Around this time of year I start making berry bowls to bring in for the winter. It’s an old New England tradition I picked up many years ago in Maine. Originally berry bowls were moss, and small woodland plants with colorful berries. Made in small brandy snifters, they were a pleasant reminder in fall and winter of the woodlands in summer. They were frequently gifts for shut-ins and the ill.
Mine have evolved into terrariums of bog plants with insectivorous plants in recent years. Keep them in your kitchen, and you won’t have to worry about pesky fruitflies from the bananas or apples.
This year, I went with hardwood knots from the firewood stack. The knots start off a bit hollow and knurled. I deepened the hollow and added moss, partridge berry, and a sundew ( drosera). Being it’s a small bog, it does like to be moist. But I like the natural woodsy look of this new style.
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Love this! I want a berry bowl.
Easy to make. a little moss some peat moss for moisture and woodland plants. If you can’t get them locally you can buy of etsy. The important thing is keep them moist – which is why it’s easiest to pull off in a small snifter.
I might just see what I can make. The brandy snifter is the easy find! lol
I want one!!! I love the wood knots.
I always hesitate to advise people to “wild craft” being so many of the plants are becoming rare. I buy my plants and then propagate them at home. But you can buy propagated plants for these on etsy.
The knot you can find in a neighborhood wood pile. They are easy to make from whatever come to hand.
What a lovely idea!
not Catorze proof though
I know! 😢 He would not hesitate to mess these up!