A Living Wreath for Mothers’ Day

Flowers for Mothers’ Day are often imported. Violas are in-season in the UK in March and they are so pretty and delicate. This living wreath will last well outside on a table or an outside door/wall. When the moss starts to dry out, simply place the wreath in a bucket or sink of water. This living wreath should last for months. A beautiful handmade gift using in-season flowers.

You will need:

• 12 violas

• A 10 inch wreath ring

• Reel wire

• Mossing pins

• Moss

• A protective cover if you are making the wreath on a dining or kitchen table

Step 1:

Prepare the wreath base. I used a wire wreath base and simply added the reel wire around the base to provide some structure. Keep the reel wire attached to the wreath base.

Step 2:

Take the violas out of the tray and remove some of the soil. I moved inside at this stage as it was cold and windy outside. If you are making this inside, use a protective cover on your table - it is very messy!

Step 3:

Place the voilas around the wreath base so that you can check how many you will need. I used 12.

In this image you can see that some of the soil has been removed from the violas

Step 4:

Attach the violas to the wreath base with the reel wire. Make sure you wrap the reel wire around the violas a few times and pull tight to secure. Add the violas at different angles so that the finished wreath looks more natural - as the violas would grow in nature. Cut the reel wire and secure around the back of the wreath ring (make sure it is very secure as you don’t want your violas falling out when the wreath is hanging from the door!).

Step 5:

Hide all the soil with moss. Attach the moss with mossing pins. Make sure the moss is attached well - you might need to use quite a lot of mossing pins!

Mossing pins

Step 6:

Hang the finished wreath from an outside door or wall. If you are using the wreath as part of a table display, place the wreath on a plate so that it doesn’t damage the table.

Once the wreath is past its best you can re-use the wreath ring, moss and mossing pins.

Happy Mothers’ Day!