How to Make Christmas Garlands for the Birds

Garlands are traditional decorations used to enhance a doorway or banister during the holiday season. You can also use them outdoors. With a few edible additions, the birds and squirrels will enjoy Christmas too!

Things You'll Need

• Raffia
• Sail Maker's Needles
• Evergreen Foliage
• Fresh Fruit
• Nuts
• Sunflower Seeds
• Paddle Wire

Instructions

Add the Bird Treats

1. Roll pine cones in peanut butter, then in birdseed. Wrap some paddle wire around the base of the cone and attach the treat to the garland.

2. String clusters of whole raw unsalted peanuts in the shell onto raffia. A large sail maker's needle works well. Pierce two or three peanuts and tie the raffia onto the garland. String grapes using the same method. Tie the grape bundles loosely to the garland.

3. String a few kernels of popcorn, then roll in peanut butter and birdseed. This is a favorite treat of blue jays.

4. Slice apples, pears and oranges and attach to the garland with wire ornament hangers.

5. Tie millet sprays to the garland with raffia bows.

6. Cut net onion bags into small squares and fill with sunflower seeds. Tie the bundles of seeds with raffia and attach to the garland. The bright colors will look divine and the birds will enjoy the offering.

Make the Garland

1. Gather a wheelbarrow full of evergreen trimmings. Use the tips of the branches for best results. Some suggestions are juniper, oak, asparagus fern, bay laurel, redwood, cedar, pine and fir.

2. Cut the evergreens to a length of 6 inches.

3. Lay a 10-foot length of string or twine on a large, flat surface.

4. Tie a loop in one end of the string.

5. Attach #24 floral wire (sometimes called paddle wire) to the loop end of the twine.

6. Select several of the 6-inch foliage pieces and place them together in a bunch, with the stems at one end. You can mix different kinds of foliage in one bundle.

7. Place the bundle of foliage at the loop end of the twine with the stems pointing toward the long end of the string.

8. Wrap the floral wire around the stems and twine to secure them in place. You will need two hands for this - one to hold the foliage in place against the string and the other to wrap the wire.

9. Wrap the floral wire around the bundle a second time and then pull it tight. Make sure to leave the wire attached to the twine because you still have a long way to go.

10. Gather another bundle of foliage and lay it so that the stems overlap with the first bunch and cover the stems. Make sure that all the stems are facing the same direction.

11. Continue the process of overlapping the bunches of foliage and wiring them to the twine until you run out of string.

12. When you finally do run out of string, twist the wire tightly around the last bundle and knot the wire and the string together. Leave 12 inches of wire (to attach the garland where you want it) and cut the wire with scissors or pruning shears.

Tips & Warnings

• Make the strings of fruit, nuts and popcorn short. Long strings are difficult for little beaks and claws to handle. A few inches is perfect.

• Tie the raffia loosely so that the critters can pull the offering away from the garland to eat in peace, if they so prefer.

• You won't know the players without a scorecard. Purchase a good bird book so you know who is enjoying your creative endeavor!

• If you need the finished garland to be longer than 10 feet, you can wire two completed garlands together.

• This is a dirty job! Work over newspaper and have plenty of soap and water ready to clean your hands when you're done.