Celebrate with nature! A garland made from maple leaves and 4 other delightful ideas for decorating with plants

A delicately blooming wreath

Fresh branches are always a great idea for party decorations. Wrap a blooming wreath and tie a garland.

Balance is key for floral wreaths, too. Gather a rattan ring or wreath base, branches of currant and raspberry bushes, ivy, ranunculus, and some newly sprouted hellebores from the garden. Create a visual focal point on the lower left side of the wreath and leave part of the rattan base exposed on the right. Let the branches deviate slightly from the shape—they add a relaxed feel to the wreath.

Mix-and-match vases

Let nature do its gorgeous thing in glass jars of different sizes.

Pick flowers from a meadow or roadside and add glass jars to complete your row of vases. Choose a color theme and combine wildflowers, grasses, and florist stems in small bouquets. Keep in mind that some wildflowers wilt quickly, so gather them on the morning of the celebration.

A garland that takes you on a forest walk

You can do just fine without flowers. Make a garland with leaves.

Have plenty of rope or thick string, maple leaves, small branches, wire, and wire cutters. Make small bundles of leaves (with stems) and branch tips, then secure them tightly to the rope with wire. Continue until you reach the end of the rope, ensuring that each new bundle covers the previous fastening point. You can see the finished garland in the photo above, along with flowers in mismatched vases.

The prettiest bouquets

Chicken wire is a great helper for arranging flowers.

A perfectly composed floral arrangement that stays upright isn’t just for the pros. Start by forming a spherical support of chicken wire for your vase. Thread each flower stem through the wire, building the arrangement to your liking. Place slightly shorter flowers at the very edge, so the wire stays hidden.

A lush tablecloth

Decorate your party table with wreaths and make it reflect your personal style.

Currant branches, lavender, ferns, and rosemary are perfect for fragrant wreaths. Make one or a few as tablecloth decor and earn style points. Strong wire is enough for the wreath base, keeping them light enough for hanging. If the festivities continue the next day, swap in fresh branches in the morning.