Garden Gleanings
And what can you decorate it with? Let's get back to touring the garden.
Are the hydrangeas still in bloom? These garden beauties make the most voluptuous wreaths imaginable. It takes only a few to make a full, lush display. If yours still look good on the bush, you can use them just as they are. But if they have gone a bit brown, or even if you want to play a bit, go to a floral supply store and get some floral spray color. You can then make them any color you want. Regular gold or silver spray paint misted onto them also looks lovely.
In fact gold and silver spray paint can transform many of the things you find in the autumn garden into sophisticated looking materials. Mist the artemisia with it and make it glow. Spray pine cones and acorns with it and hot glue them to the wreath. And small gourds and fruit will also take on a rich look with a touch of spray paint. If you aren't into metallics, try a frosty white. We'll try to forget the year I was in my Art Deco phase and did both a white tree and a white wreath with black ornaments. I suspect a touch of gilt would have helped those a lot!
Seed pods can make wondrous decorations either in their natural state or gilded. Try open milkweed pods, or poppy pods, or the balls that fall from the sycamore tree. If you use seed pods, though, make sure they are thoroughly dry. A light spray with shellac will preserve them quite nicely.
Rose hips can look amazing with a coat of paint, or leave them natural for a touch of bright color. I imagine the berries on my dogwood would also look interesting in a wreath or garland. And this year I'm noticing how very lovely the ethereal seedpods of the clematis are - these might lend an almost fairytale look to a wreath.
Do you have any baby's breath left? There's nothing like it for creating a misty, fragile look in a wreath. Or how about
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