Wreath Inspiration from Williamsburg

This is Kevin Kelly, and I have posted photos of my garden in the past. With the holidays approaching, I thought I would share photos of some of the beautiful hand-made wreaths at Colonial Williamsburg. I was just there and had a wonderful time. I hope they bring on the holiday spirit.

Pine branches and holly make a traditional base for this wreath, and then lemons studded with cloves make an unexpected and beautiful accent… bet it smells amazing too!

Not just conifers can be a base of a wreath… the glossy, everygreen leaves of Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora, Zone 7 – 11 ) are the foundation of this one, accented with citrus, pomegranate, and juniper berries.

Or you can get really creative, as with this wreath made from paper roses!

Fresh apples add color, and there is the added interest and texture of dried flowers – it looks like dried sunflowers and cardoon (Cynara cardunculus, Zone 7 – 10 or as annual)

More dried flowers fill in the center of this wreath, and the whole thing is accented with various cones and dried seed heads. Lots of cool materials to be found in most gardens one you start looking.

Dried flowers feature prominently here too, and beautifully dried citrus – each one is slashed along the length and then dried, so the will be long-lasting on the wreath, and the cuts in the skin make a beautiful pattern.

Love this amazing creation… can it even be called a wreath? Made from the dried heads of what looks like wheat or maybe barley, accented with okra seed pods, and the center filled with pomegranate and artichokes. It looks like nearly everything on this is from an edible plant, but reimagined as beautiful art.

The wreath itself here is quiet simple – some pine branches, burlap, and a few black