Edible Blue Ridge Winter 2022

Foraged Winter Wreaths and Table Décor

WORDS & PHOTOS S Frost has come to central Virginia. ere is a sadness to this, and a relief. e flamboyance of flowers makes way for quieter beauties: sculptural, seedless milkweed pods on their stalks in the meadow; dried grasses in neutral, autumnal color; seed heads bare of petals, but strong in statement. A skeletal plant-self emerges, a pared-down truth — stark, but not without elegance. In autumn, we can gather a few of these elements to create wreaths and arrangements that last long beyond the lifespan of a fresh flower. e other day, I went into the fields and woods of my backyard, and in the crisp fall sunlight found what I could find. You don’t have to use the same ingredients. See what catches your eye. Use what’s in abundance. Here are a few ideas I came up with in the spirit of seasonal play and creativity. *A note about foraging: Many of the species I mention here are native species. None are endangered; however, it is still important to always forage with care and respect. Only take what you need, and never take the last or only of anything. In whatever language makes sense for you, ask for permission to take from nature, give thanks, and give back in whatever way you can.

Susanna Byrd

Dried Native Meadow Wreath: In this wreath, I used: Grapevine base Echinacea seed pods A Pi c n o e r c n o s nes Broomsedge grass Foxtail grass River oats Smartweed (hung 3 weeks to dry beforehand) Hydrangea Sweet everlasting Narrow-leaved mountain mint 1) Make or purchase (at your local craft store) the wreath base. I used grapevine I found growing wild in a meadow. Other �lex ible sapling branches or vines can be used, such as willow, birch or honeysuckle. Just make sure you know what you’re harvesting (poison ivy is a vine, too!). My vines were at least 5’ long. Shape the vine into a circle and weave one end through and around the other. 2) Create a “posy,” or small bouquet, out of your dried elements. Arrange with your lon- ger, wispier elements in the back, and larger, more eye-catching elements up front. Using a soft wire, wrap the base of the posy tightly and cut it off just below the wire. If you like the look of this, you can pop it in a small vase a 3 s ) -is F ! or a wreath, make a second posy like the �irst. I like to create some asymmetry, but do whatever pleases you. Hold both posies together against the wreath, facing away from each other, and use wire to bind them to the wreath at the middle point. This will take many wrappings, and you may need to secure the posies at other points along the wreath. Use a glue gun to af�ix larger, heavier ele- ments like pine cones and acorns to the place where the posies come together, hiding the wire in the process.

26 | EDIBLE BLUE RIDGE WINTER 2022