MAKING FALL WREATHS

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Instructions for milkweed flowers:

1. Cook 16 milkweed pods (see previous instructions). Let cool.

2. Arrange four pods in a star formation with their pod bases meeting in the middle of the wreath.

3. Apply glue to the side of one pod near the bottom and hold together with adjacent pod for 1 minute or until they're glued together. Apply glue to the bottom side of the second pod and hold with third pod for another minute. Apply glue to the fourth pod on both bottom sides and hold in the last slot until dry. Glue hemlock pinecone in the center.

4. After all four are made, spray with clear acrylic for shine and strength.

Instructions for decorating the base:

1. Arrange four milkweed flowers on the right side of your vine base, spacing them evenly.

2. One at a time, check first to see where each milkweed flower touches the base; then glue at these points. Glue all four flowers in place.

3. Where your line of milkweed flowers ends at the top and bottom of your wreath, glue sphagnum moss for about 6 more inches. This will serve as a base to glue your drieds to. You'll be leaving part of your vine base exposed. (Since you worked so hard on it, I think it's nice for people to see it.) It will also be where you stick your bow later on.

4. Plan to use half your dried material on one area of moss, the second half for the other. Put aside five or six Queen Anne's lace heads, three pieces of yarrow, some oats, and three or four marigolds for filling in between the milkweed pods.

5. It's easiest to concentrate on one moss section at a time. Start with four 3-inch pieces of goldenrod; space them equally around and glue them to the mos—one at the end, two sticking out of the side, and one toward the middle of the wreath. Now take four pieces of oats and glue in between the goldenrod, spacing evenly. (Basically, decorating a wreath is learning to fill in one area at a time.) Next, take some yarrow and add. Your area should be starting to fill in somewhat. If there are gaps or holes, fill in with an extra piece or two of yarrow.

6. Trim off the stems of your teasels and glue on the top part of the moss, the other toward the end closer to the milkweed. Glue in several small pieces of fungi, sensitive ferns, and bee-balm middles. Make sure things are spaced around evenly.

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