I could be wrong, but I don't think this has been done before. A DIY wreath has been done before (I'm ALMOST positive of that) but not one made out of what I've made it out of.
I'm very, VERY good at assuming I invented things. Cheeseburgers? That was me. Quesadillas? My invention. Bringing Boston Ferns inside to overwinter? Yeah, I that was all me too.
I have several moments every week where I have convinced myself I'm an inventing genius only to realize I'm perhaps just unaware of the world around me and what goes on in it. I definitely thought I invented quesadillas.
But this time? This time I really think I've invented something. For real.
The DIY Wreath - Made of Seed Pods.
This wreath is made from bundles of seed pods - from kale. It's the most brilliant way ever to dry seeds for seed saving and sharing.
I know. I was a bit stunned too. It's not just me, right? I mean this is amazing. Since it's also lavender season I threw some sprigs in the wreath but it doesn't need it. All on its own it looks as good as any other wreath I've seen. I'm talking to you Magnolia leaves and pine boughs.
How to Make a DIY Wreath With Seed Pods
- LET your kale go to seed. That means this fall, don't dig it up, don't cut it off, just leave it in the garden. Next spring it will start to send up flower shoots which will turn to seed pods.
- Cut branches of seed pods into about 7" lengths and bundle them together.
- A large wreath will take around 12 bundles.
- If you have a flat wire wreath form, the bundles will need to be wired together and then wired onto the frame. If you have a wire frame with wires for clamping attached (like I did) just lay each bundle on the wreath form and clamp the wires down.
- Done.
TIPS
- Don't make your bundles too long and flowing or the wreath will be limp and floppy when you hang it. And not in a good way.
- Remember this wreath is going to dry out while the seeds mature. Because of that you might need to retighten the wire clamps as the seed pods lose moisture and shrink. ALSO because this is a wreath filled with seeds put it somewhere you don't mind seeds falling out.
- When the entire wreath is dry you can harvest the seeds, cut off the pods to give away or just leave it. But be warned seed pods like this usually (quite literally) explode with seeds. This violent expelling of seeds is nature's way of making sure it reproduces.
This was my kale last fall flanking my sidewalk. I'll give you a minute ...
O.K., now that I can assume you've pushed your eyeballs back into your sockets I can continue.
Your next question is going to be HOLY SHIT WHAT KIND OF KALE IS THAT???
It's Black Lacinato Kale - variety Black Magic.
Below was my kale this spring when it had formed its seed pods. It's barely even recognizable as kale because it's COVERED with stems of seed pods.
When I noticed the stems were *just* starting to dry out - a sign the seeds are ready to start maturing I pulled the kale out and used a couple of seed pod stems in flower arrangements.
Then the 2 plants sat on my front lawn for a few days until my neighbour Laurel walked past and tried to fashion some of the stems into a crown.
We were discussing the viability of wearing a kale crown when she screamed out - YOU SHOULD MAKE A WREATH!
And I did.
I'm sure you can see how easy it looks from the photos. The greatest thing is that IT IS THAT EASY. I didn't have to fiddle with it or try hard to make the bundles of kale pods look perfect. I just smushed a handful together and laid them on the wreath form.
These wreath forms with the wires around it really make wreath making easy but I've never seen them for sale. I save them every time I buy a wreath that's made with them so I have a stash of wire wreath forms in my basement.
So if you buy a wreath this Christmas don't forget to pull the greenery out at the end of the season and keep the wire wreath form.
You can also buy flat wire wreath forms on Amazon. I know. Boooo Amazon. But sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.
All made with seed pods.
What other seed pods can you use?
I'm not sure because I've only tried kale, but I'd say lettuce and radishes would both work you'd just need to grow more of them to be able to make this size (12") of a wreath.
DIY Wreath - Made with seed pods
Make a HUGE wreath out of seed pods from kale.
It's a perfect way to dry out your seed pods for seed saving.
Materials
- 12 bundles of kale seed pods (or other seed pod branches)
- 12" wire wreath form
Instructions
- Cut kale branches with seed pods so they're around 7" long.
- Bundle them together until you have a nice fist full. Create 12 of them.
- Lay them on the wire wreath form and attach with wire.
- Enhance the wreath with other flowers that will dry (like lavender) if you want.
Notes
The size of your bundles will depend on the size of wreath you use. Just make a few bundles and lay them on the wreath to see what's best.
These are LIVING wreaths that will change over time. The seed pods and stems will dry out so you might need to retighten the wire holding them on.
Also, because the seed pods are drying they'll also start popping open, scattering kale seeds everywhere. Plan where you hang this accordingly.
The kale seeds can drop on the ground for birds to eat or you can put the wreath in a bag or plastic bin, and shake it to release the seeds for saving.
I would like to now declare myself the inventor of the seed pod wreath. I Googled it. There are no others. It is mine, all mine.
A neighbour named Laurel? Nope. It doesn't even sound vaguely familiar. Never heard of her.
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Thank you for making me feel really good about ignoring my kale!
The wreath is awesome -set up the ring doorbell or a trail cam to catch your wreath exploding. I’m still kind of laughing about that… and I can hear the neighbors talking, “Karen. That weird lady with the chickens and garden who throws zucchinis in your car and has exploding wreaths on her door.”
So pretty!! I thought it was gonna be a wreath made from something from the Dollar Store (which would’ve been perfectly cool), but from kale?! How excellent and original and practical! Just like you.
Maybe your cleaver logo needs to be replaced by the wreath logo…
Hi Karen,
Great idea!! Is there any kind of "natural" or nontoxic spray you can use to prolong the life of the wreath?
Love your ideas
HI Ada! There are a variety of things you can use for that sort of thing but I've tried them and honestly they don't really work. That's not to say there isn't anything out there that would do the trick, it's just if there is, I don't know about it. ~ karen!
That kale is the perfect accent for Halloween! Kind of scary.
So…. It seems LAUREL actually invented the wreath.
Sometimes simple is outstanding. Simply outstanding! Makes me want to grow some kale. Almost.
Yeayea, lovely wreath, great kale...but I wanna know what that plant is in the second picture! The one to the far left of your wreath/door with the nodding white flowers. It's Yummy! (albeit in a different way than quesadillas to be sure).
But there's more! (ain't there always?) I don't think I've seen a picture of your...side door? before. It's really sharp looking. That's the 4th from last picture. And if you can, could you share what sort of plant you used for the hedging and the topiary trees? I've been trying to grow some box (buxus) but it's Ever so Slow.... I'm in Zone 6 here in London, Ontario so similar to your own zone up there.
Hmm. Well, even WITH all that guidance I'm still not sure which plant you mean, lol. I can tell you that up and over the gate/arbour I have honeysuckle which people walk past just to smell when it's in bloom. Beside that there is a very large climbing hydrangea. And the shrubs and topiary are all boxwood. :) ~ karen!
That narrows the field though, so thanks. I think the One I'm talking about must be the climbing hydrangea - had my eye on that plant for awhile now, though I think because yours has some leeway to arch a bit and isn't closely clipped it has that 'nodding' flower thing I was talking about. But Yes to the honeysuckle too - I adore the scent.
It figures that those shrubs/topiary are in fact boxwood - I think I should have bit the bullet and just bought the Larger ones to start off with. Yours look smashing
Thanks again.
Brilliant! Totally talked me into not ripping out that Black Tuscan kale that's gone tough and bitter in this heat wave...or at least save one plant for wreath making and seed saving. The lavender looks gorgeous too. Unfortunately I've already pulled out the california poppies which have mega-long pods but the dry leaves looked ratty....soooo, next time..thanks for the great ideas.
OOH! - yes, you're right - those were single ring, but I found these double-ring forms for about $2 and they're in stock to boot. *adds to cart & plans wreath party*
https://www.kelcomaine.com/showitem.cfm?item=AHDS14&type=F
👏👏👏👏 ~ karen!
Whoa. Mind blown. Off to make a wreath - this couldn't have come at a better time.
Thanks, Karen!
Excellent! Send me a pic if you do it. ~ karen!