Let's make some wreaths, 2020 Style

Here we are again, another year gone by... it's time for holiday decorating. You all surely know by now that I do enjoy making wreaths. This year I made a couple at home, and then joined friends for a wreath making party (COVID-safe style).
This was the first of the season, I cut a few leaves from one of my Mahonia x media 'Marvel'...
...and then used ribbon (rather than wire) to tie them to the frame. So simple, so easy...
I love it! And of course it's a bonus that it looks so good with the fireplace tile.
This tiny little wreath is made of Cryptomeria japonica 'Rasen' branches, or rather tiny bits of them.
They're held in place with the same ribbon I used on the mahonia wreath.
For the next group of wreaths I drove out to Cistus Nursery, and the home of my friends Preston Pew and Sean Hogan at Rancho Cistus. Of course before I could get down to wreath making I had to snap a couple garden photos. Blue sky like this in December is a rare treat indeed... 
If you think this planting looks familiar you're correct. I've featured it before, here and here.
This little trowel seems to say "dig what you want..." (no of course I didn't!)
And this mangave looked so much like an underwater sea creature...
Speaking of creatures, my friend Ann Amato showed up with this little guy in tow, yes her cat Felix has been known to adventure out to nurseries and other spots around town.
He didn't actually make a wreath, but he kept watch on us all. 
Again I must mention the weather! December 4th and we were outside under sunny blue skies, and not freezing! Sure it wasn't exactly warm—I think the high was 50 that day—but my non-gloved hands weren't cold. This was such a welcome treat for our socially distanced times.