janet turner

I have been growing herbs for medicinal and culinary projects for 20 years now.  I never get tired of collecting and preparing the plants for winter storage.  In the past, I have used extra plant material for wreaths for gifts and for myself.   My fascination stems from the fact that these plants have been used through the ages for healing and for household uses, and many of our modern medicines were derived from these herbs.  Valium was derived from the Valerian plant, and willow bark contains salycilin, the ingredient in many of today’s over the counter painkillers. 

  One of the issues with using fresh material is the shrinkage as it dries on the wreath, often slipping off or leaving gaps in the wreath.  I now use a craft glue gun and floral wire to secure the bunches to the form.   I also wrap floral tape around small bunches of colorful herbs to add accents to the basic form.   After the inital project begins to dry, With this particular wreath, I chose Lamb’s Ears for the second layer to augment the sage filler. The possibilities are endless and the colors of the plant materials are striking.  The best part of working with the plants are the aromas that permeate the atmosphere.  Adding the new technology for securing the plant material makes the wreath much more durable and long lasting.  It is a very soothing, peaceful task that provides me great pleasure. Although it can be messy, I will use the glue gun for my projects because it allows me to add material after the initial drying and gaps begin to show.  I also hang these outside in the summer, and the glue and the floral tape helps the wreaths withstand the wind.