Today come join me for three different ways to use Magnolia for the holidays. Magnolia is one of my favorite natural elements to harvest from the garden. Magnolia offers earthy color to enhance any holiday decor. Welcome, Friends, as I share with you two different wreaths using Magnolia and a simple table centerpiece.
Branches of Magnolia were harvested early in the morning and brought indoors. Too cold today to work outside. They are wrapped in a tarp to keep the mess contained.
Inspect your cuttings and wipe them with a damp sponge. You want to make sure their are no spider webs, insects, or bird droppings on your magnolia before you use them in an arrangement.
For the first project I started a grapevine wreath as a base. This was actually a small size as the finished project is much bigger than the wreath. Single stems of Magnolia or bunches of stems are wrapped around the wreath and held in place with wire.
Just keep adding bundles and wrapping them with wire as you progress around the wreath. I love to have both the golden brown and the green showing to bring two colors to the wreath.
The finished wreath is hung in the window using a pipe cleaner/chenille stem attached to the back. Light filters through and at night it looks lovely. I’m planning a “Hunt” themed table setting for Christmas and this should help set the mood. You can add a bow to the side of the wreath or the bottom or leave it natural like the one above. Spray the leaves with Wilt Stop or similar brand to keep the leaves from drying out.
The next project uses a pre-made artificial wreath as it’s base. In the first picture above you can see the wreath as it was taken out of storage…very flat. The middle picture shows you the difference between the fluffed side of the wreath and the flat side of the wreath. The last picture shows you the wreath all fluffed out and beautiful.
The next step is to select some Magnolia tips and insert them into the wreath through to the back. Space the Magnolia around the wreath using as many as you like until you achieve the look that you want. The Magnolia blends with the pine for a wonderful, natural look. You can embellish with pine cones or ornaments and add a bow as well. I chose to leave the wreath with just the pine and magnolia for an understated look.
Flip the wreath over and secure the stems to the wreath with wire. This is very easy and quick to do. You need five – nine magnolia stems to create a nice full wreath.
The finished wreath is a mix of Magnolia and evergreen. The blend of artificial and natural elements works well. If you have a limited supply of Magnolia, you might want to try this one since it stretches your Magnolia tips.
Any left over greenery can be used in a centerpiece with or without flowers. Since it is early in the season I opted for just greenery. I placed glasses in the box my Hubby made and added the remaining sprigs of Magnolia. It filled in beautifully. The greenery will keep for a long time as long as the glasses are filled with water. I also added some flower food to the liquid. As we get closer to the holidays I’ll add some ornaments and picks to the arrangement and a few seasonal flowers.
Hope this gives you some ideas for your own decor. If you live in the South, it’s easier to find Magnolia. Ask a friend or neighbor who has a tree if you can snip a few bundles, if you don’t have a tree of your own. Have a wonderful week as you think about your own holiday decorating.
Those are all fabulous ways to use magnolia, Lynne – I love each one! Can’t wait to see your hunt decor, too!
Thanks, Barbara. It’s always fun to start decorating for the holidays. Magnolia is definitely a gift that can be used in so many ways. Thanks for visiting and sharing.
Lynne
So pretty. I wish we had natural magnolia to play with here in the foothills of the Rockies. I can buy faux, but it usually is pricey.
I’ve looked into faux as well and it is quite expensive. Where you live you probably have lots of pine or different evergreens. They make for lovely holiday decor. We all use what’s available which makes our decor unique and beautiful. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Lynne
Thank you, Lynne, for the way to clean each leaf of the Magnolia. I wish now I had kept the huge Magnolia limb that fell during our storm Nicole here in Daytona Beach. My Magnolia tree is now 50 years old and each storm takes another limb or two. It doesn’t look shapely anymore, but I’m thankful I still have it. Now for me to go out and see if I can get a few of those leaves off to arrange in a wreath. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks, Mira. I wish you good luck with the wreath and with your tree. It’s so sad to see a great tree in demise. Mine is only about 10 years old so still a baby that I can’t pick from. Have a wonderful week and thanks for sharing.
Lynne
This will go great with my “woodland” theme, especially since I live in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
South Carolina has a lot of Magnolia. I’m in the Upstate and benefit from that as well. Good luck with your W”Woodland” theme. I’m sure it will be gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
Lynne
Well, in Maine, I have to go to Joanne’s or Michael’s for my magnolia; it is so pretty and a great way to fill out a skimpy wreathe! I love how you used both sides to add more color. I do sometimes make my own grapevine wreathes when I thin out wild grape vines and ivy that grows where I don’t want it! Not as nice as “storebought”, but the price is right! It also let’s me hot glue stuff to them caz I don’t have to reuse them. This year I made 3 different sizes, tied them together from small to large and added snowman facial features and buttons made of art foam strung on fishline and a fleece scarf.
Every area has it’s specialities and it sounds like your grapevine wreathes are fabulous. Would love to see your snowman. thanks for visiting and sharing.
Lynne
Such pretty ideas you have here on how to use the leaves for decorating! I love Magnolia trees, my daughter has one in her yard and wants to have it cut down but I like it very much.
Magnolia is one of the great natural decorating tools. It’s fun to use and easy to work with. The results look great. Thanks for stopping by and sharing.
Lynne
I adore magnolia! We had a magnolia in our former landscape, and it served me well (but year round cleanup was another story!). There are some awesome faux magnolia branches out there now too. But nothing like the real deal.
I love how it looks in the house and how easy it is to create beautiful decor with only a few branches. Faux is great and looks quite realistic.
Lynne