Create this stunning dried orange wreath using fresh oranges and eucalyptus sprigs to add color to your winter decor.
Happy 2015 friends! The last time I left you we were neck deep into the holidays. Now that Christmas is put away (mostly) I usually feel the winter blues set in. For the first 24 hours after the tree is gone it feels like there is suddenly all this space in the house. It’s crazy. But then things start to feel empty. The shiny paper, the colorful lights…all gone. The doldrums are even worse if you reside in a part of the world where it’s cold, snowy, wet or dreary. Here in the desert, we have mostly clear skies, but it does get cold. Real cold. I even saw snow flurries one day. I kid you not!
One thing Arizona has to brighten the winter is citrus trees. Lots and lots and lots and… (you get it) of citrus trees. Aren’t the colors of the oranges and the leaves beautiful against the blue sky?
Since moving to the desert, the plethora of citrus represents January to me. I get ruby red grapefruit from neighbors, oranges and lemons from some friends. I still need a lime hook-up though.
I decided that I need to bring some of the bright citrusy colors inside for January and what better way than on a wreath. Drying oranges is really easy. It does take time, but that just the oven doing the work.
When dried the orange slices should look like stained glass when held up to the light. The color is beautiful. To help the oranges last a little longer I sprayed some clear enamel finish spray paint on them. After a few weeks the oranges will start to darken, but by then it’s time to make a new wreath!
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Directions for drying orange slices:
- Cut your oranges into slices about 1/4 inch to 1/3 inch thick.
- Press a paper towel in them to soak up some of the juice.
- Lay them out on a cookie rack or cookie sheet.
- Place in a 200° F oven for about two hours.
- Turn them over every 15 – 20 minutes.
- Keep an eye on them, especially the smaller slices so that they don’t burn.
Using a hot glue gun, glue the oranges on to a grapevine wreath. (This is the same grapevine wreath that I used in this post. I tend to take apart my wreaths and reuse the forms.) I then stuck dried eucalyptus around the edges. I wanted fresh eucalyptus, because it lasts so long, but my farmer’s market didn’t have any when I went.
This wreath is perfect for adding some color to the winter blahs!
I LOVE this idea! And I can not even imagine having an orange tree in my backyard-that is so awesome! 🙂 PINNED because I love this idea and I absolutely have to try it! Saying hello from the mason jar link party! 🙂
Cathy
I just wreaths all together! This one is so unique I just love the color and the look of it! Thanks for sharing this!
This is so beautiful! I’ve never thought to dry fruit in the oven – brilliant!
How pretty!! Also very jealous of all your citrus!!
Beautiful!! Such a unique wreath idea. Thank you for sharing with us at #HomeMattersParty. We hope to see you again next week on Friday, @ 12.00AM EST
What a great idea, and I bet it is fragrant too! Thanks so much for sharing at Throwback Thursday!
How long do you have to wait after drying the orange slices to glue them onto the wreath? Do you really need to wait a few weeks?
No, use the oranges right away, but the color of them will darken after a few weeks.