I know I always hate to see the fall color show end - but thanks to a bit of paraffin, I don't have to. If you still have colorful foliage around, collect some of the nicest leaves and dip them in wax. This will keep then soft and pliable, and will preserve their color. Then you can use them to scatter on a Thanksgiving table, use them for Fall wreaths, or to decorate an autumn garland. You can also use the wax method to preserve any rose buds you may still have on the bush - and I am amazed to find that I still have lots to play with.
Another good way to preserve foliage is with glycerin (scroll down - it's there!). Use this not only on colored foliage but also on greenery which makes a wonderful background for a lot of holiday decorations. You can get glycerin at any pharmacy.
In fact, before we even worry about flowers, take a good look at the foliage you have around. Artemisia preserves beautifully and would look terrific as a background for a wreath. Imagine it with pink rosebuds, or as a Christmas wreath with red rosebuds and little red and silver Christmas balls. I preserved mine by simply tying it into loose bunches and hanging them upside down - they even retained some flexibility when dried.
Other methods of preserving foliage can be found here.
Do you grow bittersweet? Then you have a wreath in the making. Just cut a long length or three and twine it around itself until you have the desired thickness. No need to add anything else. It's the same principle you use for making a grapevine wreath - make one circle of vine, then twine and weave another around it. Keep twining until it's the size and thickness you want. This Reader's Digest article will show you the basics, as well as one trimming idea. You'll notice that you don't need to grow grapes to do this, either. Wisteria will work beautifully - and I have also used forsythia branches and those of my curly willow with great success.
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