Colonial Christmas: Apples & Pomegranate

Apples and peanuts. (Click any picture for a larger view)

He hangs in shades the orange bright,
Like golden lamps in a green night,
And does in the pomegranate close
Jewels more rich than Ormus shows;
He makes the figs our mouths to meet,
And throws the melons at our feet;
But apples plants of such a price
No tree could ever bear them twice.
~ Andrew Marvell (1621-1678), British poet

Virginia is peanut country. OK so peanuts are not exclusive to Virginia but prominent. How fitting then for at least one wreath in this year's collection have peanuts. This wreath is an unusual figure eight shape and simple in design. Red and yellow-green apples are almost woven into the strings of interlaced peanuts and cluster in the center with stalks of wheat. The picture below is a close-up of the three main components. (Click read more to see additional pictures)


The next wreath features pomegranate, both whole and sliced to reveal the numerous seeds and the deep ruby red color. I confess, I have never eaten a pomegranate. Perhaps someone could describe the flavor for us. I'm not sure what the round brick colored spiny objects are but the greenery is a mixture of evergreen, both light and dark with some juniper and berries thrown in. Judy should like this one as it is asymmetrical.



Below is the close-up shot of the pomegranate with juniper in the background. I wonder if this fruit could be used to dye cloth that deep red color?



Finally (for this installment), an unusual wreath with a woven twig base and no evergreen. Pine cones and dried orange flowers are mixed with the dried whole pomegranate. What the round gray and beige puffy balls are I don't know. Again, if anyone knows, help us satisfy our curiosity. This one too is asymmetrical with a heavier clustering of fruit and puffy balls at the bottom and stalks of wheat just to the left.



You would think I would have run out of these pictures long ago, but I do have several more left to post. I find these natural wreaths fascinating, but if you're bored out there just let me know. But then you might miss pictures of the "house I would not have wanted to decorate".
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