Wild grapevine is an invasive plant, often called a nuisance since it can actually kill trees. If you live in a wooded area, you’ve probably got some right outside your house and plenty of it! I think it’s beautiful and it’s perfect for crafting wreaths and other home decor. I also love how it lends an enchanted, storybook atmosphere to the woods. I can see Snow White running through the forest, grapevines reaching out to grab her– Oh, yeah, back to the wreaths…. We’ve got grapevines all over our farm, so making wreaths out of them is unbearably enticing. By the way, one more side note, wild grapes are edible, and did you know you can even get water out of the vines by cutting them at the bottom and draining them into a container? Just a handy tip for the next time you’re lost in the woods. If I ever get lost in the woods, I’m planning to sit down and cry. But you. You! You can cut down a grapevine and drain out the water and eat grapes.
To get grapevine down, some muscle is handy. 52 helped me drag these vines down. Okay, he dragged them down while I picked out which ones I wanted. I really wanted this one because it still had grapes attached. I called them berries, which drove him crazy. So I called them berries some more.
Then we wandered on down to the meadow bottom so I could look for things to put on the wreaths, at least temporarily, just for fun, because I like to play with stuff. The dogs came along, of course. You can’t walk a step on a farm without being shadowed by dogs. Which is nice, because dogs make any walk into an adventure, especially if one of them is a Giant Puppy and the other one is Mr. Crankypants.
I grabbed some moss and ferns and wildflowers to take home and play with my wreaths.
And Coco ran up and down the meadow 200 times because she was excited.
Then she noticed the creek.
She stopped for a drink–
–then abruptly wheeled around–
–because she had just remembered her new power over water.
So she ran up and down the creekbed 200 times to reinforce her dominion over it.
Dookie: “It’s not my fault this time. I told you the Giant Puppy was trouble.”
Then we hauled the grapevines we’d cut back up the hill to the farmhouse in the truck.
And I proceeded to make a huge mess on the porch while pruning off leaves and stray branches from the vines.
Right after this picture was taken….
….in which, to answer the question, I was not wearing any pants….I stomped my foot and said, “This is too hard! I can’t get it untangled!” (This is why I wouldn’t make it if I was lost in the woods. I’m such a whiner.) And I promised 52 that I would call them grapes from now on, not berries, if he would help me.
We fashioned half a dozen wreaths out of the bounty we’d hauled out of the trees.
I love, love, love the little curly doohickies on the vines.
Coco, back on the job with her goats, enjoyed snacking along with them on the fresh grape leaves we threw over the side of the porch. She thinks she’s a goat, too.
Then I played around a bit, decorating with the fresh things I gathered in the meadow bottom.
I really love the berries that came with the vines.
Berries. Grapes. What’s the difference? 
How to make a Wild Grapevine Wreath:
If you’re using fresh grapevine, the vines will be pliable and easy to shape. If the grapevine has been cut for awhile, you may need to soak it overnight in water to restore flexibility. Using sharp pruning shears, cut off extra branches and leaves, leaving the curls that will add charm to your wreath. If there are grapes hanging off your vine, leave those, too! Start with the biggest end of the vine and form a circle in the size you want for your wreath. Wrap the vine around and around several times then wrap the smaller end to help hold your shape. You can use wire to help hold things together, if necessary. Place centerpieces or candles inside smaller wreaths for table decorations or make straight wreaths to hang over doorways or windows. Let your wreaths dry for a few weeks before final decorating. (They may shrink slightly when dried.) Decorate with dried herbs, flowers, ribbons, or other seasonal items using craft/floral wire or a hot glue gun.
In the coming weeks, after the wreaths dry, I’ll be decorating them permanently in seasonal frivolity for autumn and Christmas. Some will be to keep, others to give away as gifts. (I’ll post pics of the finished wreaths as I get them done.) Grapevine wreaths are fun! You ever made one?
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on September 18, 2008
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We have a huge grapevine behind the house, but it’s odd because it never produces any grapes! Grr!
And you were not wearing any pants. I knew it!!! Though admittedly, if I lived out in the country, with no neighbors around me… I wouldn’t wear them either. So I can’t bleam you honestly! Hee hee!
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what a wonderful way to spend the day!!! I also BUY extra grapevine wreaths….unravel them and wrap it around my Christmas Tree like Garland….talk about a mess!!! I decorate my tree to look like one you would find in the woods…like in your backyard!
Tresh in OK
PS the word “grapes” is overrated…we all understood berries better! hahhaa
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Smart thinking with the pallet! You really are a regular farmgirl now. :treehugger:
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Your creative use of the pallet is what we do on most everything. They make great gate doors also.
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I’ve not made one, but I have one that was made by a one armed man. He was a friend of my parents. Do you have bittersweet growing in your woods? I put bittersweet on mine since mine didn’t have berries….
:J
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52 is like my Captain, always helping in whatever my next adventure or project is. Especially if I get frustrated, he will take over for me. Gotta love them fellas!
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Swags are also pretty to make out of them, just cut off a bunch of strips and tie them together around the middle and decorate.
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Love your wreaths. I have one for Spring that I haul out every year. I’ve never made one, though. I know where some wile grapevines are. Maybe I need a matching one for fall!
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We have loads of grape vines around here and I have never made one. I guess I will have to give it a try.
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i just thought we could all go back and take the pictures of 52 piece them together and just maybe we would get a body without the head – hmmmm some day??? 52 cant stay hidden forever!!
I love Coco and Mr. Crankypants
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But I can’t wait to see your wreaths, and I have gotten some great crafty ideas for the season coming up. I like the idea of turning the tomato cages upside down. HmmmI’m gonna make up a Christmas tree with that idea! Thanks people! You all are so full of wonderful ideas!
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It must be grapevine time. My husband came tramping out of my “wildlife refuge” (read unmowed, untamed acreage) with a bunch of berries, oops, grapes and was very excited. He put them on his birdfeeder where they remained untouched for several days. Too sour for our spoiled birdies. My good vineyard grapes, however, are just about ready for jam making.
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Well okay to me only thing they are good for is makin jam heheheh
Oh and I have eaten upside downpizza.
It was TASTEY!
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Love your wreathes. We don’t have wild grapes here, just nasty Himalayan blackberries, thus the reason we got 2 new goat girls last weekend. Your Clover stories made me want goats even more.
Couldn’t imagine not having them and it’s only been a few days!
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That is so interesting about the wreaths – I knew nothing about them or how to make them. We decorated wreaths, once, in a meeting, for Christmas wreaths – with hot glue guns. I have to see a personal demonstration to do anything. I can’t just follow instructions. LOL I can’t wait to see how you decorate them, because they are SO PRETTY NOW!!! How fun and cool that you have access to all this!!!! :mrgreen:
I could not help but look at that ring on 52’s hand – it just caught my eye, because it very much reminded me of my grandmother’s class ring that is from like early 1900’s – my mom was born in ‘28, so before THAT…it sort of looks like smoothed out copper…well, alot like 52’s ring, upon glancing.
Dukie…so cute…love those farm animals!!
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Now, if only there could be a use for the Kudzu that is so prevelant here in SC.
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I was wondering about your chocolate cake recipe. I don’t have the choc powder, but can I use the choc baking squares?
Thanks!!
Callie
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for wreaths! i even hang a few in the yard on the trees for
the birds to eat their seed and fruit from.
i leave the little branches and use them to twist in and out
to hold the wreath together…and thicker volume of branches to the wreath. Nice adventure gathering materials….and wish i had some of those apples!
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Tammy
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We (hubby & I) live on 20 acres in northern Michigan so the grapevine is abundant. Today is harvesting day!!!!!!
Thanks for the idea, and great photos!!
-Kelli
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