Summer Wreaths

A summer wreath is a ring decorated with flowers, grasses and foliage, made to brighten a door, wall or mantelpiece in the warmer months. Many modern summer wreaths use a simple hoop of bamboo, wood or metal, dressed with dried flowers on one part of the ring, leaving the rest bare for a light, airy look that lasts for months.

Strawflowers are a star choice, with papery, daisy-like heads in bright yellows, pinks and oranges. Bunny tails are soft, fluffy grass heads that add texture and a touch of whimsy. Statice and gypsophila, also called baby's breath, fill the gaps with clouds of tiny flowers.

Billy buttons give you perfect little yellow pompoms, while pampas grass, wheat and dried ferns add height and movement. Mixing round flowers, fluffy grasses and spiky stems is the secret to a wreath that looks full and natural.

Start by picking your palette. Bold and bright or soft and pastel both work, and summer is no time to be shy.

Next, make small bundles of mixed flowers and grasses, a bit like mini bouquets. Bind each one to the hoop with floristry wire, then lay the next bundle over the stems of the last so the wire is hidden. Keep all the bundles pointing the same way for a flowing, crescent shape, or work from both sides towards the middle for a symmetrical look.

Finish with a ribbon or loop of twine for hanging, then step back and admire your handiwork.

Absolutely. There's no special skill needed, just a good eye and a willingness to play. Your Activity Leader shows you how to build your bundles and wire them on neatly, and it's very hard to make a dried flower wreath look anything other than lovely. It's a gently satisfying way to spend some time, and it makes a properly impressive gift. Or keep it. We won't tell.

Dried flowers last a long time, but they don't love strong sun or damp. Hang your wreath out of direct sunlight to stop the colours fading, and keep it somewhere dry. A gentle blast from a hairdryer on a cool setting will shift any dust.

You might also like Flower Headdresses, Macrame and Botanical Walk.

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