We are always asked how many wreaths we make each year, and we do have the data to answer.  This year we sold 257 standard sized wreaths, of which 171 were fully decorated. We also sold  33 large sized wreaths, and another 16 wreaths that were special orders in larger (or in one case smaller) size. We need plenty of advance notice to be able to do that type of ordering, though, if you’re thinking of doing so next year.  We also only decorate standard sized wreaths. Additionally, we sold 25 red poinsettias and 35 white poinsettias, and a handful of stand-alone bows.  Our customers numbered 193.  Although many customers did not specify a bow color with their orders, we had advance requests for 42 red bows, 40 plaid bows, 28 red and gold bows, 19 gold bows, 14 cream bows, 10 silver bows, 4 blue bows, and 2 white bows.  We were also fortunate to receive cash donations to help with our mission to save the trees.  We hosted over 50 volunteers throughout the week, and a few weren’t even members!  So thank you all, customers and volunteers alike. Below is a matched pair which coordinated with a second set of matched pairs, for the front and the back of a Commonwealth Avenue home.

While the pictured wreath looks very natural and woodsy, if you look closely you’ll see velvet poinsettia leaves (scavenged from some artificial flowers purchased at one of our wholesale supplier’s stores), glass balls, and glittery sparkling artificial branches in a copper/burgundy color, all mixed in with a variety of natural greens, and highlighted by a gorgeous tapestry ribbon. This wreath is meant to be hung indoors or in a sheltered location due to the fabrics involved.

The Garden Club of the Back Bay wishes you all a joyous and Merry Christmas!

We had an interesting comment from one of our recipients this year, who needed a pair of matched decorated wreaths for her front doors. In the past, the bows had been placed either on top, or at the clock positions we refer to as 10 and 2, but those choices were made by the decorator and were not specified by the client, or by our in-house procedures. This year she received a matched pair with both bows at the 10 o’clock position. We thought the wreaths were beautiful, but she thought a mistake had occurred, and was wily enough to rehang one wreath so the bow was where she wanted it to be, although we believe some of the decorations may now look as if they are upside down. Our decorating team exchanged emails and decided we didn’t think matching ribbon positions  in this way is wrong or unattractive, but of course we made a note to make our distraught customer’s wreaths differently in future.  What do you think? Should all matched pairs be done with bows on top, or as mirror image?