I went out on a walk through the trees and fields, and I gathered things that I could use to make garlands and wreaths. Not the evergreen kind with coniferous branches that are so popular at Christmas time, but ones that have grasses, and vines, and I was hoping also for wildflowers, and that celebrate the Spring season.
By making wreaths and garlands to decorate our homes, I feel that I am not only celebrating Spring but also celebrating and rejoicing in life itself and the natural world that is too often kept apart and just outside our doors. But we can bring it inside and by placing a garland on a wall, a wreath on a door, we invite the magic and splendour of the natural world, of Mother Nature, to join us in our homes and to dance with us in what I like to think of as a whimsical festivity of the spirit and soul.
An act that is so often considered more just a rather casual and fun craft, such as collecting plants, vines, acorns, grasses, flowers etc. for making wreaths and garlands, can actually be seen as a magical age old ritual of becoming one with nature. Living in close proximity to these whimsical works of nature art is good for the soul.
Dried grasses, pinecones, and black locust seed pods
Dry grasses and black locust seed pods
Although I haven’t collected wildflowers today, I was able to find dry long grasses from the land near the stream, pinecones, and the seed pods of the black locust trees. I set my sights on making a small wreath but as I twisted and wove the long grasses, I found they were just too dry and they broke very easily. I wasn’t able to make the wreath.
But I decided to use a plant pot that was handmade pottery that had belonged to my grandmother, and that had earthy brown tones, and I put together a rather natural looking simple arrangement using the dried grasses, pinecones, and a few black locust tree seed pods. It is looking more like the fall season than the spring season but no matter.
Arrangement with pinecones, dry grasses, and black locust seed pods, collected on my walk that day.
Closer look at the arrangement of dry grasses, pinecones, and black locust seed pods, collected on my walk that day.
As I worked, it felt good to use my hands to choose and arrange the natural materials. And when I was done, I felt a little astonished and very pleased that I had an arrangement that I was happy with and that achieved my wish to invite the magic of Mother Nature to join us in our homes.
I’m reveling in the moment of this early Spring day, which here at least, has temperatures that feel more like summer. Once the wildflowers appear this year and the new green grass grows, I will be able to use that with the vines I cut, to make the wreath that I am looking forward to. For now I have enjoyed making the pinecones and grasses arrangement, and feel gratitude that the winter days are behind us and the warmer days are here. Life is good.