It’s almost wreath-making time with master gardeners

Photos courtesy of Master Gardeners: Participants gather evergreen boughs to craft their unique holiday wreaths.

Press Release, Orleans County Master Gardeners

KNOWLESVILLE – It’s that time of year again when Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners are gearing up to offer their popular Wreathmaking Workshops.

There are three options for class times this year: Dec. 4 at 2 p.m., Dec. 4 at 6 p.m., and Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.  The 6 p.m. class on Dec. 4 is close to filling up, but there are several spots still available during the daytime classes.

The wreathmaking classes are fun for all ages, including parents and their children. Kristina Kleeh and her daughter Sophia have been coming for several years to make a wreath together.

The Wreathmaking Workshops are the biggest fundraiser for the Master Gardener program at CCE. Proceeds from the classes support educational programming throughout the year, including the monthly Master Your Garden educational classes for adults, youth activities at local events and county libraries, on-site demonstration gardens, and new programs like the debut of the Orleans Community Seed Share coming in 2025.

“The Wreathmaking classes are always such a fun way to close out our program year,” said Katie Oakes, Master Gardener Coordinator at Orleans CCE. “It’s always fun to see how different the wreaths turn out, even with everyone starting with the same base materials!”

Master Gardeners purchase evergreen boughs in bulk to be used as the base for the holiday wreaths. Volunteers also bring in accent material from their own yards so participants can personalize their wreaths to fit with their home décor or holiday aesthetic.

Each wreath comes out entirely unique and reflective of the personality and creativity of the maker.

Accent material in the past has included holly, red-twig dogwood, dried hydrangea, pinecones, and more! There is also a table set up with festive ornaments and trinkets participants can choose from as well as many different styles and prints of ribbon for custom-made bows.

“I have been coming to the Wreathmaking classes for several years,” said Peggy Gabalski, a long-time attendee of the workshops. “I love having this event as the start of the Christmas season!”

The Wreathmaking classes are typically offered in November, but with Thanksgiving falling later in the month and CCE buildings being in use other days, Master Gardeners were limited in options to host the class.

The workshops will be held in the Trolley Building of the Orleans County 4-H Fairground, 12690 State Rt 31, Albion, NY 14411. The cost for the class is $30 per wreath. Pre-registration is required by calling 585-798-4265 ext.125 or emailing klo54@cornell.edu.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own gardening gloves and pruners to streamline the prep of evergreen branches.