A handmade wreath for Christmas

The holidays are upon us with well-decorated wreaths that we will be proud to have made by hand. Conifer branches, privet berries and clematis ivy highlight the beauties and scents of the Laurentian forest under the organic signature of Prune les fleurs.

The kingdom of plants

A forest wreath is simpler to make than it seems, assures the founder of Prune les fleurs, Nadine Jazouli. Just look around you to find material to shape it.

The morning of our meeting, Nadine Jazouli got up early to pick a few branches of pine, larch and other conifers or perennials in her garden in the Rosemont district. These plants are found everywhere in Quebec and even in cities. Assembled before our eyes, they will take the form of a forest crown, generous and elegant, with the scents of the undergrowth.

The beauty of this festive decoration lies in the layering of tone-on-tone textures and colors and, of course, in the sharp eye of an artisan who has made many others. Making your own winter wreath is, however, easier than it seems, assures the owner and artistic director of Prune les fleurs. “The result may seem intimidating to anyone who is not a fan of DIY [do-it-yourself, ou fait main], but making your own Christmas wreath is accessible to everyone. »

In the fall, when cleaning up the garden, you can already put a few beautiful plant branches aside. At this time of year, many trees still bear their berries, crabapples and dried flowers. Just keep your eyes open to find some treasures to collect sparingly in alleys, wastelands, parks and forests.

“In the same way that you put up your Christmas tree, making your wreath is a beautiful tradition to reproduce as a family year after year,” suggests Nadine Jazouli, skillfully weaving a few branches of plants into an ivy base, with her hands stained by resin and sap.

From mid-November, and until Christmas, she and her team of florists will assemble dozens of wreaths in an artisanal way: each one unique. “I go a lot by feeling, following the shapes of the crown,” she emphasizes, adding that her creation, made for The Press and the steps of which you will find in the following tab, is an inspiration on which it will be easy to improvise.

An indelible impression

13 years ago, Nadine Jazouli, then an advertising agency account director, began selling the floral creations she created in her basement during her free time. “I was bored at work. I had walked around the garden! » And it is precisely towards other gardens that she turned. “Flowers are my passion. I remember the first bouquet I received when I was 7 years old. This is such powerful attention! He left an indelible impression on me. »

Pregnant with her first child, then twins, she put her plans to start a business on hold for a few years. It was finally on her third maternity leave, seven years ago, that she made the leap by joining forces with the Must Société stores, inside which are presented the three counters of Prune les fleurs, in Montreal, Laval and Quebec. For two years, its Plum gardens sector has also existed, where it grows flowers in an ecological and ethical manner.

“Buying flowers or receiving them is comforting. All it takes is one flower to change the mood and decor of a room. I like my flowers to be present in the big moments of life, as well as the small ones.

Create your forest crown, step by step

The components

Pruning shears, ribbon and sheathed wire are the only accessories needed, along with a reusable ivy wreath made by hand or purchased ($36, at Prune les fleurs). All the branches, with a length that varies between 20 and 40 cm, are stripped at the base to be more easily inserted through the ivy. They are then attached to the support with wire.

• Pine branches
• Larch casseroles picked in spring
• Seasonal larch branches
• Privet berries
• Switchgrass sprigs
• Blue spruce branches
• Clematis branches
• Wichita cedar juniper branches with its berries
• Pinecones
• Cedar branches
• Carolina Sapphire Cypress Branches
• A silk ribbon for finishing

Step 1

Pine branches cover the top and sides of the wreath and make up the backdrop for this creation. “Since I like it to be generous, I make sure to garnish all sides well,” says Nadine Jazouli.

2nd step

The florist then composes small bouquets of cypress, spruce and pine which she ties with wire before adding them to the wreath, starting at the top, then filling in the inside and outside of the wreath. this one.

Step 3

Cedar branches are integrated into the unit, highlighting the top of the branches, but also the underside which is paler. Touches of shine, such as larch, are added where the effect is harmonious.

Step 4

Nadine Jazouli finishes with the accents: larch casserole branches harvested in spring and pine casseroles, whose base, rather than the tip, is highlighted – “because I find it prettier”. Clematis ivy, delicate and fragile, weaves its way between the vines at the very end.

Finishing

To finish, a 2 m long silk ribbon dyed with natural cachou acacia extract is folded on itself to create more volume and a double loop.

Until December 15, you can order your fresh crown at the Prune les fleurs boutique ($95 for the small size and $185 for the 24-inch size).