Southern Advent Wreath and Christmas door wreath

by Diana Studer

 - gardening for biodiversity 

in Cape Town, South Africa

30th November will be the first Sunday in Advent. Growing up in South Africa, Advent Wreaths and hanging a Christmas Wreath on the door were a foreign, Northern custom, till I met the Ungardener and went to Switzerland. (For our mediterranean summer Christmas, bits of conifer in a wreath outside, might stay green for days). Hergiswil Glasi is on the shores of the Vierwaldstaettersee. Gallery/museum with a water and glass organ.

Glass Advent wreath from Hergiswil

I was enchanted by this glass Advent wreath – water, we must have water! Andrea bought it for me – and I think of her each time I use it. For a southern summer advent – a deep bowl, which holds lots of water. A heavy glass insert with eight holes, for candles. (On a bubbled glass charger to stop the balls running away!)

Silver and white Advent wreath in 2009

Gold, silver and white in 2010 Advent wreath

Each year I use something different from our garden. The Ungardener misses snow, prompting silver gray Prince of Wales feathers from Dusty Miller with white silk Christmas balls. In 2015.

Breathe a prayer for Africa

God, the Father’s love

Can reach down and bless all hearts

From his heav’n above

And when lips are moved by grace

They so sweetly sing

Pray for peace in Africa

God bless Africa

And her sons and daughters

‘Plea from Africa’ was composed by John Knox Bokwe (1855-1922). He visited Scotland and sang his hymns in a tenor voice at social gatherings. From Dictionary of African Christian Biography

Darker colours for Advent 2011

In 2011 I was drawn to darker colours. The teal blue platter is from my sister. One tuberous begonia leaf spreads its palm in support behind the candles. Olive leaves, turned up to show silver, are the arms extended in an embrace. Agapanthus. Lily of the Nile? De Nial is a river in Egypt. Agapanthus is at home at the other Antarctic end of Africa. Blue African lily forms a family all its own, found only in South Africa. Roses – Anna’s Red, Papa Meilland and Alec’s Red.

Silver and white jasmine flowers for 2012 Advent wreath

Santolina to fill in. A few wild jasmine flowers Jasminum annulare for perfume.

Advent 2013 Blue flowers and red silk balls

For 2013 I used darker blue and purple flowers. I chose Agapanthus and Plectranthus neochilus. Sprigs of olive are a symbol of peace.

From Rev Ken Collins - Martin Luther certainly didn’t invent the wreath itself, because that goes back to ancient Roman times, and probably even earlier. People used wreaths as an Advent decoration long before Luther. The Advent wreath in its present form started in Germany as a Lutheran family custom. Four candles – hope, love, joy and peace.

Wreath at the door

My sister made me a wreath of grape vine prunings. Real and lasting. Doesn’t have to be hidden and is strong enough to sustain my woody bits.

Vine wreath

Dried protea flowers

In March 2009 we went to Kirstenbosch annual sale of indigenous plants. These are mostly from proteas. During a fire, the flowers close their woody bracts. Singed black marks are a heritage from the flames. After the fire, and rain, the flower opens and scatters MASSES of fluffy seeds, leaving behind these wooden flowers.

We hung it on the wall next to the door in Porterville.

Door wreath for Christmas 2009
and there it stayed since I loved it as a welcome

Christmas wreath on the face brick wall of our Porterville home

Brown and wooden so I added fluffy blonde wild oats, which stood in our Porterville garden, almost as tall as I am. We had grateful birds visiting.

Pictures by Diana Studer  
of  Elephant's Eye on False Bay 

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