Make-and-Take Santa Barbara Wreath Class @ArmstrongGarden #ArmstrongGarden

Do you love how festive a Holiday Wreath is but not sure how to make one? If you're looking for something fun to do with friends or by yourself, look into making a Christmas Wreath. Lately, Armstrong Garden have been sending me newsletters to try one of their classes and write about my experience so I registered for their Santa Barbara Wreath Make-and-Take Class, and now want to do it every year. They provided all the materials, and I took home my very own custom-made Holiday Wreath!

A Santa Barbara Wreath just means we're using California native plants. The class was $30 which included the materials we needed to build a wreath. Our class size was five. Two of the ladies came together, and one of them attended the Succulent Pumpkin class in October and loved it. A table was set up to seat six. It was designed to be socially interactive, and we were encouraged to bring plants from our garden to share.

What to Bring:

The fresh 20" wreath base which retails for about $18 was supplied to us. They asked us to bring snug-fitting gloves, hand pruners, garden clothes, and plants or foliage from our garden to share. (For example, succulents, branches, and berries.)

Armstrong Gardens Tips for the Class:

BEST PLANTS TO USE: Branches and berries should be fresh, but need to look good after drying. Examples: bay laurel, eucalyptus (especially seed pods), boxwood, olive, southern magnolia, citrus, Melaleuca, California native berries (arbutus, manzanita, and toyon), succulents (Aeoniums and Echeverias). Leave a "stem" so you can tie them into the wreath.

WHEN TO HARVEST CUTTINGS: Cut foliage and berry materials the day before and placed them in a bucket of water. (This will ensure they are well-hydrated by wreath-making time.) Wrap them in newspaper or put in a plastic bag to bring them to class.

NO DRIED MATERIALS: Dried materials are more difficult to use in the type of wreath we are making. Dried materials are typically not wired in, but secured with glue guns which will not be used in this class.

Step #1 - Picking out the Base.

The instructor had some healthy ones already picked out for us, but we had the opportunity to select different ones. I wanted mine to have pine cones and berries on it.

Step #2 - Selecting plants for your wreath. 

Armstrong Gardens provided a variety of Eucalyptus native plants in various hues and textures for the students to share.  (See tips above for other plants you can use).

Step #3 - Creating a stem and securing it onto the base.

We cut off about 14" of wire from the spool, and the instructor demonstrated how to wrap about 4" around our bundle to create a "stem." (We made them in batches of 3 or 5.) The remaining part of the wire was threaded and secured onto the base of the wreath. We learned how to weave it into the direction of the grain. It was a very simple process, and we were encouraged to add our own personality to our wreath. It was pretty cool to see how all of our wreaths turned out completely different using similar plants. 

I love how beautiful my wreath came out, and the best part is my home smells great! The class was not only informative, it was fun to socialize with the other ladies. We actually stayed longer than expected, but they did not rush us. I think the hardest part for me was threading it into the base because the wires bend, and I couldn't find it some times in the pine. The class is a great value too, because a custom wreath retails for about $60. I really want to do this again next year with my girlfriends, and bring stuff from my own garden! For more information about classes offered at Armstrong Gardens, please visit their website at www.armstronggarden.com.

Have fun!
Mary