Photo by Janice Crowl

fiber artist Jelena clay fashions one-of-akind creations from native hawaiian plants

Photo by Janice Crowl

A dried sheath of non-native philodendron makes a beautiful bow for a festive wreath of native plants

Photo by Janice Crowl

clay artfully arranges layers of native brown 'uki grass seed heads, silver and red liko lehua shoots, wawae'iole club moss, 'uluhe fiddleheads and limu kele moss

Holiday décor from the garden

In one hand, Jelena Clay holds a miniature forest, a tiny bouquet of native Hawaiian plants; in the other, a metal pin. Gazing intently, she evaluates her progress, scanning colors and textures. Then, finding the perfect placement,

she swiftly pins the bundle to the straw wreath core. Another layer is added to the piece. The wreath of endemic flora grows thick and lush under her nimble fingers – every motion is purposeful. Clay is deeply absorbed in her work, and watching her artistry is a meditative experience in itself.

“It’s therapeutic just to do something with my hands. I start out with a visual idea, but I don’t get stuck if something doesn’t turn out exactly the way I thought it would,” Clay says. “A lot of people give up and don’t get past that point. If you just continue on, it will turn out. Learn not to try to control it that much.”

Clay has been creating art with native plants for more than 25 years. They are beloved children that obey her skillful hands. As a teenager, she learned to make wreaths of native plants from Jonjon Ho’okano of Punalu’u on Oahu. After years of honing her craftsmanship, Clay discovered the joy of sharing her expertise with others, and she has been teaching wreathmaking at Volcano Art Center at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for the past 12 years.

A fiber artist who has had her work in juried exhibitions at Honolulu Academy of Arts, Clay also carves and decorates gourds with dyes and wood-burning. She incorporates pieces of gourd with wood-burned designs into her wreath creations for three-dimensional effects. Some of these wreaths are works of art that last for years.

Clay visits friends’ ranches to search for native plant material, but many of these plants, such as ‘a’ali’i (Dodonaea viscosa) with its festive red seed capsules, are easy to grow in the garden. She sometimes finds her botanical treasures on public roadsides. Clay advises to always ask for permission before picking material from private land, as some areas need permits. Never overpick or take material from prohibited areas such as national parks.

Of course, gathering parts from endangered plants without a permit is illegal. If you don’t know how to identify native plants, ask a friend to teach you, take a class or go on a guided tour at a local nature center or botanical garden.

Mastering the materials is part of the process. Clay recommends doing two or three wreaths to get a feel for the material, and also being adventurous. Although she specializes in native forest plants, for the holidays she suggests making wreaths entirely out of one type of herb, such lavender, bay leaf, basil or sage branches. A fresh herb wreath makes a delightfully fragrant epicurean gift from the garden.

“It may be temporary, but who cares? It’s the holidays!” Clay says enthusiastically.

Even if you think you don’t have a green thumb, there’s a wealth of wreath-making material in your landscape waiting to be discovered. If you live near the ocean, experiment with coastal native plants and add driftwood and other beachcombing finds. Clay has used leaves from trees such magnolia and macadamia, orchid stems, even dried tritonia and other weedy plants.

Clay’s wreaths range from 10 to 24 inches in diameter and are sold for $50 to $120 at Volcano Art Center gallery.

Wreath-making tips

Basic Materials

* Straw wreath core

* Material to cover straw core (Creative Twist, fresh ti leaf, banana leaf, palm sheaths)

* Metal wreath pins (greening pins) – also used for pinning orchids; available from garden stores and craft suppliers

* Raffia, or any sturdy cordage to hang the wreath

* Polyurethane spray

Tips

Pin little bundles in layers, compactly but loose enough to allow for even drying. Always work in one direction, with attention to the overall design. Pin each bundle to cover the end of the previously pinned bundle. Optional: Leave a 5-inch gap for a bow.

When finished, use polyurethane spray to keep the plant material from becoming brittle and falling apart when the wreath dries. Avoid water-based types, which can leave a milky coating. Clay prefers Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane in Satin or Semi-Gloss. Instead of applying one thick coat, spray several even coats and allow drying time between each.

Colors fade less when wreath is displayed away from direct sunlight.