This was a year of aches and pains, accidents, colds, you name it. One of our most prolific decorators had shoulder surgery and was unable to work, although she came in and did her best to help in other ways.  Our past co-chair of the Twilight Garden Party helped Sunday and Monday, had cataract surgery Tuesday, and was back on Wednesday. A couple were suffering from bad colds, and another worked with an arm brace due to a stretched ligament (total rest for one month recommended.) Another designer was only able to come for one day, but her work that day was exquisite, and we hope to have her back in full swing next year.

We have three basic choices for decorated wreath designs: all natural, designer’s choice, and glamorous glitz. The first is rather self-explanatory, although even then, we often take the liberty of dusting the natural cones and pods with a bit of glitter dust or a dull gleam of antique gold paint, tastefully applied, to “lift” the design. The third is also obvious – give me glam and lots of it. But the second category, “designer’s choice”, is a bit more complicated. We try to explain to our volunteers that designer’s choice doesn’t mean going off the rails. If we don’t know the client, we try to stay within parameters of traditional design. In the case of the wreath below, the designer chose to steer to a rose pink range, and while the wreath was undeniably beautiful, we had no idea if the buyer would be put off by the scheme. Luckily we were able to take a picture and send it, in advance,  with a sincere promise that if she didn’t care for the interpretation we would be glad to substitute another look of her choice. The response was quick – her house was an explosion of pink, she loved pink, and loved the wreath!

This year, in three different instances, we changed the bows on wreaths at the request of customers.  In each case there was nothing wrong with the original choice. The clients simply opted for another “look.” One person preferred a solid burgundy rather than a burgundy and gold. Another ordered a silver bow but when she came to pick up her wreath, spotted a multicolored ribbon she liked better. And in the example pictured below, for The Tennis and Racquet Club, the buyer wanted more of an emphasis on the “racquets and balls” used in the design, without distraction of a patterned bow. The wreath is wildly wonderful either way.

A customer asked for a bird-themed wreath, but requested that no cardinals need apply. Luckily we have a cache of other small birds which we could incorporate into the all natural wreath.

One condominium client has a large glass front door, and hangs one wreath on the front facing the street, and one facing the lobby. The wreaths are supposed to coordinate but need not match exactly. Our designer realized the bow outline would be visible from each side so she created mirror image wreaths, which demonstrates the extra measures we go to in order to make the products as nearly perfect as possible.

Who are our favorite customers? Well, all customers are naturally our favorite customers, since their purchases help support our tree work in the neighborhood, planting, pruning, inoculating, and advocating. But we hold a special place in our hearts for those who tell the decorator “Do whatever you want and surprise me.” Here is an example of what can happen then.

One of the most special aspects of  Wreath Week is seeing old friends who travel back to Boston to assist with the project. Wreath Week is our second most lucrative fund raising effort, next to the spring benefit, but it didn’t start that way. In the early 1990’s we began decorating to bond with each other, get to know neighbors and have some hands-on decorating fun.  Even when members move, they return, staying in inns, clubs, hotels, and on family couches. This year we had help from Florida, New Hampshire, Cape Cod, and Connecticut (the Berkshires). The beautiful indoor wreath below was done by a resident of Martha’s Vineyard.  It is one of a matched pair.