Bakersfield.com

larger view larger view larger view

This is my first year entering the Kern County Fair floriculture competition and I'm very excited to share my project with so many fair goers. As a Bakersfield College environmental horticulture student, this event gives me a chance to show off some of the skills I have learned. My wreath is an easy way to display so many kinds of my favorite type of plant, succulents! And it really turned out beautiful, everyone has commented on it. It won first place! I think that after the fair I'll work on some designs for Garden Fest at BC, because this one is going on my front door! Have a good time at the fair, everybody!

Making the wreath requires the following materials:
• wire wreath form in desired size
• sheet sphagnum moss, soaked well in water
• potting soil
• green florists wire in a heavy gauge

Basically, you are making a sandwich with the materials. Lay the form flat on your work surface, then lay the moss on the form. Be careful to overlap the edges so the soil that goes on next doesn't leak out. Then mound the soil on top of the moss about 2 to 3 " tall. Cover with more moss, again overlapping the edges. Wrap with the florists wire very tightly to secure. Soak the wreath well in a tub of water. Then use any size screwdriver needed to make a hole big enough for the cuttings. It takes a lot of cuttings to fill it in. A once-a-week soak in water will keep it beautiful.