It's that time of the year: autumn cutbacks in the gardens here at Struan Farm. A week or so ago I chopped back the hops, which had flowered and were dropping all over the driveway and pergola at the orchard entrance. The grapevines on the pergola in the main garden at our house were next in my sights, and this past weekend the weather cooperated with the job at hand.
I've been a fan of simple grapevine wreaths for many years now, have purchased two from artist Michael MacMillan at his gallery on Neudorf Road in the Upper Moutere, outside of Nelson. One is wrapped with galvanised steel ribbons, the other is tied with fencing wire recycled from the old school that had been on the gallery property, wonderful "repurposing" of historic materials, at least in my mind. The wreaths are rustic but simple.
Since I removed quite a few errants vines from the pergola with my pruning efforts, I decided to try to make a wreath. Grapevines symbolise "abundance," so they make an interesting wreath on both aesthetic and symbolic grounds.
The exercise is a bit like trying to untangle a messed up skein of knitting yarn. Patience and a methodical approach are required, the vines like to cling to one another. Our vines weren't terribly thick or dry, so malleable enough to work with without soaking first.
Once I had a basic ring shape that was thick enough for a wreath I dug a roll of copper wire out in John's workshop, and used that to bind the wreath.
Not a bad first effort, eh? I can't decide whether I should hang it outside somewhere or use it inside. In the meantime it's hanging in the garage to dry out. Pruned grapevines can also be used to barbecue, although we're rather partial to tea tree/manuka wood for that.
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