Here's the secret to a holiday wreath that won't wilt

These tips will get you through the holidays and beyond.

Out of Wonders of the forestsCopyright © 2024 by Françoise Weeks. Photographs copyright © 2024 by Theresa Bear. Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

Portland-based author Françoise Weeks, once an adventurer with a focus on flowers, realized that she had never really paid much attention to the various barks, mosses, or seed pods scattered on sidewalks during her wanderings through her neighborhood and the surrounding forest . Paying attention to smaller details in nature sparked a change in her that she now calls “forest design.” “As I began to focus on the beauty and unique properties of all these elements, curiosity drove me to design with these newfound treasures,” she explains. “A new world of design possibilities opened up. I discovered that there were so many different variations of these elements – from textures to colors to shapes – and it was a joy to experiment with them all.”

Here, Françoise shares her tips for finding inspiration while walking among the trees this winter. She hopes everyone begins to see Mother Nature differently and discovers the many natural gems we can create with.

Francoise Weeks Foraging Wonder of the Woodlands — Françoise Weeks in the forest.

First steps

Designing with natural elements is very different from designing with flowers, but Françoise encourages beginners to approach the work with an open mind, as the mechanisms and techniques are similar. Because locally collected materials can vary greatly from region to region, it is important to take the time to discover what is available around you and explore with an open curiosity for new ideas. Paying attention to the smallest details will provide the starting point for your own nature-related expressions. When collecting, don't feel pressured to have a precise idea of what the finished design will look like and be open to intuitive design based on the materials available.

Wonder of the Woodlands, mushroom hunting detail — Eaten mushrooms

Seasonal sourcing

Françoise lives in an old neighborhood where the streets are lined with very old trees, and she has made a habit of gathering after a storm. She suggests taking a bag and a pair of scissors with you on walks to collect seed pods, pieces of moss and lichen, and even twigs that have recently fallen on the sidewalks. Noting favorite materials is important for future collecting and projects, but she recommends always being careful when foraging and only using sustainable sources.

When it comes to the holidays, forest wreaths and framed woodland landscapes are some of Françoise's favorite projects. Hellebores and snowdrops can be placed in water tubes to add a touch of fresh flowers to creations – just use pieces of moss or bark to cover all the arrangement mechanics. Her favorite seasonal textures include mixing various evergreens, holly, pine cones, dried pomegranates, dried persimmon and orange slices, cinnamon sticks, walnuts and hazelnuts with foraged bark and lichen-covered branches.

During the winter months it can be difficult to find different materials. Therefore, it is important to collect seed pods and similar items during the seasons when they are abundant. In winter, Françoise relies more on purchasing plants or using materials dried in a flower press, such as maidenhair ferns and Rex begonia leaves. No matter what nature has in store for you, there is plenty of creativity to be had. In fact, the woodland look isn't just reserved for centerpieces, wall hangings, or structural designs: the holiday season is an excellent opportunity to create and add botanical jewelry, headpieces, or small woodland flair items that can be worn on shoes or bags.

Wonder of the Woodlands pine cone chandelier — Pine cone chandelier

No forest, no problem

You don't have to live near an enchanted forest to make these creations a reality. Mosses, lichens, bark, twigs, seed pods, mushrooms and even ferns can be purchased online. Françoise also advises readers to focus on other non-forest plant materials such as succulents and tillandsias, which offer such interesting textures and shapes and make for an unexpected arrangement. Don't be afraid to discover the treasures of your region; Forest design consists of a variety of textures and very few (if any) flowers. So by exploring what's available to you locally, your designs will be both sustainable and unique.

Make your own forest wreath

From the forest floor to your front door, Weeks gives you tips on how to make the perfect forest wreath.

“I love making these woodland wreaths and like to use elements that don't require a water source so I can enjoy them for many months to come,” she says. “You can use pieces of bark, interesting twigs or small pieces of wood and display various seed pods from trees, shrubs, annuals or perennials in the fall. Also take part in interesting finds from the garden or the flower market that still look beautiful when dried.”

Materials

16 inch wreath frame
Paddle wire
Cold and hot glue
Collected or store-bought seed pods and green plants

Directions

Using paddle wire, attach a moss base to the frame by wrapping wire around the moss every inch or so. If necessary, use cold glue to attach the missing pieces. Then attach the decorations with a glue gun.
This wreath contains moss, bark, lichen, dried mushrooms, various seed pods (eucalyptus, Cardiocrinumdevil's claw, screw bean mesquite), acorns, dried ferns, pine cones, succulents and cacti. I like to place the smaller elements before gluing so I can change their position if necessary; I often do this in sections.

Buy the book

Wonder of the Woodlands by Françoise Weeks, $19

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