Autumn is a wonderful season of transition as we
say goodbye to bright warm summer days and prepare for the cool
dark days of winter ahead.
 During
the Fall, Mother Nature blesses us with a colorful display of changing
leaves, the transformation of flowers to seed and a time to harvest
the fruits of our labor. The change in temperature, shorter daylight
hours and the return of the Northwest’s rainy storms are all
indications that winter is quickly approaching. Birds and animals
alike are storing food to prepare for the challenging weather soon
to follow autumn’s crisp and clear days.
While you may find it easier to just shop for a door decoration at
your favorite store, you might find it’s also great fun to
create your own custom, one-of-a-kind wreath for autumn. Not
only is it a wonderful project to help appreciate your garden after
peak growing season, but it also reflects your personal style and
taste. Then, as the holiday season quickly approaches, transform
your custom wreath by following the same basic technique, but substituting
different plant material. The range of decorative material you use
is limited only by your imagination.
Next time you stroll through your garden,
notice the simple beauty in a fallen leaf, dried seed pod, dead twig
or evergreen branch. These are the colors, forms and textures that
will make your wreath unique and the envy of family and friends.
EARLY FLORAL DECORATIONS
Abundant Harvest & Sustenance
For centuries, our ancestors in cultures around the world have created
rituals and symbols to show gratitude for the abundance of harvest.
Before refrigerators and supermarkets, growing and storing as much
food as possible during the summer and fall was critical to survival
during dormant winter months. Flowers, herbs, fruits, nuts and berries
were gathered and bound together to dry and store.
Early forms of wreaths, garlands and swags
From early paintings and sculptures, we learn that wreaths made by
the Romans and Greeks were also created to honor or worship a person
or place. Laurel wreaths were presented as a symbol of victory. Compositions
of roses and other aromatic plants were used as a symbol of good
luck or to ward off evil spirits.
Still symbolic: a wreath says “Welcome.”
The practice of designing these decorations has survived over time,
even if the symbolism has evolved into different meanings. Wreaths
hung on a door or wall still signify friendship and welcome. The
customary evergreen wreath hung during Christmastime is known as a
welcome wreath. The wreath’s round shape symbolizes the cycle
of life, a never-ending, complete circle.
---Richard
Bacon
Here’s an easy-to-make wreath you can transform from Autumn
Harvest to a Holiday look
(One wreath - two holidays)
Tools & Supplies you need:
Sharp scissors
Pliers (needle-nose works best for tight spots)
Utility knife
Floral wire (available at craft, hardware or art supply stores)
Floral foam (ie. Oasis)
Wire, foam or grapevine wreath form or shallow basket (4” deep
x 14” diameter basket used in demonstration)
Ribbon, various sizes or colors
Green floral tape or hot glue gun (optional)
Holiday ornaments
Silk or plastic faux flowers (optional)
Suggested plant material:
Sphagnum moss (dried or fresh)
Dried leaves, grasses, or flowers
Seed heads
Pine cones
Twigs or evergreen branches Small fruits or gourds
Small succulent plants
Ivy or vines
Anything that catches your eye
Autumn Harvest Wreath Directions
1) Attach a small wire loop to the top backside of your wreath for
hanging when finished. If the loop is too large or not located correctly
at the top, your wreath, once filled with plant material, may not
hang properly; test it on a door before proceeding.
2) On the inside bottom edge of your wreath form, glue or wire into
place a block of floral foam for supporting the floral arrangement
and ribbon. Attach fresh moss around the inside perimeter by folding
six inch lengths of wire in half and pinning the wire through the
moss and wreath from the inside outward. Twist the ends of wire to
secure. When using dried moss, a bead of hot glue around the inside
edge will secure the material.
3) Next, add live plant material (we used sedum and spider plant
shoots) from your garden, wired around the wreath rim. Note: small
succulents with shallow roots work best when placed into moist moss,
often taking root and surviving for months in the wreath, while other
material wilts or tires.
4) Insert stems of ornamental grass, dried seed heads, ferns or dried
flowers into the left and right side of the floral foam. These linear
design elements contrast with the overall circular form of the wreath
and add balance to the design.
4) To complete the autumn theme, tape, wire or glue colorful leaves
in and around your arrangement. (Create pressed leaves by placing
them in an old phonebook overnight to draw off the moisture and dry
flat) Fresh leaves can be a fun element too, as they dry and curl
over time.
5)As a final touch, add a focal point of interest to your wreath.
Ribbons, pine cones, or gourds can be secured to the floral foam.
They contribute to a feeling of abundance and celebration in a cornucopia
of style. Lastly, mount your design on the front door and step back
to admire your creative talent.
Directions for Transforming Autumn Wreath to a Holiday Wreath:
1) Remove the autumnal design elements such as the leaves, dried
flowers and seed pods that were secured with wire or glue. Keep the
wreath structure, moss, floral foam and live plants (if desirable)
intact. Rotate the wreath 180 degrees and switch the back hanging
wire to the new top backside.
2) Insert evergreen branches into the sides of the floral foam and
wire around the outside rim. Blue spruce, yews, arborvitaes and junipers
provide a wide variety of color and texture. They have smaller needles
and are also easier to work with. Garden gloves can be a big help
dealing with this material.
4) Trailing vines or ribbons can be added next into the floral foam.
They lead your eye to the focal point of interest and add movement
to the overall design. Varying the lengths and sizes of ribbon also
contribute to a more pleasing finished arrangement.
4) Add small ornaments or lights around the circle to give
sparkle and life to your design. Remember that these are accent design
elements and should not distract from the overall natural appearance
of your wreath.
5) Red holly berries, red blossoms from sedum “Autumn Joy” and
dried hydrangea flowers are added to create the wreath’s bouquet
center to contrast with the greens.
6) As a final accent element, a single white silk poinsettia flower
is added to represent the Star of Hope.
RICHARD BACON: his vision is coming to fruition
A decade ago, Richard Bacon began to develop his vision for a creative
nature center where people could learn to interact with nature, create
art inspired by natural uty and develop a better understanding and  appreciation
for the importance of living in harmony with nature. As a first step,
he launched EdenArts – his own product line of nature photography,
gifts and greeting cards.
When he learned a few months ago about All Season Nursery, which
owners Jim and Nancy Chennault were offering for sale, Bacon felt
it would be the perfect location to carry his vision forward.
He moved to Kelso from San Diego this summer and became the official
owner and operator of All Season Garden Center in October. As he’s
connected with others in the community and spoken at civic groups
about his dream, Bacon said he’s been surprised by “how
supportive the community has been to my concept of developing a cultural
institution.” He’s heard talk about a possible “Renaissance,” or
re-birth of interest in the arts some people predict may be about
to happen locally.
“I think I’m part of it,” Bacon said.
Immediate plans for All Season Nursery, besides continuing the growing
and selling of plants, include expansion of the display gardens,
creation of a botanical sanctuary and the adding of sculpture and
artist workshops. Later, incorporating the adjacent 12-acre 1866
homestead farm he bought along with All Season Nursery property,
Bacon plans to add nature trails, a demonstration farm and a special
events facility.
“Not all the changes are going to happen at once,” said
Bacon, who is 45 and divorced, “but I’m fully committed
to seeing it come to fruition.” He expects the process to unfold
and evolve over the next 20 years.
“I’m carrying the largest debt load of my life,” he
said. “But you can move a mountain — one stone
at a time.”
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