The cocktail garden is one of the hottest new trends among mixologists and gardeners alike, and it’s easy to see why! Planting a cocktail garden simply means planting veggies, fruit and herbs you’d use to make your favourite cocktails and mocktails. This practical, easy approach to gardening is a great way to make sure you have lovely, fresh ingredients on hand for all of your mixology adventures.

Related: This Beyonce-Inspired “Pure/Honey” Cocktail is the Perfect Renaissance Sip

How to Create a Cocktail Garden

When it comes to creating a cocktail garden (or any garden, for that matter), the best approach is a kind of reverse engineering. Think about what kinds of drinks you enjoy, and then plant the fruits, veggies and herbs featured in those sips. Love herbaceous, bitter bevvies? Mint, rosemary and thyme are your best friends. Big fan of sweet, refreshing drinks? Berries and melons are a must.

The bottom line is, if you’re growing a garden with the express purpose of using it to make delicious drinks, plant the things you find delicious!

That said, another important factor is space. Cocktail gardens can be any size, but whether you have a vast backyard or a cozy balcony will determine what you can plant – it would be pretty hard to grow watermelons in a pot on a windowsill.

Cocktail Garden Plant Ideas

Rosemary

Rosemary is a great addition to a variety of cocktails and mocktails. Keep it simple by adding a sprig of this fragrant herb to a classic gin and tonic, or go all in with a more complex cocktail like a rosemary gimlet.

Basil

Basil isn’t just for sauces and salads – it also makes for a refreshing addition to cocktails! For a creative twist on a classic, substitute basil for the mint in your favourite mojito recipe. When it comes to keeping your basil in good shape, prune the leaves regularly to encourage new growth.

Thyme

Thyme may not be the first herb you think of when it comes to cocktails, but a thyme Aperol spritz is a fresh twist on an old fave. There are many varieties of thyme, and your best bet is to smell them and choose the one that appeals to you most.

Related: This Is Why Your Herbs Keep Dying (And 5 Tips to Bring Them Back!)

Mint

You and a cocktail garden are mint to be! Having plenty of mint on hand means you can always whip up a classic mojito, or bring the taste of summer into fall and winter with a tasty cranberry mojito. Mint is notorious for spreading like a weed, so try planting it in a container so it doesn’t take over your garden.

Jalapeños

Jalapeños are another versatile cocktail garden option. Spice up Taco Tuesdays with a jalapeño margarita, customizing the spice level by removing some or all of the seeds. If you also grow watermelons, you’ll have all the fixings for a spicy watermelon margarita.

Berries

For fresh and fruity cocktails, raspberries and strawberries are a great staple to have on hand. Raspberries are one of the many berries that grow wild across Canada, and along with strawberries, will come back year after year. Try a delicious strawberry daiquiri, or add a raspberry twist to your favourite cocktails by making a raspberry simple syrup.

Ginger

Finally, give growing ginger a try, and then use it to make your own gingerale or ginger beer – perfect for Moscow mules or ginger beer peach floats.

The perfect holiday wreath adds such a lovely, cozy touch to your outdoor decor. Premade wreaths can be lovely, but if you’re looking to flex your DIY muscles, nothing beats the smell of real pine and fir evergreen branches on your front door. Here’s how to make and customize your very own Christmas wreath!

Materials:

• Wreath base of your choice (grapevine wreath base pictured)
• Bundles of fresh greenery (at least two types recommended)
• Wire, approximately 22 gauge
• Pinecones, bells, or wreath accessories of choice
• Wired ribbon
• Hot glue
• Sharp scissors or gardening shears
• Pen/pencil and scrap paper

Step One: Sketch Wreath Shape

Before you start putting your wreath together, I highly recommend making a rough sketch of what sort of shape you’re going for. Do you want a full, uniform wreath for a traditional look, or do you prefer asymmetrical, whimsical shapes? Which way will the branches point? How full will it be? Check out other wreaths to get a feel for your preferences before putting pen to paper.

Step Two: Choose a Base

There are several different wreath bases to choose from, and the one you choose will impact the overall look you achieve.  A foam wreath base will let you stick greenery stems right into the foam for an ultra-dense look, whereas a wire wreath base can give a minimalist or boho vibe. I chose a grapevine base with woven branches to give it a classic winter-in-the-woods look.

Step Three: Prep Your Greens and Wire

Next, choose the winter greenery you’ll incorporate into your wreath and cut it into smaller pieces, roughly five to seven inches long, depending on the size of your wreath base and your preferences. You’ll also want to snip pieces of wire from the reel and cut it into smaller segments. Pieces roughly two to three inches in length should be fine, but it will depend on your wreath base and greens.

Step Four: Secure Branches to the Wreath Base

Next, secure your branches of greenery to the wreath base using the pieces of wire. Do your best to twist the wire out of the way, hiding it behind the greenery. Be intentional in the direction you place each branch facing, as that will impact the overall look. To achieve a fuller, more professional-looking wreath, layer the branches over one another, almost like laying shingles on a roof. Using two or more different types of greenery will add texture and interest to your arrangement – I used Fraser fir and sapphire cypress bundles, both of which were available at my local hardware stores.

Step Five: Accessorize!

A plain wreath is pretty and classic, but you can really customize a wreath and make it your own by adding little accessories. These might be birch twigs collected on a hike with the kids, craft store pinecones (pictured), gold or silver bells, or even mini Christmas ornaments!

Step Six: Make and Attach a Bow (Optional)

For a finishing touch, make and attach a bow. Choose a wired ribbon in a colour, texture, and size that complements your overall decor for a cohesive look.

Images courtesy of Amanda Roberts