Wreaths Have Become Works Of Art

Oh, it was different in Grandmother’s day. Wreaths were made of fresh-cut pine boughs or spruce and they smelled wonderful, indoors and out. They displayed a bow, maybe nuts, holly or snow-sprayed pine cones and that was about it.

You got rid of the wreaths when they dried out or put them on a back fence for the birds’ pleasure. But now, wreath-decorating is an art in itself and you needn’t throw anything away at the end of the holidays.

Wreath designs are imaginative additions to your holiday decor whether they’re do-it-yourself projects or store-bought ones.

Artificial greenery with ribbons, fake flowers and metallic accents are the norm. And some homeowners figure that a $100 to $300 investment in a custom-made wreath is worthwhile.

After all, modern wreaths last and can fit into any color scheme.

One example locally found is a 40-inch honeysuckle and floral wreath gracefully decorated with ribbon and clear lights ($360). This definitely is not your grandmother’s Christmas wreath.

“Basically, it’s monochromatic and mixes a lot of elements that are elegant and not-so-elegant,” says Gary Williams, design department manager for Ranchview Floral and Interiors in Kansas City.

To a grapevine base, floral designer Jeannene Wyatt added honeysuckle vines ($75 a roll) for an airier, looser look. She attached lights and muted gold and terra-cotta brocade, using six yards of ribbon costing $4.50 a yard. Her mixture includes cut pine pieces, magnolias, gold-sprayed money plant, some white filler and glitter.

It goes well with a dark-green wall but a taupe backdrop could make it less dramatic. She and Williams are accustomed to people bringing them color samples and sometimes photographs of their homes when ordering wreaths.

Wyatt says the design suits almost any holiday: “It’s not a harvest wreath but a winter look.”

Some greenery already bears pine cones, touches of blue or snow frostings, so is it really a challenge to pick out a bow and ornaments?

Designer Bea Mora says: “Start with a bow as your focal point and add whatever you like - without overdoing it.”

Festive additions on short sticks are called floral “picks.” These may be cheap or expensive, as little as 33 cents or $8.50 for a pretty cluster. Elegant poinsettias in sage-green or Victorian rose offer a change from traditional red and green flowers.

Various stores show stuffed animals, Santas, tin cookie cutters, whimsical dough motifs and wood novelties that are suitable wreath additions. They don’t have to be seasonal. Of course, these offbeat items could perch atop gift packages just as well.

Floral designer Hilda Kamai always cautions do-it-yourselfers about getting burned when they use hot glue, which is the most efficient way to attach decorations.

“Glue dries in a few seconds but you have to be careful,” she says. “We glue everything except a bow, and that is attached with the wire that holds the loops.”

“Unfinished wreaths allow customers to use their own ideas and creativity,” says Ron Bennett, a Hobby Lobby store manager. “The quality of flowers has improved so much that they look real. The big thing is to take a large bow, add cherubs, angels, reindeer, Santa - almost anything you want. Also, the ‘lodge look’ is popular. That’s Santa with a golf club, fishing pole or doctor’s outfit.”

Bennett says that among the wreaths out there, the 24-inch green wreaths are in demand. “They fit nicely between a door and the storm door.”

Other categories:

Less-costly straw wreaths, which can be wrapped with crinkled paper and trimmed with flowers for a country look.

Fragrant eucalyptus wreaths in blue-green pinwheels or smaller designs with dried flowers and raffia bows.

Brown pine cone wreaths that might look perky with nuts and berries tucked in for texture.

Cranberry rings in red or blue - a simple design that could team with another wreath, little birds or something clever dangling below it.