A Barn, a Wreath, and the Start of Christmas
A little from my yard, a little from yours, and maybe even a branch from behind the church. The makings of a perfect wreath.
The season doesn’t start with the lights or the shopping for me—it starts the night the Westover Garden Club meets in the barn with clippers, ribbon, and an armful of greens.
By the time everyone arrives, the long tables look like the forest floor—magnolia, cedar, pine, holly—and the whole place smells exactly like December should. We bring what we can from our own yards, our neighbors’ yards, and maybe even from behind the church if the branches were generous that year. Warm coats, work gloves, and a little good gossip complete the scene.
I’ll confess: my decorating was already finished. I came purely for the company—a glass of wine in hand, catching up with friends—and whatever delicious supper the hostesses were serving. Their food is never to be missed, and I wouldn’t have stayed home for anything. Some gatherings are about the work; this one is about the women.
My new pick maker made its grand debut, and just as I suspected, someone in the room knew exactly what to do with it. That’s the beauty of a group like this: there is always someone who has the trick, the memory, or the missing piece. You never feel like you’re creating alone.
Wreath night has become its own quiet marker on the calendar. A wreath is never just a wreath—it’s a welcome, an invitation, a bit of celebration hung right on the front door. And somehow, clipping and wiring alongside these women feels like tying the final bow on the season’s preparations.
But more than anything, this night reminds me why traditions matter. They steady us. They gather us. They give us a place to stand in a season that moves a little too quickly.
Christmas doesn’t announce itself with the tree or the lights so much as it does in a drafty barn, where fresh greens, easy laughter, and a good supper signal the season has truly begun.
Here’s what you need to make a wreath:
Greenery (cedar, pine, boxwood, magnolia…)
Kristy McCormally’s Jacket: Bailey Bomber in Black and White by Emily McCarthy
Special Thank you to Margaret Russell for sharing her beautiful barn and to her co-hostess, Amy Birdsong for an amazing meal - delicious recipes to follow!
