How to Make Christmas Wreaths for the Birds

Wreaths are used traditionally to decorate your home during the holiday season. Here is a special wreath that, when hung outside, will attract and delight hungry birds!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Raffia
• Wreath Frames
• Birdseeds
• Millet Sprays
• Peanut Butter
• Sunflower Seeds
• Paddle Wire

Make the Wreath

1. Gather a large shopping bag full of 6-inch garden trimmings. Suggested trimmings include magnolia, oak, redwood, cedar and pine. Remember to include some red berries in your collection. The tips of branches work best.
2. Use a wire wreath frame, or make your own frame from a wire coat hanger (simply unbend it into a circle); you can use the hanger hook to hang your finished wreath.
3. Attach #24 floral wire (sometimes called paddle wire) to a place on the wire wreath frame.
4. Select several stems of the 6-inch foliage pieces and place them together in a bunch, with the stems at one end.
5. Place this bundle on top of the frame where the floral wire is connected.
6. Hold the bundle in place and wrap the floral wire around the bundle and frame. You will need two hands for this: one to hold the bundle in place against the frame, the other to wrap the wire.
7. Wrap the floral wire around the bundle a second time and then pull it tight. Make sure to leave the wire attached to the frame, because you have a long way to go.
8. Gather another bundle of foliage and lay it so that the leaves overlap the first bunch and cover the stems. Make sure that the stems on both bunches are facing the same direction.
9. Continue overlapping the bunches of foliage and wiring them to the frame until you complete the circle.
10. Lift the first bundle that you wired onto the frame, and tuck the last bundle under it.
11. Twist the wire tightly around the last bundle, and knot the wire onto the frame, leaving 1 inch of wire with which to hang the finished wreath.
12. Cut the wire with scissors or pruning shears when you're finished.

Add the Bird Treats

13. 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 wreath.
14. String clusters of whole raw, unsalted peanuts in the shell onto raffia. A large sail maker's needle works well for piercing the shells. Pierce two or three peanuts and tie the raffia onto the wreath.
15. String grapes using the same method. Tie the grape bundles loosely to the wreath.
16. String a few kernels of popcorn and then roll them in peanut butter and birdseed. This is a favorite treat of blue jays.
17. Slice apples, pears and oranges and attach to the wreath with wire ornament hangers.
18. Tie millet sprays to the wreath with raffia bows.
19. Cut net onion bags into small squares and fill with sunflower seeds. Tie the bundles of seeds with raffia and attach to the wreath. The bright colors will look divine and the birds will enjoy the offering.

Tips & Warnings

• Thick bundles make fat wreaths. The more plant material you add, the more full your wreath will appear.
• 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 wreath to eat in peace, if they so prefer.
• Hang your bird-treat wreath where it will be visible from inside the house.
• You won't know the players without a scorecard. Purchase a good bird book so you know who is enjoying your creative endeavor!

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