Design Materials Native to your Area?

[JCT]

My husband and I were out yesterday walking through the woods cutting some white pine and balsam for the shop. On our way home, we walked along the road and I was amazed to see a long patch of equisetum growing. I never knew this could grow in Maine. I've made a list of some design materials that I hunt for throughout the year, and wonder if others have time to share what they have native to their area.

Pine Cones - most shapes and sizes,
Balsam
White Pine
Birch Branches
Winter Berry
Bittersweet
Lilac
Hydrangea
Cattails
Milk Weed Pods
Sea Shells - Mussels/Sanddollars, Sea Urchins
Driftwood
Reindeer Moss
Lichens

I love it when we don't have to pay wholesalers for these things!
Thanks - Jenny

 

[Rhonda]

Jenny, make sure you give the mosses a blast of something (neutral plant bug spray) and put them in garbage bags to kill the little nasties that live in them!! Even if you pick them after a freeze they can still be inside.
Usually I put them in zip lock bags and leave them for 48 hours just to make sure.
Fun isn't it to have such things available with just a walk!

 

[Kristine]

Don't forget the fungus that grow on dead wood.
fertile fronds of some types of ferns.
stones, pebbles
fronds from ornamental grass
seed pods from other types of trees (osage orange, catalpa, tulip etc)
seed pods from poppy, day lily, Penstemon 'Husker Red etc
Rose hips

 

[Gudrun]

Years ago, the original owner of our store use to take his kids and go for walks in the bush and pick moss and pine cones. I can remember putting picks on the pine cones when I first started here. Just last week, I was driving down in southern Ontario and was commenting on the large plumes of grasses alongside the highways. Why not use the natural stuff? But I too would give them a little spray before they come into the store. Gudrun

 

[Tuberose]

We have pine cones and some thistle in this area, but what I like is driving over to the Washington/Oregon coast area, they have much more available, scotch broom grows like a weed over there. I also try to grow various trees and shrubs that I can use off my own place.

Speaking of little buggies in stuff, I've seen evidence of weevils in baskets and small decorative hay bales that we've purchased. I would hate to send that to a customers home and have their stuff ruined.