Photos: 'Tis the Season for Wreaths

The Durham Garden Club has put its personal touch on this year's holiday season, a tradition that dates back over 40 years.

On Wednesday, members of the club began decorating an delivering more than 300 holiday wreaths and sprays ordered through the club's Holiday Wreath Sale.

Each wreath or spray is custom decorated using a wide variety of mostly natural materials, including pine cones collected from the northwest and dried herbs gathered from backyard gardens in Durham.

"Every single one is different. Everyone has their own ideas," club member Laurie Stevens said as she decorated a wreath for a friend.

The wreaths range in price from $17 (undecorated) to $125 (extra large della robbia wreath), with the most popular 12 inch wreath selling for a very reasonable $40.

Anyone who missed placing an order this year can buy a wreath at the club's Wreath Truck Sale, which will be held this Saturday (Dec. 3) between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Strong School.

It's never too early to place an order for next year's wreath sale. You can do so by emailing Laurie Stevens @ lauriestevens@comcast.net.

The wreath sale is the club’s main source of revenue. The club’s recent major project has been the restoration of the treescape on Main St. Members also plant and maintain the gardens at Town Hall, the triangle at Routes 79 and 17, Korn School and Brewster School.

The club has made contributions to the landscaping of the Durham Public Library and installed a garden at Coginchaug Regional High School. Other projects include floral decorations for the Coginchaug High School graduation, for the Memorial Day Parade and for events at the Wadsworth Atheneum.