Earlier this week my friend Hilary and I attended a wreath-making workshop hosted by the Jefferson and Switzerland County Master Gardener Association and the Purdue Extension. The event was held in the Community Building at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Madison, Indiana – a pefect location for a sea of greenery lovers to make magic. Tons of room, lots of long tables, and PILES of fresh greens harvested by members. Cedar, pine, magnolia, holly, and more. And Master Garden Ken Schneider was on hand to make bows out of an assorment of holiday ribbons!

A group of people gathered around a table filled with various fresh greens and materials for wreath-making, displaying a collaborative and festive atmosphere.
A group of people participating in a wreath-making workshop, surrounded by various fresh greens and crafting materials. Some attendees are seated at tables while others are actively working on their projects.
A man with gray hair sitting at a table, carefully crafting a bow with red ribbon, surrounded by various rolls of holiday ribbons and greens in a festive workshop setting.

While I noticed a few Facebook posts about wreath-making workshops in other communities in the region, they were $75-$80/person for materials & instruction. The event in Madison was FREE, the greens were all freshly cut, and you could make whatever size and variety project you wanted – and as many as you had time to create! Information “how-to” was available, as were several pairs of shears, snips & wire cutters.

A person holding a printed guide titled 'How to Make a Wire Wreath', displaying step-by-step instructions with illustrations, while participants work on wreaths in the background during a wreath-making workshop.
A person working on a holiday wreath made of pine, holly, and berries, with gardening tools and materials visible on a table.
A smiling woman holds a freshly made wreath decorated with holly and pine during a wreath-making workshop.

The idea to have a wreath-making event hosted by the local Master Gardener Association was the brain child of master gardeners Meg Perry (shown here fashioning a swag) and Liz Bryan, who started the workshop a few years ago. I have been a time or two previously, and I can tell you the event has really taken off. And what a joyful evening it is! Friends crafting side by side, mothers and daughters crafting together, happy campers crafting solo, conversations and laughter filling the hall. It was nice to see so many friends having a good time. No holiday stress happening here!

Three women engaged in a wreath-making workshop, gathering fresh greenery and crafting in a spacious room.
Elizabeth Chapa, Happy Smith & Meg Perry having fun
Participants crafting wreaths together at a wreath-making workshop in a community building, surrounded by fresh greenery and holiday decorations.
Santa hats lend some cheer!
Two women smiling while holding handmade wreaths made of pine branches and magnolia leaves, decorated with pine cones, in a workshop setting.
Wanda Shelley’s & her daughter’s beautiful wreaths

This year I decided to make a swag as my main project, and with extra time and greenery, I made a small freeform cedar wreath for the kitchen. I ended up using the swag on the living room fireplace screen – an odd placement, I’ll agree, but I like it!

A smiling woman with curly hair wearing glasses holds a decorated wreath and bundles of greenery in a community center, surrounded by workshop participants.
A festive greenery wreath with a red and cream checkered ribbon that reads 'MERRY CHRISTMAS,' adorned with small blue berries, hanging on a kitchen wall.
A decorative swag made from fresh greenery, including magnolia leaves and cedar, adorned with a large red ribbon, hanging against a patterned tiled wall with a fireplace tool beside it.

There are so many types of greenery available for holiday decorating. Before we moved back to Madison’s downtown historic district, our property had such a good variety to choose from. I miss gathering the lacy cedar and the juniper covered with blue berries, but the wreath-making workshop provided a wonderful assortment of choices. If you’re interested in the varieties used in holiday arrangements, check out the photos and descriptions of the greens shown in this photo from MarthaStewart.com. (Scroll down to “Types of Greenery” in Martha’s “Greenery 101”).

A collection of beautifully wrapped gifts in various shades of green, each adorned with different types of greenery such as holly, pine, and eucalyptus, showcasing a festive holiday theme.
A framed certificate from Purdue University recognizing completion of the Master Gardener program, dated March 3, 2012.
Logo for the America 250 Patriotic Garden Tour, featuring a Revolutionary War soldier holding an American flag, with the text 'Madison in Bloom' and details about the event in Madison, Indiana.

Ken and I took the Purdue Extension’s Master Gardener Class in 2012, and we have really benefitted from that experience. (We liked it so much that we took the Master Naturalist training after that!) They’re taking signups for a spring class, so give the Extension a call if you’re interested! I really enjoy the garden-related activities that I’m connected with here in Madison. I belong to the local Valley Hills Garden Club, and they have good programs, a city garden project, and volunteer with community programs. I’ve enjoyed the biennial Madison in Bloom Garden Tour, and I’m spearheading the America 250 Madison in Bloom Patriotic Garden Tour for this June that is sponsored by the John Paul Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Information will be available in early spring, so stay tuned for a blog post on that!

Close-up of a snowy pine branch with green needles.

In the meantime, enjoy the wonderful scent of fresh pine during this holiday season. And watch for dates of next year’s wreath-making workshop on social media in late fall. It’s really too good to miss!

A festive holiday graphic featuring the text 'Happy Holidays' in elegant lettering, with a pinecone and greenery border against a deep red background.

Written by

sallymcw

One thing that makes my journey unique is that all of my interests are driven by a joyful and genuine curiosity. I delight in finding less expensive ways to make something or creative ways to enjoy something longer. Finding and creating joy - and sharing it - is core to who I am.