Presents from the allotment.

[greenishfing]

I went on a garlic hunt yesterday, while it was raining. A trip around the local garden centres to see what sets they had.
As you might imagine I sort of went overboard.
Thinking ahead, and being an eternal optimist, I can imagine that next year I will have a massive crop. I normally grow a decent amount. Anyway, ahead of myself again I was thinking that next year when I plait the garlic up I could maybe wire some of it to a willow or metal circular frame like a wreath, and tuck in twigs of Bay leaves and Rosemary to give as presents at xmas.
Can any of you more crafty people see this working and what else could I grow this year to put on them?

[Mr Bones]

Dried red cayenne peppers would add a splash of colour.

[greenishfing]

Dried red cayenne peppers would add a splash of colour.

Sounds very good.

[Chestnut]

Teasels?
Twigs of dried sage?

[greenishfing]

Teasels?
Twigs of dried sage?

I have got a couple of sage plants. Can you dry sprigs intact and they will stay whole when they are dry? I don't normally dry my own sage but give it to my sister who dries it above her aga and gives me a jam jar of dried sage back and keeps one for herself.

[Nicos]

Lovely idea!

[jonahjonah]

Funnily enough, some of my internet ads yesterday were for SR DIY wreath kits. I searched to see what she recommended. The kit apparently comes with an (undisclosed in listing) shopping list. However, when searching, I found she has guides for making several wreaths. For Christmas (https://www.sarahraven.com/articles/...mas-wreath.htm), she recommends:

Zone 1 – the really colourful things

3 small oranges (and the cloves to go with them to make pomanders)
7-9 mini pumpkins or ornamental gourds (depending on size – get as small as you can)
5 stems of Chinese lanterns (or orange chillies on a stem available from good florists)
12 green and red finger chillies
9 chrysanthemums (added for an evening)

Zone 2 - a lighter mix of ingredients

10 stems of agapanthus (or peony heads)
5 branches of Spindle seed heads (or callicarpa. Rosehips or sloes)
5 stems Cyperus or lablab bean seed heads (or sedge or other grasses)

She seems to have guides for various seasonal wreaths.

[Chestnut]

I have never tried drying sage myself, but maybe you could ask your sister to try a few and see how it goes? My sage plant is only 9” high so far, so cannot cope with heavy harvesting :-)

[Chestnut]

I have never tried drying sage myself, but maybe you could ask your sister to try a few and see how it goes? My sage plant is only 9” high so far, so cannot cope with heavy harvesting :-)

[greenishfing]

I have never tried drying sage myself, but maybe you could ask your sister to try a few and see how it goes? My sage plant is only 9” high so far, so cannot cope with heavy harvesting :-)

Mine aren't particularly tall but they have really spread. I hack at them with abandon.