FORAGING FOR YOUR AUTUMN WREATH
INTRODUCTION
Autumn Wreaths are becoming so popular in our neighbourhoods, and I can see why. As the weather starts to change and the skies turn grey, what better way to brighten your home and your own front door with the remaining reds and golds that nature has to offer.
Autumn Wreath
The purpose of this blog is to give you an idea of how you can make an Autumn Wreath for yourself by foraging and using what you have around you. This could be a lovely family project for an autumn afternoon.
MECHANICS AND TECHNIQUES
If you have been to a Christmas Wreath Workshop in the past then you will have a good grasp of the mechanics and techniques behind making an Autumn Wreath as they are much the same. The supplies you will need are a wreath ring, a reel of binding wire and some twine for hanging the wreath. You may also need stub wires if you want to wire any decorative materials such as pinecones onto your wreath. If you still have a wreath ring and binding wire left over from a previous wreath workshop then you can use these again. Otherwise, you can buy these items at Hobbycraft and local craft shops.
Wreath Making Supplies
INGREDIENTS
Let’s take a look at the three groups of ingredients that you will need for your Autumn Wreath.
You will start with moss for the base, although you can use straw as an alternative as this wreath will dry into place. Personally, I prefer moss as this provides moisture which will keep the freshness for longer.
Then, we need the foliage and here the choice is yours. Use what is available to you and the colours that you love. What I would recommend is using foliage with a woody stem as this will be longer lasting and will dry beautifully in place giving you a longer lasting wreath. Tender stemmed foliage tends to drop, droop and rot down quickly.
The third group of ingredients are the decorative items which I will list below.
A NOTE ON FORAGING
When we talk about foraging, we talk about the ‘4 f’s’ which are fruits, flowers, fungi and foliage which are found in nature and all of which you can use for your Autumn Wreaths.
My understanding of the law on foraging is you are permitted to forage in most public spaces so long as this is for personal use, eg. you are not foraging something which you will sell on for profit. That being said, it is illegal to dig up or remove a whole plant without clear permission. If you are on private land, then you will need permission to forage here because it would be considered trespassing if you do not.
It is also important to say here that it is responsible to forage from areas of plenty, always leaving plenty behind. We need to care for our environments, and removing all material has a great impact, especially on the wildlife that also need this material to feed on and stock up for winter.
Go Foraging…
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
Woody foliage, especially that which is turning gold and red.
Moss, there is plenty of sphagnum moss in shaded woodland areas but always forage responsibly, leaving plenty behind so that it can grow back.
Herbs such as lavender dried from the summer or fresh rosemary are a great way to give your wreath scent.
Although we often associate pinecones with Christmas Wreaths, these are readily available in Autumn and come in many shapes and sizes. Such a good decoration for an Autumn Wreath.
The same can be said for acorns, conkers and teasel. These can all be wired into your wreath for decoration in much the same way as a pinecone.
Acorns
Conkers
Teasel
Twigs bring a bit of line and drama into your wreaths and there are plenty available on the ground at this time of year. They also represent the bare branches to come with the autumn seasonal change. Just tuck them in with your foliage and bind them onto your wreath.
Rose hips are abundant at this time of year, just remember where you found those fragrant wild rose bushes in the summer. Go back and have a look, I bet they are full of red berries and these will give your wreath a lovely pop of colour. Always leave plenty for the birds though.
Crab apples are also good to use, but seriously, you don’t need to go further than your own fruit bowl for this. Apples and pomegranates are great for autumn wreaths, especially the little ones you can get for children. Just wire them onto your wreath as you would your pinecones.
Grasses and wheat which can be found on any path, verge or roadside are also good for autumn wreaths. They give a softer texture and a wispy feel which look lovely placed around the edges of a wreath.
HAVE A GO…
So, there you have it. I hope I have given you plenty of ideas for inspiration to get out there and have a go. Take the family out for a good walk and see what you can find. Remember the foraging laws mentioned above and have some fun.
Autumn Walks
If you want a bit more support or advice around the mechanics and techniques used in wreath making, you can always sign up for one of my workshops by clicking the link below…
I have seasonal Wreath Workshops throughout the year and Christmas Workshops to choose from. I am Debbie from The Northern Flower Garden and I am based in the North East of England, offering workshops in the areas of Sunderland and Durham.