Make your own Xmas wreath
With fresh foliage, fragrant fruits and stunning flowers, adventwreaths are a stunning addition to any home during the festive period. They’re not difficult to make either. Vicky Wilson, Product Development Manager at Interflora, shares her step by step instructions for making your very own wreath this Christmas so you too can have a magical floral entrance to your home.
16” foam wreath A selection of Christmas foliage including spruce and holly Red hypericum Bronze chrysanthemum blooms Peach roses, Anthuriums Dried orange slices Miniature red apples Natural pine cones Coloured dried lotus seed heads Cinnamon stick bundles Satin and hessian ribbon Scissors, skewers, florist’s wire 1. Before you begin you will need to create a hoop from which to hang your wreath from. To do this create a loop using florist’s wire or strong twine and attach securely to the back of the foam wreath. 2. Immerse the foam ring in water until completely soaked, then place on a protected work surface, ready to get started. 3. Using a pair of sharp scissors, cut off sprigs of spruce approximately seven inches in length, then frame the wreath foam with the spruce, inserting each sprig at a slight angle. Remove at least an inch of pine needles at the stem so that you can push the spruce easily into the foam. ensuring each sprig is inserted at the same angle to maintain a circular shape and flow to the design. 4. Repeat with the holly and hypericum until the surface of the wreath is well covered and there are no gaps where the foam is visible. 5. Next, cut the chrysanthemums at an angle and insert into the foam evenly around the wreath. 6. Add the roses and anthuriums in the same way. 7. Once you are happy with the positioning of the flowers and foliage add the cinnamon bundles, lotus pods and pine cones, using florist’s wire if necessary to secure everything into place. 8. You can now add the miniature apples. Try grouping clusters of two or three together for visual impact. 9. Next add the dried orange slices, this time using florists wire to attach them securely. 10. To complete the look, create a bow using two types of ribbon for added texture and secure into place at the bottom of the wreath using florist’s wire.
1. Don’t forget floristry is all about using your imagination. For example, adding LED lights will make it glow. 2. Keep your wreath looking fresh by regularly misting it with water. If kept in the right conditions the flowers and foliage should be long lasting, however you can always replace any as they get past their best. As well as topping the list on an ITV nationwide poll in the UK to find ‘The Nation’s Favourite Number One’ back in 2012, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody is the only song to be Christmas No.1 twice by the same artist. The song first topped the Christmas charts in 1975, then following Mercury’s death in November 1991, the song was re-released and became the UK’s Christmas No.1 again.