Create a Winter Bird Buffet

Gather the materials for this door or gate decoration on a winter walk in the woods.

To make this project: Take a hike to find a grove of sumacs. Cut the dark coral seedheads, leaving 14 to 16 inches of stalk on each. From your garden (or ask your green-thumb neighbor for help) cut the spiky brown seedheads of coneflowers (Echinacea), leaving stalks 10 to 12 inches long. Be careful, as the seeds may be brittle and fall off. Add stalks of oats and amaranth for a change of texture and color. Arrange in a pleasing pattern of varying stalk lengths, then tie with raffia and hang from a gate or door.