A sweet seasonal circlet to welcome guests

WHAT’S NEW

This month, floral designers are combining warm-hued blooms with surprising elements—like nuts and berries—to create beautiful cornucopia-inspired wreaths. “Here, fuzzy borage, crisp Chinese lanterns and smooth chestnuts bring modern texture to a classic wreath form,” says floral expert Kathy Shumac. “And the orange roses add a harvest-happy feel. What’s more, the lavender and mint greet guests with a fresh scent!”

GET THE LOOK

For a 12" foam wreath, snip 10 to 12 3" sprigs each of purple-flowered borage, red rose hips, lavender and mint. Use floral glue or hot glue to attach the sprigs to the foam, alternating until the wreath is mostly covered. Next, cut 8 orange roses to 3 inches and glue them to the form, spacing them randomly around the circlet. Glue on a handful of Chinese lanterns, crabapples and chestnuts. To finish, tie on a bright orange ribbon.

INSIDER’S SECRET

Most of the fresh snippets in this wreath will stay lively for weeks, but roses can fade in the cooler weather. The strategy Shumac recommends to keep them perky: Instead of gluing the roses to the foam, place the stems in tiny floral water picks (like Darice Stem Water Pick, $5 for 10, Joann.com), then press into the foam. These mini “vases” keep roses fully hydrated for a long-lasting display.