Here’s the Secret to a Holiday Wreath That Won’t Wither, Plus Other Winter Decor Tips

Once a flower-focused adventurer, Portland-based author Françoise Weeks realized she never really had paid much attention to the different barks, mosses, or seed pods that litter sidewalks on her hikes through her neighborhood and surrounding forest. Making note of the smaller details in nature created a shift in her that she now calls woodland design. “As soon as I started to focus on the beauty and unique characteristics of all these elements, curiosity drove me to design with these newly found treasures,” she explains. “A new world of possibilities in design opened. I discovered that there were so many different variations of these elements—from textures to colors to shapes—and it was a delight to experiment with them all.” 

Here, Françoise shares her tips for unlocking inspiration while walking under the trees this winter. She hopes everyone will start seeing Mother Nature through different eyes and discover the many natural gems we can design with.

From ‘Wonder of the Woodlands,’ copyright © 2024 by Françoise Weeks. Photographs copyright © 2024 by Theresa Bear. Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

Getting Started

Designing with natural elements is quite different from designing with flowers, but Françoise encourages beginners to go in with an open mind, as the mechanics and techniques are similar. Because locally foraged materials can differ so much from region to region, it’s important to take the time to discover what’s available around you and explore with an open curiosity for new ideas. Paying attention to the smallest of details will spark a starting point for your own nature-driven expressions. When collecting, don’t feel pressured to have a fully fleshed-out idea of what the finished design will look like, and be open to intuitive design based on the available materials.

From ‘Wonder of the Woodlands,’ copyright © 2024 by Françoise Weeks. Photographs copyright © 2024 by Theresa Bear. Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

Seasonal Sourcing

Françoise lives in an old neighborhood where the streets are lined with very mature trees, and she makes it a habit to go collecting after windstorms. She suggests bringing a bag and a pair of shears on walks to gather seed pods, pieces of moss and lichens, and even branches that have freshly fallen on the sidewalks. Taking note of favorite materials is important for future collecting and projects, but she urges one should always be mindful when foraging and to only source sustainably.

When it comes to the holidays, woodland wreaths and framed woodland scapes are some of Françoise’s favorite projects. Hellebores and snowdrops can be placed in water tubes to give creations a pop of fresh flowers—just use pieces of moss or bark to cover any arrangement mechanics. Her favorite seasonal textures include mixing a variety of evergreens, holly, pinecones, dried pomegranates, dehydrated persimmon and orange slices, cinnamon sticks, walnuts, and hazelnuts with foraged bark and lichen-covered branches. 

Winter months might make finding diverse materials challenging, so it’s important to collect seed pods and things of that nature during seasons when they are plentiful. During the winter, Françoise relies more on buying plants or using materials that have been dried in a flower press, such as maidenhair ferns and rex begonia leaves. No matter what nature has provided for you, there is much creativity to be had. In fact, the woodland look is not reserved just for centerpieces, wall hangings, or structural designs: The holiday season is an excellent opportunity to create and accessorize with botanical jewelry, headpieces, or small woodland flair that can be worn on shoes or bags.

From ‘Wonder of the Woodlands,’ copyright © 2024 by Françoise Weeks. Photographs copyright © 2024 by Theresa Bear. Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

No Woodland, No Problem

You don’t have to live within walking distance of an enchanted forest to pull off these creations. Mosses, lichens, bark, branches, seed pods, mushrooms, and even ferns all can be purchased online. Françoise also advises readers to lean into other non-woodland plant materials, such as succulents and tillandsias, which offer such interesting textures and shapes and make for an unexpected arrangement. Don’t be afraid to embrace your own region’s set of treasures; woodland design consists of a variety of textures and very few (if any) flowers, so exploring what is locally available to you makes your designs both sustainable and unique.

From ‘Wonder of the Woodlands,’ copyright © 2024 by Françoise Weeks. Photographs copyright © 2024 by Theresa Bear. Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

Woodland Wreath DIY

From the forest floor to your front door, Weeks shares her tips on how to make the perfect woodland wreath.

“I love making these woodland wreaths and like to use elements that do not require a water source so they can be enjoyed for many months,” she says. “You can use pieces of bark, interesting branches, or small pieces of wood, and display a variety of seed pods from trees, shrubs, annuals, or perennials during the fall. Also, incorporate any interesting finds from the garden or flower market that will still look nice when dried.”

Materials

• 16-inch wreath frames 
• Paddle wire 
• Cold and hot glue 
• Foraged or store-bought seed pods and greenery

‘From Wonder of the Woodlands,’ copyright © 2024 by Françoise Weeks. Photographs copyright © 2024 by Theresa Bear. Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

Directions

1. Using paddle wire, attach a moss base to the frame by winding wire around the moss every inch or so. If necessary, use cold glue to attach any straggling pieces. Then, use a glue gun to attach the decorations.
2. This wreath contains moss, bark, lichen, dried mushrooms, a variety of seed pods (eucalyptus, Cardiocrinum, devil’s claw, screwbean mesquite), acorns, dried ferns, pinecones, succulents, and cacti. I like to place the smaller elements before gluing them so I can change their position if need be; I often do this in sections.

Buy the Book

‘From Wonder of the Woodlands,’ copyright © 2024 by Françoise Weeks. Photographs copyright © 2024 by Theresa Bear. Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

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