Southern Spirit Hunters

Gardening => Gardeners Chat => Topic started by: Patty S on Apr 25, 2007, 08:50:47 PM

Title: Do It Yourself - "Living Wreath"
Post by: Patty S on Apr 25, 2007, 08:50:47 PM
In another thread here, Dianna had asked to see a pic of the hens & chicks wreath I had made for my Mother a couple years ago. I still have the pics of my "recipe" in PhotoBucket, so here's how I did it.  (Dianna, you should know by now that if you ask me what time it is, I'm going to tell you how clocks are made!) (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2Flala.gif&hash=ce2fd216b304c2ae3325052bb0225d80ddf0c932)

                 Living Wreath Construction
A succulent wreath can be put together for next to nothing, so I think everyone should have one!  You can purchase frames for the project & spend a lot more money, but I'm a scrounger... it didn't take much effort to round up the things I needed. (I wanted a small wreath, for a small patio.)

First, you need something for a basic frame...
      (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2FTutorials%2F02bowl1.jpg&hash=aba81ff7ef18033116f813f90fad55d27ae9924a)

Then, a "cover" of some sort to hold all your work together as you build it, so that when it's hung, it won't all fall out!
      (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2FTutorials%2F03cover.jpg&hash=5a0fda2e4427fc05e35322902fad5194326d8a60)

If your garage is anything like mine, you can probably find wire cutters, pliers, fishing line, scissors & potting soil.  (If you dig deep enough, you might even find a plastic bow.)
      (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2FTutorials%2F01tools-T.jpg&hash=e5d3b2819b9fb9e40131749b8a46a289585bc929)
Title: Re: Do It Yourself - "Living Wreath"
Post by: Patty S on Apr 25, 2007, 08:51:54 PM

Then you go yard sale shopping,
      (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2FTutorials%2F04HC002.jpg&hash=a2d9a546168c242b041ef2f2f820dfdf167dc89b)

Pay your friends a visit & tell them about your project,
      (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2FTutorials%2F05FreeSucc.jpg&hash=ad533532a454a981535ad80113ab3b0941440f95)

and find a kid who likes to do things for his Granny as much as he likes to climb trees. (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2Fkissies.gif&hash=6fd566e8930dda13978fdc3cea6f036b8ec633ea)
      (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2FTutorials%2F06Kyle4T.jpg&hash=b7f39dd1bb216cf14eed0cd3ae163d5b42bba7b1)
Title: Re: Do It Yourself - "Living Wreath"
Post by: Patty S on Apr 25, 2007, 08:55:57 PM
When you've recovered from all that scrounging, you'll need to get all those things together in the same place & get to work.

I cut the center out of the 50¢ bowl & bent the wire ends before laying the sheet moss inside.
      (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2FTutorials%2F07frame.jpg&hash=627cdecde2551809a6d6c51be917e1580672c962)

Coconut fiber sheets will work just as well.  I like the sheet moss because it stays green & is available on most of the trees around here.
      (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2FTutorials%2F08mossLiner.jpg&hash=81fcebf0d451eecd2701d810d7a3b65eb3d468d7)

I cut the two inside circles away from the rest of the 10¢ "cover" before putting in the potting soil.  (Actually, the first time around I forgot about the cover, but then I had to take all the plants back out & do it over again!) 

The medium was lose enough to allow for stems & ends of succulents to be poked into it.  As I worked them in, I folded the sheet moss over the bare spots & wrapped the fishing line around the whole thing, catching bits of each plant to hold them firmly while they send roots down.
      (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2FTutorials%2F09AlmostDone.jpg&hash=346a419d47416672c5a70cf1d5d5aec05350d1d9)

I wired the bow on to the back of the frame with a twisty tie, soaked the wreath overnight, then left it laying down for 2 or 3 weeks while the plants dug in.  The edge of the frame was enough to catch the head of a nail, for hanging.
Title: Re: Do It Yourself - "Living Wreath"
Post by: Patty S on Apr 25, 2007, 08:57:00 PM
Here's the picture Dianna asked to see!
        (https://www.southernspirithunters.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi309%2Fgottahavegraphics%2FTutorials%2FWreath1.jpg&hash=17bae29bb93885586156f2477357cfd12baa0099)
Title: Re: Do It Yourself - "Living Wreath"
Post by: Bonnie on Apr 26, 2007, 03:20:31 PM
Well Patty, I would never have thought about that. It's beautiful. You are so talented.

Bonnie
Title: Re: Do It Yourself - "Living Wreath"
Post by: Dianna on May 03, 2007, 04:46:03 PM
That wreath is neater than grits. I might have to try making one of them, myself!
Title: Re: Do It Yourself - "Living Wreath"
Post by: littlebrat on May 04, 2007, 01:36:58 AM
That is sooo cool I am going to get my mom to make one with me in a week when I go back home... You can actually water it right? I know silly question cause its a "Living Wreath" but I meant with it hanging. Or do you have to take it down to water it?
Title: Re: Do It Yourself - "Living Wreath"
Post by: Penny on May 18, 2007, 12:45:14 PM
That is so cool.....what a neat idea!!!
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