One month passes whilst another begins with welcome signs of new life. The lamb’s tail-like hazel catkins, which have been hanging down in clusters from their branches for the last two months, are now joined by early springtime flowers.

Impatient for warmer sunshine, green streaked snowdrops, crocuses and iris add a bright splash of welcome colour in bleak landscapes of grey skies. I’ve also felt eager to nurture some early spring blooms, and designed my pet memorial planters with muscari, iris and narcissus bulbs. I liked the addition of beech twigs with their copper-coloured autumn leaves, dried bracken and hazel catkins, to connect the shifting seasons of autumn and winter to spring. In the bowl planter I also added Scilla, with their clusters of beautiful small white star-shaped flowers, to represent the beauty of winter snow and ice. As a memorial tribute, these planters make a symbolic gesture to the passing of time and reflection but also of new life.

I’ve enjoyed observing these small but subtle seasonal changes. The arrival of early spring snowdrops, which speak of hope and renewal, gave me the inspiration to design a willow wreath to combine the significance of the circle and the comforting cycle of renewed life.  

How to make your own seasonally inspired door wreath to celebrate the arrival of spring

Firstly, construct the wreath hoop using Salix (willow) twisted together – mine was approx. 40cm in diameter. It’s a good time of year to pick up trimmings from cut hedgerows or you could use Cornus (dogwood) which also needs pruning back before leaves appear.  Then simply add in trailing Hedera helix (ivy) stems and Corylus avellana (hazel) catkins, again collected from cut hedgerows. It always feels honourable to use and not waste these trimmings; this calls to my inner forager! A couple stems of pussy willow with catkins, looped through the wreath for added texture and colour, make a great addition.

I brought my snowdrops from a local garden centre which I took out of their pots and carefully wrapped their roots, including the soil, in a moss ball. Luckily, I have a constant supply of moss which is helpfully flicked off my house roof by birds. Moss can also be raked out of a lawn. Use twine to bind and secure the moss and then attach them to the willow wreath using a florist wire pushed through each moss ball – you can add as many as you like in your design. Moss not only has a wonderful texture, colour and smell, but its amazing moisture retention will keep your plants fresh. You can also push small catkin twigs and ivy berries directly into the moss for more creativity.

Now add a hanging loop with twine or paper coated wire and attach to your front door to share a little springtime cheer to visiting family and friends. I love the simplicity and freshness of the soft colours (lime green, pale yellow and white), the different textures and the ‘waggling tail-like’ movement of the hazel catkins. I’ll now be looking for signs of green leaf burst and the first glimpse of a yellow Brimstone butterfly newly emerged from hibernation.

Happy springtime wishes!