KENT — The winter holiday season has arrived, which means that dedicated crafters can be found in the woods, foraging for bits of moss and branches of fragrant evergreens. Bittersweet vine, so dreaded in summer, suddenly becomes appealing, with its rich red-and-orange berries. Pine cones and acorns lying on the side of the road are being picked up, sprayed with gold paint and and added to wreaths and garlands.
Those who haven’t yet mastered the art of making wreaths and other holiday decorations were invited to a series of free workshops last month at the Kent Greenhouse and Gardens. Owner Debby Bennett sells some craft supplies and will gladly share tips. This reporter went to the wreath workshop and will now share some trade secrets.
Secret number one: Buy a premade metal frame. It makes the work infinitely easier. Bennett sells them for under $4.
Secret number two: Don’t try to make a recyclable wreath. Use the metal frame, and bind the greens together with metal florist wire; secure the decorations in place with the help of a glue gun. Agreed, it’s not as ‘green;’ but your wreath will be sturdier and the work will be simpler if you make a wreath you can throw away after the holidays.
Secret number three: Don’t skimp. Use lots of greens. If you hunt for them responsibly (always ask your neighbors before you trim some boughs from the trees in their yards), you can find more material than you can possibly use. That’s one thing about New England: There is no shortage of pine, holly, cedar, juniper, arbor vitae, winterberry and (of course) bittersweet.
And speaking of being responsible, be sure to throw away any and all fragments of this extremely aggressive non-native invasive plant. Do not under any circumstances dispose of any of it in your compost heap or the backyard. Bag it and take it to the dump.
To make a wreath, begin with the evergreens. Use a sturdy pair of clippers to cut a variety of evergreens into pieces about 6 to 8 inches long.
Bundle together a few different types of greens, making a fat handful. Bind them tightly (very, very tightly) with green florist wire (it can be purchased at most large garden stores and at some craft stores). “Knot� the ends of the wire together by twisting the two ends tightly (very, very tightly).
Lay the finished bundles into the metal frame so they are all facing in the same direction. Bind them tightly (very, very tightly) with the florist wire. Ideally, take the paddle of wire and weave it in and out of the bundles so they are tightly constrained and won’t shift (and then fall out).
Don’t worry about using too much wire. And don’t worry about using too many greens. Try to set your bundles up so there aren’t any bald or bare spots.
Once the greens have been affixed, decorations such as pine cones, acorns, winterberry sprigs, bittersweet and moss can be added. Tuck them in, wire them in, or hot glue them in. Bennett also sells wooden picks that can be used to secure small apples in place.
At the bottom of the wreath, it’s tradition to add a large and festive bow. It would be impossible to describe the method for tying such a bow; stop by the store and ask for a demonstration, and then purchase some wired ribbon, which makes the job infinitely easier.
Kent Greenhouse and Gardens is at 30 S. Main St. and is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call 860-927-4436 for more information.
