Pine trees also yield great greenery. You will be pleasantly surprised how long much of the foliage retains its color. Using florist wire, fasten pine cones in clusters of two or three at the 12 o'clock or 6 o'clock position on the wreath. Another option that looks great is to position them equal distances apart at about three locations on the wreath. Then add clusters of tallow, holly or nandina berries to fill in empty areas and to create a balanced look.
Many people overlook the white tallow tree seeds as a source of color.
My wife, Jan, helped me make wreaths for the Southern Gardening television segment, and I can emphatically say that the old-fashioned nandina berries really create a visual holiday impact by letting them cascade downward in the center hole of the wreath. The burr oak produces absolutely gigantic acorns that are also perfect for the wreath. These acorns are so large people are always bringing them in and wondering what kind oak it is. The sweet gum balls that cause so much consternation from the barefooted public, look great spray painted with the 24-karat gold paint. These can then be placed all around the wreath.