Grand Garlands

Deck your halls with fragrant and fanciful festoons.

Gardener's Delight Garland

Supplies and Tools

• 1 package of eucalyptus
  
• 1 package of dried hydrangea blossoms
  
• 1 package of raffia
  
• 1" clay pots
  
• Paperwhite and crocus bulbs
  
• 6"-wide woven ribbon or netting
  
• Variety of seeds (e.g., peas, corn, etc.)
  
• Floral wire
  
• Wire cutters
  
• Hot glue gun, glue sticks
  

1. Braid several strands of raffia to create a garland of desired length. Secure ends of raffia with floral wire.

2. Run a length of floral wire through the hole in the bottom of each clay pot and up over the rim. Hot glue paperwhite bulbs into clay pots.

3. Cut squares of ribbon or netting and fill with crocus bulbs and different seeds. Gather ends of ribbon and secure at top with wire to form a pouch.

4. Wire the filled ribbon pouches and clay pots onto the raffia braid.

5. Hot glue sprigs of eucalyptus and hydrangea behind the pots.



Spicy Fruit Garland

Supplies and Tool

• Raffia
  
• Kitchen string
  
• Apples
  
• Oranges
  
• Cranberries
  
• Bay leaves
  
• Whole cloves
  
• Whole allspice
  
• Cinnamon sticks
  
• Lemon juice
  
• Large needle
  
• Scissors
  
• Glue gun, low-temp glue
  

1. Cut apples in thin slices crossways. Dip in lemon juice. Set on a cookie sheet and place in a 200° oven until dry.

2. Cut oranges into 1/4"-thick slices. Set on a cookie sheet and place in a 200° oven until dry.

3. For a 3' strand of garland, cut 5' to 6' of string. On one end, make a loop about 12" to 14" long. Knot. Thread needle onto string. Thread cranberries first. Press a whole clove into each cranberry to allow berry to dry naturally. Vary the order of other items as desired. Choose from cinnamon sticks, two slices of apple glued together with string in between the apples; two slices of orange glued together with string in between the oranges; and/or bay leaves.

4. Decorate the apple and orange slices with cloves, allspice, bay leaves, and/or cranberries. Complete the pattern to a 1 1/2' length. Repeat the pattern in reverse order for the second half of the garland.

5. When the 3' length is completed, tie string into second loop, making it the same size as the first loop. At each end of the garland, tie two approximately 2' lengths of raffia into a bow.



Snowbird's Feast Garland

Supplies and Tools

• Preserved or fresh cedar branches
  
• Small gourds
  
• Sunflower heads
  
• Barley stalks
  
• Wheat stalks
  
• Birdseed
  
• Floral wire
  
• Wire cutters
  
• Hot glue gun, glue sticks
  
• Drill, drill bit
  
• Sandpaper
  

1. Wire cedar branches together to form garland base. Continue to add branches to the desired length.

2. Drill several holes close together in each gourd to create one large hole that allows birds to reach seeds. Sand edges smooth. Drill two small holes in the back of each gourd so wire can be inserted for attaching the gourds to the garland. Wire the gourds in place.

3. Glue wheat and barley stalks and sunflower heads to garland.

4. Fill gourds with seeds.