iris
Rudbeckia (Black-eyed susan) Poppy
Echinacea Solidaga (Golden Rod)
Ornamental grasses, pampas,
northern sea oats

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