Pine cone Wreath I made last week.

A little information about wreaths.Did you know the use of wreaths goes back to ancient cultures such as Persia, Rome and Greece? A wreath was called a diadem, from the Greek word diadema, meaning "a thing bound around." Diadems were bands of fabric worn to symbolize royalty. During the Greek Olympics, wreaths were made of various leaves, such as olive and laurel, and given as prizes. The olive tree became the symbol for peace and we've all heard the phrase "to earn your laurels." The Romans shunned the idea of wearing diadems but retained a fascination and soon the upper classes were wearing garlands of oak leaves and laurel. The head wreaths soon became symbols of military astuteness and athletic ability. And as we've all seen in the movies and history books, when Julius Caesar was crowned, it was with a wreath of fresh laurel.
Other countries soon took notice of the diadems and designed head wreaths of their own utilizing metals and precious jewels. Eventually "crowns" were created, the ornate type that we associate with royalty. Just to tie it all together, the word crown derives from the Latin word corona, which means garland or wreath.

Today, wreaths are used as holiday adornments, as attractive welcoming decorations for our front doors, even as center pieces.

Mother Nature's abundance of plant life was the natural outlet of supplies. There are very few ancient cultures that did not pay homage to trees. They were a symbol of divine energy and therefore arrangements were created to encompass the society as a whole. Imagine being able to accept or spurn the advances of a lover by presenting them with a crown of greenery. Birch was used in acceptance and hazel rejection.
It is thought, that the progression of hanging a wreath on the wall may have come from someone who was enthralled with their headdress and chose not to discard it, but to hang it for all to see.

In modern times, when someone mentions the word wreath, it is usually associated with Christmas; however, wreaths are a form of decoration found in households year round.
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Weather Witching Story:

It was October and the Indians on a remote reservation asked their new Chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was a Chief in a modern society he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky he couldn't tell what the winter was going to be like. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared. But being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"

"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold" the meteorologist at the weather service responded.

So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more firewood and pine cones in order to be prepared. A week later he called the National Weather Service again. "Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?"

"Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter."

The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find and pine cones to start the fires. Two weeks later the Chief called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"

"Absolutely," the man replied. "It's looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters ever."

"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.

The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting firewood and pine cones like crazy."

I added the part about pine cones to go with the wreath idea. Have a fun day..
Ana
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Birds Beware! Pine cones Armed And Dangerous
Science Daily — A weekend hiker might reach for a pine cone from the forest floor, only to be rewarded by a prick from its sharp spines. It is interesting to learn that birds and other forest creatures face the same dilemma when feeding on the seeds that these cones harbor. A new study found that pine cones, which bear the progeny of their parent tree, have evolved highly specialized ways to ward off predators, ensuring the dispersal of their seeds.
By studying the evolutionary development of spines on pine cones, the researchers also found that the amount of spine growth has co-evolved with the length of time seeds remain in open pine cones. Therefore, in open pine cones where seeds stay longer, a greater degree of spine growth is observed. This finding answered the question of whether spines developed as a predatory defense, and were not just a welcome side effect.

"We believe," says Benkman, "that Red Crossbills' bodies have adapted over time to become more successful pine cone predators." Modifications such as stronger legs and reshaped mouth parts allow the finches greater perching and seed retrieval skills. Many other predators would have less success obtaining seeds, making the pine cones' defenses even more effective.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/07/990709082804.htm