This wreath, destined for Newburyport, is standard size, but is so filled with berries, pine cones, eucalyptus, and greens that it seems twice the size. When a customer asks for a plaid bow with designer’s choice accents, the decorator has freedom to interpret, and this wreath is a typical result of such freedom. “Designer’s Choice” is our favorite type of order.
One decorator was making a wreath for her sister-in-law (believe me, we wouldn’t inflict this much of a statement if we didn’t know the customer) and decided to go all out on the shiniest bow we could provide. The ribbon was a special order, and is balanced by lots of glittery balls, plus natural pine cones and white pine sprigs. Cambridge neighbors will take notice of this front door!
Most of our ribbons are red, plaid, and gold, although we carry silver, blue, copper, and patterns as well. Over the past few years we have received more requests for green, and this example shows what can be done with it. We used to believe green “didn’t show up well” but clearly that is not the case here.
Today is a day of cleaning up, or traveling, or sleeping in. Yesterday’s dishes may still be in the sink, and the holiday wrap and boxes will sit in your house until the next recycling day. Today’s wreath, however, will last well into January, with sturdy materials and a universal color scheme.
We at The Garden Club of the Back Bay wish you and yours the merriest of holidays.
One of our younger decorators brought her mother, newly relocated to Boston, with her this year, and we all had such fun welcoming her to the neighborhood. The twosome are an awesome pair, producing fabulous designs such as the wreath pictured below, one of a matched pair for King’s Chapel Parish House. The request was for a blue bow with copper accents, and if you walk past the doors on Beacon Street in Beacon Hill you can observe these close up. Wreath Week is a priceless opportunity to meet neighbors – we encourage participation from anyone willing to lend a hand.
Another new designer, the daughter of one of our Past Presidents, came one day to help out, and designed the indoor wreath below. The customer asked for a cream bow and all natural accents – the very fancy silk brocade bow is offset by feathery miscanthus flowers, lotus pods, milkweed pods, and pearls. We are happy she subsequently joined the Garden Club!
Each year we discover the hidden talents of new members who haven’t decorated before, and they quickly become stars. In the next few posts we will feature their sensational work. The classic wreath below, replete with red berries, pine cones, and plaid ribbon, with just a hint of gold sparkle, was created by a member who could only come by after work, and in a few short hours each day created some of the most outstanding wreaths we sent out this year. We are shy about naming names, only because we are unable, for the most part, to honor special decorator requests each year, but if you Friend us on Facebook you may discover more.
Another named wreath, featured today during the Winter Solstice. The customer asked for a Winter Solstice Theme, and this could have gone in a number of different directions, including Wiccan. The decorator chose to emphasize silver and white, reminiscent of frost, and a rich texture of greens. Subtle but bright, the white and silver ribbon has “full moon circles.”
We show many gorgeous wreaths, but they don’t always start out that way. Our process includes at least three points of quality control evaluation. Once a decorator finishes a wreath, the assignment desk checks it for accuracy of description (how well were the order instructions followed) and mechanical security (will those pine cones fall off during delivery.) The wreath next goes to the delivery area, where it is checked again. Periodically, the aesthetic police view the wreaths in daylight, to make sure they are up to standards. Yes, we are a charity, earning money for neighborhood street tree projects, but customers are still paying money for a product and we cannot disappoint. Here are two shots, “Before” and “After,” of a wreath which was sent back for editing.
