Making a wish wreath for the garden
Next to my front door hangs a “wish” wreath made for me by my mother about 9 years ago. It remains one of my most treasured gifts.
Why do I love it? Aside from its appealing Texas-gardening theme—the grapevine wreath is accented by a barbed-wire star, tiny clay pots and miniature watering cans filled with Spanish moss, and dangling copper plant markers—the wreath holds all her wishes for me, each one etched on a copper tag and wired to the wreath.
Reading her wishes always makes me tear up, they’re so sweet and full of love:
Contentment
Charity
Understanding
Laughter
More children (This might seem a stereotypical grandmotherly wish, but at the time we were struggling with secondary infertility, and I held this wish close to my own heart. Eventually, it came true.)
Friends
Happiness
Hope
Health
Family
Texas/home
Love
Madison (our old dog, who’s since passed away)
Tenderness
Sex (I love that a plant tag labeled “Sex” is hanging by my front door.)
Only tears of happiness
Flower gardens
Sunshine
Just enough rain
Snow on Christmas (this one has yet to come true)
Forgiveness
Peace on earth (still wishing for this one too)
Four more tags bear the names of my husband, my children, and myself. I guarantee if you make one of these wreaths for a loved one, it will always have a special place in her garden and, more important, in her heart. Thank you, Mom.
If you do make one, here’s how you do it. Buy a large grapevine wreath (with or without the star in the middle), tie-on copper plant tags and wire, a package of Spanish moss, five clay pots, and three tiny, decorative, galvanized watering cans or buckets.
Using a hot-glue gun, glue the clay pots directly onto the wreath. With copper wire, tie the galvanized cans onto the wreath. Then hot-glue Spanish moss into the pots and cans. Gluing the moss keeps the birds from stealing it, for a little while anyway.
Using a ball-point pen, etch your wishes onto the copper plant tags, and then wire them onto the upper half of the wreath, using enough wire so they can dangle in the breeze.
Over time, the bright copper tags will darken, but they should always be legible. After a year or two, the recipient will need to re-glue the clay pots, as the sun weakens the glue if the wreath is kept outdoors. And more often, she’ll have to re-stuff the pots with moss, as birds will use it for their nests. But if the wreath is hung on a sheltered porch, out of the rain, it should last for many years, as mine has. And the wishes will last forever.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
What a wonderful idea! I’m sure you will love it for years to come. I know I would.
I sure will. Thanks for commenting, Randy. —Pam
You people out in the blogosphere have made me tear up all morning! Pam, this is a touching present…and the birds using the moss…I am tearing up again;-)
Gail
It is such a nice present…even for the birds. 😉 Thanks for your comment, Gail. —Pam
What a wonderful gift from a wonderful mother! And she even wishes sex, although maybe that was for the more kids thing, giving you a little nudge. ;-> The birds using the moss is just a bonus. We love those copper tags, we use them for the Christmas gifts, reused each year. Thanks for sharing this lovely wreath and even a how to!
Frances at Faire Garden
Frances, you kidder. Hey, using the copper tags for gifts is a great idea. —Pam
What a creative mother! And such a kind-hearted one as well. I commend you your relationship. And also envy you!
Brenda
She is indeed both creative and kind-hearted, and generous as well. Thanks, Brenda. —Pam
A very heartfelt unique gift and very much for the gardener ..
Wonderful !
Joy
Yes, and you might have guessed that she is a gardener too. —Pam
I love that. What a unique and loving wreath idea! I teared up too, brought flashback memories of my own painful struggles with infertility. Glad those days are OVER!
I’m sorry you had to go through that too, Robin. It’s a roller coaster of heartbreak, but that’s a topic for another blog. Thanks for your comment. —Pam
What a wonderful gift. I can see why it pulls your heartstrings.
It really does. Thanks, Lisa. —Pam
It still looks great and probably even better than when new! I might be tempted to make one of those! Also, good luck on that photo shoot! I think they would be crazy to pass you by!
If you make one, I hope you’ll let me know how it turns out. I’d love to see your version. —Pam
What a wonderful idea, that wreath is dripping with love, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
You’re welcome. I thought it was too good to keep to myself. —Pam
Oooh – great idea & with plenty of time to get it done by Mother’s Day! I’ve got to admire your mom’s willingness to work with barbed wire. If I tried that, I’d just end up with a trip to the ER.
A perfect Mother’s Day idea, MMD! As for the barbed wire, I think this wreath was purchased with the star already attached, or else she bought the star and wired it in herself. However, I have no doubt that she could make a barbed-wire star if she put her mind to it. 😉 —Pam
Just lovely.
Thanks, Becky. —Pam
What a thoughtful, joyful gift–each plant tag a succinct little blessing for you. You must have a very special relationship with your mother. *warm fuzzies*
Brianna, Seeds
We’re pretty fond of each other. Thanks for your comment, Brianna. —Pam
Pam,
Thanks so much for sharing this precious gift. As always, your blog lifts my spirits and warms my heart.
Thank you, Janet! —Pam
What a unique and lovely gift from your sweet mother. I especially love the tags filled with wishes. Thanks for sharing that Pam.
You’re welcome. Thanks for your comment, Kerri. —Pam
Love those plant tags! What a wonderful idea. And congrats on being scouted for the photo shoot.! I hope you are selected! It will be great fun to read all about it here.
Carol
terranovadesign.blogspot.com
Thanks for your comment, Carol. I appreciate your good wishes. And now I find there’s yet another Carol! The Carols are going to need to start using last initials to help me keep them straight. 😉 —Pam
What a wonderful gift your mother gave you Pam and of course you treasure it, it is so very special. Love all your Mum’s wishes for you, they speak volumes! And I’m happy to read that the birds think very highly of this special wreath too. 😉
Thanks, YE. This wreath is a big hit, all the way around. —Pam
That’s amazing. It made me tear up to read about her wishes for you. What a loving, enduring gift. Thank you for sharing yours, as well as the tips on how to make one.
Isn’t it sweet? Thanks for your comment, Diana. —Pam
A handmade gift from the heart is like no other.
Pam, I’m just catching up with my reading and I’m in love with your wreath. What a wonderful idea, your Mom must be a special lady.
Hi, Pam–Thank you so much for sharing this wonderfully creative idea! Lucky woman to have such a loving mom! I am inspired. Thank her for me. My daughter has a birthday coming up this summer and wouldn’t she love something like this? If I do it, I will share the results! Thanks again!
I hope you will. I’d love to see it. —Pam
What a great idea! My daughter’s getting ready to move into her own apartment for the first time — she may be getting one of these, too. What a wonderful gift! Thanks for sharing.
If so, I hope she enjoys her wreath as much as I have enjoyed mine. Thanks for visiting, Patricia. —Pam