Create a Holiday Wreath Virtually with Your Groups

Hands-on fun + shopping = a perfect combination!

One of Southeast Indiana's most popular group attractions is McCabe's Greenhouse & Floral in Lawrenceburg. In business for 45 years, this family owned and operated floral business grows the majority of their own plant material, offers a delightful assortment of home and garden gifts—not to mention freshly made fudge—and operates a full-service floral department.

The "Bloomin' Designers" assist visiting groups on a variety of seasonal hands-on projects throughout the year—fairy gardens, spring baskets, pollinator pots, sunflower arrangements and decorated fall mums, to name a few! The group takes turns with half beginning in the greenhouse for a hands-on project while the other half samples fudge and shops. Check out McCabe's classes for groups here.

A favorite holiday project is a decorated handmade wreath of mixed fresh evergreen. So fragrant! Each person receives a box of assorted greens to transform the wreath-making apparatus, with help from the staff. They then select decoration options to showcase their personal style—red, cranberry, silver or gold berries, and natural, flocked, silver or gold glittered pine cones. Top it off with a beautiful bow (that they'll also learn to make) in their choice of holiday ribbon. Each wreath is as unique as the person crafting it.

While most of us are staying close to home this holiday season, we thought it might be fun to offer readers a simplified "Hands-on Fun at Home" version of the wreath project. Perhaps there's an opportunity to host a Zoom wreath-making with some of your travelers? Here's what you'll need:

• A pre-made wreath, fresh or artificial.
• Four stems of berries (red, cranberry, silver or gold).
• Four stems of pine cones (natural, flocked, silver or gold glittered).
• Pre-made bow (or several yards of wide wired ribbon, if you're crafty).
• Hot-glue gun to affix berries and cones.
• Floral wire to attach bow.

Decide where to place the berries around the wreath and glue in place. Repeat with pine cones. Lastly affix the bow at the top of the wreath, and voilà! You've made a one-of-a-kind holiday door wreath.

Now, magnify the at home wreath experience and imagine having a group together on site at McCabe's Greenhouse & Floral, working with fresh materials in the greenhouse surrounded by beautiful colors and the scents of the season—be it spring, summer, fall or winter. Have fun sampling the many varieties of fresh fudge and get a box for the ride home. Browse the home & garden shop for unique gifts or a keepsake memory of a great day with friends.

When you're back on the road, plan a visit to McCabe's in Dearborn County-Southeast-Indiana. We're ready when you are!

Written by Sally McWilliams, Group Sales, Dearborn County Visitors Center.

Courtesy of Dearborn County Visitors Center.

Photo courtesy of Dearborn County Visitors Center.