Community Garden: Creating a wreath with Shirley Mutina

Let’s adorn and beautify!

In its 101 years’ history, the Community Garden Club has hosted educational lectures focusing on a variety of different gardening topics, including garden design, floral arrangements, and botanical histories. 

On Feb. 21, 2025, the Community Garden Club (CGC) program was Home Decorating with Wreaths presented by Ms. Shirley Mutina of Riesel. 

Ms. Mutina comes to us originally from Pearland, where she owned and operated a flower shop for over thirty years. There she specialized in creating events, weddings, plus, of course, floral arrangements.

At the CGC meeting, Ms. Mutina began by demonstrating how to make a wide ribbon bow. She placed with zip ties the first large, puffy bow, made up, actually, of two wide ribbons, off center on the wreath. She proceeded by inserting greenery to each side of the bow. 

There were large artificial flowers carefully sheared then hot glued in place, and smaller bouquets, and more bows; additions of figurines and greenery continued. All the while, Ms. Mutina was giving instructions plus recommending materials for creating a wreath or any floral arrangement (live or artificial) as a centerpiece or door hanging. 

Voilà! In 18 short minutes, Ms. Mutina was finished with the wreath. She offered it as a drawing prize, and the winner was Terri Glover!

“There’s nothing quite like the sight of a DIY wreath hanging on your front door,” commented a CGC member.

The takeaway? Even before the fiddling and creating begins, always clear a sizable workspace, gather tools, and make sure materials are of good quality and in order. Organization and a little pre-planning help make a wreath that much easier! Then adorn and beautify!

Note: Making one’s own wreath is far less expensive than purchasing a pre-made wreath, and one ends up with a custom-made creation with personality. 

The Community Garden Club of Marlin continues to serve the community of Marlin by engaging in civic beautification projects of local parks, city and county buildings, and county hospital. 

The Community Garden Club holds monthly meetings September through May, special outings and socials, and a Christmas Party as well as a May Garden Party.