Garden Photo of the Day

Cherry’s Fresh Winter Wreaths and Swags

When winter rolls around, Cherry is hard at work creating winter decor far more interesting than most designs you find in stores

By GPOD Contributor
wreath with red berries and magnolia leaves

Happy Monday GPODers!

We can’t get through the holiday season without a look at Cherry Ong’s incredible handmade wreaths and decorative swags. She has shared so many of her amazing designs over the years (Wreath Making with Cherry, Winter Wreath Making, Making Holiday Decor From the Garden, Winter Wreaths and Arrangements, and more), yet with each submission she reveals a new and inspiring batch of combinations. Today we’re looking at wreaths and swags that Cherry made for her garden and as gifts last year. If you’re looking for the amazing winter decor she made this year, check out Cherry’s Instagram: @cherry.ong

winter wreath with profussion beautyberry

Ingredients:

  • Fraser fir (Abies fraseri, Zones 4–7) wreath base 22 inches in diameter
  • Profusion beautyberry (Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’, Zones 5–8) berries from the garden
  • Eucalyptus parvifolia

gold and silver wreath on front door
On our front door

Ingredients:

  • Fraser fir wreath 22 inches
  • Forever Goldy™ arborvitae (Thuja plicata ‘4EVER’, Zones 5–8) from the garden
  • Juniper berries
  • Eucalyptus parvifolia, Zones 7–10
  • Vintage gold bells
  • Vintage gold ribbon

front door wreath and matching containers
Cherry’s front door wreath is made even more spectacular with a pair of matching containers.

another wreath with purple beautyberries
Second beautyberry wreath with callicarpa and daisy bush (Senecio greyi, Zones 5–8) foraged from the garden.

wreath with golden foliage and berries
Going for the gold here with magnolia branches, foraged western red cedar (Thuja plicata ‘Zebrina’, Zones 5–7), ilex berries, gold bells and gold ribbon.

simple winter wreath with only three materials
Simple is best. Only three ingredients for this one: Gold jingle bells from IKEA, magnolia branches and eucalyptus tucked into a premade Fraser fire wreath 22 inches in diameter.

dark blue wreath
Dark and elegant wreath for a friend who loves horses.

Ingredients:

  • Laurustinus viburnum (Viburnum tinus, Zones 5–7) berries
  • Silver dollar eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea, Zones 8–11)
  • Silver bells eucalyptus pods
  • Black velvet ribbon
  • Ornament of your choice – my choice for this gift was a cowboy boot

close up of berries and foliage on winter wreath
Closeup.

close up of shiny boot ornament on wreath
And a closeup of the beautiful cowboy boot ornament on the wreath. I love that the boot is not only shiny and eye-catching, but also very Christmas-y!

wreath made of a lot of colorful berries
Next up is a Juniper berry decked with even more berries. Really great for the birds!

Ingredients:

  • Profusion beautyberry (foraged)
  • Privet (Ligustrum vulgare and cvs., Zones 5–8) berries (foraged)
  • Seeded eucalyptus
  • Silver bell eucalyptus pods
  • White branches

wreath with red berries and magnolia leaves
Now onto red wreaths. This one features hypericum berries.

Ingredients:

  • Mixed firs from discarded Christmas tree branches to make the base from scratch – 28 inch diameter wreath
  • Magnolia branches
  • Hypericum berries, red, foliage removed
  • Norway spruce (Picea abies, Zones 2–7) pinecones, foraged
  • Seeded eucalyptus

wreath with red berries and pinecones
Another red wreath with ilex berries and wreath base from discarded Fraser fir branches.

wreath with red berries and white branches
More red wreaths and swags for gifts!

winter swag with red and green berries
As mentioned above, Cherry some fabulous swags along with her vast assortment of wreaths. This is a perfect companion to the red wreath directly above.

small swag for decoration on plain brown bag
And I absolutely adore these mini versions Cherry made! I’m not sure if this was the first year she made them or the first time I’m seeing them, but they are a stunning way to dress up any holiday gift.

small swag with red ribbon on brown paper bag
Another adorable mini swag. I’ll definitely be making a note to remember this amazing idea for next year!

winter kissing ball decor hanging from tree outside
And last but not the least what I thought would be a fun kissing ball with a Prosecco ornament hanging from the bottom. I used Magic Marlot Japanese skimmia (Skimmia japonica ‘Magic Marlot’, Zones 6–9) from the garden.

Thank you so much for sharing your incredible creations again, Cherry! Your designs easily out due any wreath or swag I’m able to find at stores. One of these years I’ll make the time to take your inspiration and create some wreaths of my own.

Do you create holiday and winter decor from cuttings in your garden? We’d love to see them! Whether you make a few to hang around your home or design them as gifts like Cherry does, it is always inspiring to see what reader’s are able to create during this time of year. Follow the directions below to submit your photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.

 

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to gpod@taunton.com along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

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Comments

  1. User avater
    musabasjoosue 12/30/2024

    I so appreciate you sharing your beautiful wreath creations, Cherry! Every one is a work of art.

    1. perenniallycrazy 12/30/2024

      Thank you for your kind words. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!

  2. margotnavarre 12/30/2024

    Every wreath and object you have created are beyond beautiful. Thank you for sharing your holiday swag.

    1. perenniallycrazy 12/30/2024

      Happy to share! Thank you for your kind words. Peace and good health and joyous gardening moments for 2025 and beyond!

  3. user-7392754 12/30/2024

    Stunning!!! Every single one is above and beyond beautiful! They’re all so different. I want to try one next year!

    1. perenniallycrazy 12/30/2024

      Thank you. I hope you do try one to enjoy during winter. I tried a new technique this year - Butter Wakefield - she has a tutorial on You Tube in case this interests you. Happy New Year to you and yours! Here’s to more fun times in the garden in 2025.

  4. oregongardengal 12/30/2024

    You are such an artist! I enjoy seeing these every year Cherry!

    1. perenniallycrazy 12/30/2024

      Thank you. I feel privileged and grateful to be able to do them. Not sure how many more years… but will do them while I still can. We hard pruned the beautyberry this year so I didn’t take any branches from it for the winter wreathing this year. Glad we have photos to remind us of their beauty in wreaths last winter. Happy New Year!

  5. btucker9675 12/30/2024

    These really are some of the most beautiful wreathes and swags I've seen... you are an artist!!

    1. perenniallycrazy 12/30/2024

      Awww thank you 🙏🏻! Making and giving them brings solace and joy. Keeps me from overeating too. Shared some wreathing materials with a young and very talented friend and this is the spectacular 26 inch diameter wreath that she made! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DD-1AEEStyl/?igsh=MWU4MHhmNjd1dGdxMg==
      I think you would love her wreath as much as I do!

  6. slepskip@comcast.net 12/30/2024

    I really love these! I need to remember these before next year gets crazy-busy! I have many of the materials you've used, just need to look back for your special designs, and try to emulate! Really lovely!

  7. User avater
    simplesue 01/17/2025

    You sure have a talent for making wreaths! It's hard work making those, and you have no limit to your imagination...oh I love the use of the beauty berries in your creations!

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