holiday

These small candle rings, which can also be used as miniature wreaths, have a lovely sweet vanilla aroma, similar to fresh hay. They retain the fragrance for years.

The directions are from Mrs. Sarah Johnson of Gibsonia, PA. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Unit of The Herb Society of America. Marian Wallace, a member of the Bittersweet Garden Club of Gibsonia, and Mrs. Johnson made these candle rings for many years.

1. Pick the sweet woodruff when the dew has dried.
2. Pack the herb, stem and leaves, into small round jello molds. These are ring molds, 3 or 4 inches in diameter.
3. Leave the herb in the mold for 24 hours.
4. After 24 hours, carefully turn the mold over to remove the herbs. Turn the herbs over and replace in the mold. The herbs that were on the bottom of the mold should now be on top. Dry in the mold for another 24 hours.
5. Remove the herb from the molds and dry on newspaper for 7-10 days. The herbs should retain the shape of the mold, forming a small, fat wreath.
6. Cut a doughnut-shaped cardboard circle the same size as the mold. Use tacky white glue to attach the circle to the bottom side of the wreath.
7. Decorate the wreath by looping and tying with ribbon. This helps keep the herbs in the wreath shape. Glue on other dried flowers, herbs or tiny decorations.

Many thanks to Mrs. Johnson for sharing these directions and to Mrs. Wallace for sharing some candle rings.