Craft a glowing maple leaf wreath
A maple leaf wreath is the loveliest door decoration for fall. Here’s how easy it is to make!
Maple leaf wreath—supplies
- Maple leaves (and berry clusters)
- Metal wire
- Floral wire
- Scissors or wire cutters
Maple leaf wreath—instructions
1. Twist metal wire into a ring to form the wreath base. Make sure the ring is large enough, because large leaves will quickly fill a smaller ring.
2. Roll the maple leaves gently into a coil and gather a few together. Secure the bundles to the wreath ring with thin floral wire.
3. Add more bundles to the ring. The tighter you tie them, the fuller the wreath. You can also add berry clusters (for instance, from virginia creeper).
4. Finally, add a loop for hanging.
Fall color takes over forests and gardens
Warm shades—yellow, orange, and red—emerge as the weather gets cooler. Along with the drop in temperature, the amount of sunshine and rainfall during summer and fall also affects how vibrant the colors become. After a rainy spell, the hues are usually more subdued, while a longer sunny stretch makes them truly glow.
Beautiful fall plants for crafting
- Maples, aspens, rowans, birches, and pink cherry develop beautiful fall color. Among more exotic trees, the katsura turns a lovely yellow.
- Compact winged spindle develops a striking pink fall color.
- Among ornamental shrubs, spiraeas—especially birchleaf spirea—azaleas, and serviceberries take on a wonderful red hue.
- Blueberry bushes also turn their leaves from green to a lovely red, making this productive plant a gorgeous ornamental shrub.
- Among groundcover shrubs, sand cherry looks wonderful in its fall colors.
- Climbing hydrangea turns yellow in the fall, while virginia creeper blushes as the weather cools.
- Perennials also develop fall colors. Hostas turn yellow, and cranesbills take on red hues.
