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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 2015)
8A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL December 16, 2015 Invent your own wreath for a festive holiday statement BY KYM POKORNY OSU Extension Service W reaths hung on the door with care call out a festive “Happy Holi- days.” Share that message in a special way by making your own circle of cheer with plants clipped from the garden or gathered from friends and neighbors. “A good part of the fun of making your own wreath is going around the neighbor- hood, collecting plants and talking to peo- ple,” said Susan Hoffman, who has been a master gardener with Oregon State Uni- versity’s Extension Service since 2012. Be sure, she added, to ask before you clip. At the entry to almost every store, simple wreaths are stacked up for sale. They’re made with some greenery, a bow and perhaps a lonely pinecone. And they’re not cheap. Those fashioned by your own hands cost almost nothing and are limited only by imagination and avail- able plants. Some of the plants used at a recent master gardener wreath-making affair at the Benton County Fairgrounds included long-lasting selections like traditional Douglas fi r, fragrant incense cedar and red-berried holly. Other types of fi r and cedar, as well as yew, blue spruce, box- wood, laurel and lavender were there for the taking. For color, texture and ber- ries, the wreath-makers added nandina, pyracantha and purple beautyberry. Of course, there are many other options. “You can use absolutely anything you want,” said Jana Tindall, a master garden- er and organizer of the event. If a wreath seems too intimidating, a swag is a very simple alternative, Hoff- man said. Just gather up some plant cut- tings, tie the stems together, add a bow and decorations and that’s the end of that. Even easier is a bouquet of plants for a centerpiece. In a vase, place a piece of fl orist’s foam soaked in water and stick in your choice of plants. In a clear vase, hide the foam with moss, lichen, small pine- cones or red and/or green marbles found at craft stores. “They’re really easy and quick,” said Tindall. “You can make them in less than half an hour in time for a party.” To make a wreath is not much harder, though it takes more time. One piece of advice from Tindall - have a table avail- able. Bending and kneeling can be hard on the back and knees. How to make a wreath from the Benton County Master Gardeners: Tools and materials Clippers Needle-nose pliers Wire (at least 22 gauge) Wire or grapevine frame Gloves Plant clippings Pinecones, small pieces of wood, bows, ribbon, Christmas tree decorations (op- tional) Instructions Design wreath by laying out in a circle on the table, using heaviest-textured plants in the back. Or, if you’d rather, design as you go. Transfer background layer of plants to frame. Leave wire on the spool it came on. Twist one end of wire to the frame with your fi ngers or pliers. Wearing gloves is recommended. Wind wire around the plants and frame in a clockwise direction, pulling it tight to keep plants from falling off. When you’ve come back to where you started, twist Please see WREATH, Page 10A Disc tells stories of CG's past 'Refl ections' contains O'Keefe's newest topical tunes C ottage Grove’s histori- cal organizations have teamed up to aid the efforts of one local musician. Well-known singer/song- writer Ron O’Keefe, who has penned topical tunes aimed at ending an ongoing drought and inspiring healing after the trag- edy of a school shooting, said he teamed with the Cottage Grove Museum, Historical Society and historian Marie Longfellow to write the six songs that became the compilation “Cottage Grove, Oregon: Refl ections.” Gold mining, the Mt. David Oil Well scheme, logging and covered bridges are among the titles on the six-song disc, and O’Keefe said some of the songs have been given to local teachers for use with their summer music programs. O’Keefe’s wife, Pa- tricia Hardy, added background vocals, in addition to creating its cover art. The album was recorded at Bobby Selover’s home studio, and $3 of each CD purchased will cover recording costs. “Refl ections” can be pur- chased for $5 at the Bookmine, the CG Museum at the corner of Birch and H Streets, Books on Main and the Bohemia Gold Mining Museum, with $2 going to the organization where the disc is sold. Shop Local. Shop Cottage Grove this Holiday Season!!! Order Your Christmas Ham NOW! Please place order no later than 12/18/15 $8.00 per pound 35% off all Christmas Regular Priced Gift Merchandise Can not be applied to in-house accounts. Valid 12-16-15 to 12-23-15 We have what you want for Christmas! Top Quality Brands Pick up Mon. 24th by 12 pm 942-3999 733 East Main Everything For Your Outdoor Needs! Give a Gift Certificate! Slippers for men, women, and children Twin Timbers Premium Christmas Trees Noble, Grand, Nordman -5IQV;\ZMM\541-942-6143 Trees are shaken and bailed. Cutting assistance onsite Enjoy hot beverages and candy canes in our gift shop. Senior and military discounts 541 214-8550 82234 Hwy 99 S. • Creswell www.twintimberschristmastrees.com FREE BOOK ALWAYS with $15 purchase Books, local art & Gifts CELEBRATE LOCAL POSSIBILITY DONATE NOW! Maximize your donation by donating to Cars for a Cause by Dec. 31st. We accept cars, trucks, RVs, boats & motorcycles CALL NOW! •Helps those in need in Lane County • Charitable donation •We do all the paperwork St. Vincent de Paul 2315 Hwy. 101 • Florence • 541-997-8460
