Notes on The Joy of Wreath-Making

The Irish winter months can be long and dark, giving us all the more reason to find moments of joy and creativity. One way to do this is by celebrating the bounty of the season by showcasing the natural colours and textures through leaves, branches, berries, flowers, fruits and seedheads, all thoughtfully gathered and arranged into a winter wreath.

I've been making wreaths since I was a teenager, when I first sold my creations at a market stall in St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church in Galway City. Back then, as now, I relied on many foraged materials like fallen branches, holly, noble fir and birch, all finished with a pretty ribbon. My technique has evolved over the years, but the basic ingredients remain much the same. 

Here's what I always look out for when making a wreath:

A sturdy, sustainable base

A wreath won’t last long if it isn’t built upon a strong base. It needs to keep its shape, and remain intact while being hung up for weeks at a time. We always start our wreaths at The Garden with a reusable base made of birch, willow and cornus. This kind of base can be put away at the end of the season and used again next year. 

A foundation of greenery

Once the base is built, we choose the greenery that will form the main body of the wreath, creating a textured backdrop for the smaller details to follow. At this time of year, noble fir feels particularly appropriate, but I also love working with scented pine, silver-hued Irish eucalyptus, and russet-coloured Irish bracken for some added texture and colour. 

The decorative details

Now for the fun part: adding the details that give each wreath its own personality. 

For our Traditional Christmas Wreath we add red berries, dried fruits, pinecones and cinnamon sticks. The Connemara Wreath takes a wilder, more organic approach, with orange ilex berries, rosehips, heather, eucalyptus, pine and fir. The Pepper Berry Wreath pairs heather with dried pink peppercorns, as well as glossy berries, dried hydrangea, and dried fruits for added colour and texture.

The final touch is choosing the perfect ribbon. With an array of widths, colours and textures to choose from, from soft satin to rich velvet, we find just the right one to complement each wreath. There's something particularly satisfying about tying that final bow and seeing everything come together.

- Mark

Join us for a Wreath Making Workshop

If you feel inspired to get creative and make your own, join us for one of our annual Wreath Making Workshops:

• Sunday 29th November – Ballynahinch Castle, Connemara, Co. Galway
• Sunday 6th & Saturday 12th December – Howth Castle Cookery School, Dublin
• Tuesday 8th (Sold Out) & Tuesday 15th December – The Garden, Mill Street, Dublin

Full details here.