GIFTSFROMTHENORTHCOAST
CIRCLE
OF LIFE
Horticulture therapist creates
holiday wreaths from nature
BY SUSAN ROMERSA
Victoria Brown creates unique wreaths
for all occasions.
The Oregon native has always had
an interest in gardening and plants. She
received a degree from Oregon State Univer-
sity in t herapeutic h orticulture.
Horticulture therapists guide clients
through each phase of gardening, from prop-
agation to selling products, as a means
of bringing about improvement in their
life. Participants enhance their well-being
through active and passive involvement with
plants and plant-related activities.
After graduation, Brown moved to
Hawaii for a job. While working on the Big
Island, she learned to twist the roots of the
banyan trees to form wreaths.
“It was my way of supporting my well-
ness through creativity,” Brown said, not-
ing that she noticed improvements to her
well-being while creating the pieces.
Wreaths are popular during the holiday
season, but now Brown creates them year-
round with a variety of natural materials. She
customizes each one for the specifi c client.
“I found that grapevine was great to use
as a base to make a wreath,” she said. “As I
experimented, I found parts of the linden tree
were also excellent for that purpose.”
Brown has now created her own garden-
ing business, and uses the plants she grows
to create her artwork. She oversees a wide
variety of gardens, often using plants she
clips while shaping her customer’s land-
scapes to build her wreaths.
She sells her pieces at several fl ower
shops on the North Coast, often hosting
pop-up shops at Foragers in Astoria. She has
added themed additions to her merchandise
for the holiday season.
“This year we have added our crafted
3 -inch ornaments that are each custom-made
with holiday themes,” Brown said.
Brown can make a custom wreath for any
occasion. She emphasized that her creations
are much more than decorations, and have a
deep meaning.
“My mom says each wreath is a symbol
of “the circle of life,” Brown said.
10 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
Victoria Brown created this autumn wreath
with natural fl owers and plants.
Flora Perpetua
Instagram: @fl oraperpetua
Victoria Brown has a degree in therapeutic horticulture, a method of treating patients with
plant-related activities.
Brown arranged dried fl owers and twigs to create a nature inspired
fall wreath.
fl oraperpetuapnw@gmail.com
Brown says she creates plant-based natural wreaths to support her
wellness through creativity.