Oh Martha!

Since the day I joined Martha Stewart website to get updates by emails you can imagine the amount of "Marthaisms" I've been receiving. Most of them now I just delete. Not enough time to create these days....I feel inadequate enough... Thank You very much!!!

But when I saw a picture of a bittersweet wreath my interest was peaked. I know how Martha has been a big proponent of using what we all have in our yards....well if we all had sprawling acreage like hers infamous for its bounty.

She once lived in famous Westport Ct. (Turkey Hill) only an hour or so away from here. There isn't a person alive in Connecticut that doesn't have an opinion about her....many people I know have rubbed elbows with at one time or another either work related or personally.

I for one love her.....I'm not obsessed with her by any means but I admire her and think she's been given a bad rap.

Ok all that said.....I could go on but what my point was that I was intrigued by this little craft project knowing what I know.

There's my lovely Martha welcoming us to her beautiful home with her

BIG BITTERSWEET WREATH!

I really didn't look at the instructions that were laid out in great detail. Yes Martha I know how to make a wreath! not bragging or anything. Oh,,, have I mentioned how time consuming it can be....UGH! One like this that you have to make the bundles up separately and then wind on a form.

There was a time years ago when we first moved into our house that I would look for bittersweet to make wreaths for our home.

We live in the woods!!!....where was all the bittersweet I thought????

I used to have to get my bittersweet in my father-in-laws corn field growing along the edges of the field into the trees. I would to get G to help me gather it up. What a tangled mess!!! I would take it home and work out in the yard and throw the rest of it the woods. I used to think "Gee wouldn't it be nice if I could have it growing in our yard and I could just pick it from here every year.

Little did I know back then!!!

This is what I read on the comment area on Martha bittersweet wreath tutorial

From a botanist

[Users should be aware that oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus ) is considered an invasive species in many areas of the NE and other locations. CT has it on its invasive species list and encourages people to remove it from trees where it is a climber and topples trees. Readers should ask about the species that is being sold to them. There is common bittersweet that is acceptable. I would expect Martha to be more responsible and mention this in her craft of the day outline.]

Well I guess Martha did NOT do a

"GOOD THING"

but Martha I still love you....hopefully you've made adjustments to your site.

I have known that bittersweet is on the invasive plant list and have also learned it the hard way.

If you want to use bittersweet then buy it from your florist or use some of the other berries that should be in good supply or .......

artificial.....did I say that???? I mean Permanent Botanicals!

So please don't use the japanese bittersweet that is probably growing in your woods. You'll be sorry when you hang it on your door and for the next few years be trying to yank it out of your front yard.

Have you been battling an invasive plant??? I'd love to know.

Ok I'm off to cut more plants back to get them ready for their long Winter nap!!! maybe I'll join them!

xxx

Carole