On Dec. 5 local artist Becky Urban taught a class of 12 how to make their own holiday wreaths using all-natural materials at Perennial Favorites Garden Center in Hamilton.
HAMILTON -- On a recent Saturday, local artist Becky Urban taught a dozen poeple how to make their own holiday wreaths - utilizing only natural elements.
"I want to show people an appreciation from natural plants that we don't often get to see," Urban said. "And that it's possible to create things without store bought materials."
The class, at Perennial Favorites Garden Center in Hamilton, used various types of greens, like cedars and junipers, and berries such as canella berries, pepperberries and tallow berries.
They placed them around five different kinds of pine cones and more unusual natural materials like dried pomegranates, dried artichokes and benzo fruit slices.
"The only plastic used may be some part of the ribbon," Urban said.
Urban said she has been working as the in-house wreath and container garden decorator at Perennial Favorites since its opening.
Hamilton resident Carol Brooks Thomas opened the business last September.
Urban said she always uses all-natural materials when creating her products.
"I've been known to take things out of people's garbage," Urban said. "I'm always foraging in backyards and off the sides of roads."
In addition, she said all of her wreaths are named for songs that have a "color word" in the title, just as the center's trees are named for book characters.
Such wreath names include "Deep Purple" - originally a 1933 hit written by pianist Peter DeRose - and "White Light" - derived from American rock band The Velvet Underground's 1968 title track "White Light/White Heat" off their second album.
"People just seem to enjoy the creation process," Urban said. "Everyone has their own vision of what they want and they were all happy with what they took home."
Urban said before coming to the garden center, she worked in the Hamilton school system for 26 years.
"I taught everything but social studies to middle school students at Reynolds Middle School," she said. "This position at the garden center is just one of the many things I have chosen to do and enjoy in my retirement."
Urban said she also enjoys crafting such as knitting and jewelry making and sells items to some local stores.
In addition, she said she is a board member of the Ewing Township Historical Preservation Society where she will serve as co-president in 2016 with member Marge Delaney. She currently does all this and more while working to publish her own book.
"You may be sorry you asked about my hobbies," Urban jokingly said before rattling off a long list of activities.
For more on Perennial Favorites, visit their website, www.perennialfavs.net.
Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.