The Bible is full of descriptive imagery that has inspired my Holy Week themed Lent garland! In this post I will share links to everything incorporated in my garland, along with the scriptures that inspired them! I know this might sound obscure, but this imagery inspires my heart to worship Christ in the Lent season! The scripture references embodied in this decor reminds me of all Christ has done!

Olive Leaf:

The symbolism of the Olive Leaf garland is found in Romans 11:11-24 where Paul speaks about how Christ came for both the Jew & the Greek. Although Paul uses racial terms, his teaching encompasses so much more than an outward appearance. Paul is talking about those who have always known about God (insiders) and those who have never heard about God before (outsiders). In this amazing analogy Paul describes how a wild olive shoot (meaning the Greeks) can be grafted in to the cultivated olive tree (God’s chosen people – the Jews). We are nourished by the “root” of the Olive Tree, representing how we abide in God. God is welcoming, through Jesus, people who have heard of Him for their entire lives, and people who are hearing about Him for the first time in their lives.

“…and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree” Romans 11:11 ESV

“For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree” Romans 11:24 ESV

Lamb’s Ear: 

I was inspired by Jesus, the “Lamb of God!” This fact is proclaimed by John the Baptist recorded in John 1:29. The lambs historical symbolism in Jewish culture is best seen throughout the Old Testament. Recorded within the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch) you find the installment of the sacrificial system. Where the jewish people would sacrafice a lamb without spot or blemish for forgiveness of sins. 

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 ESV

“knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 ESV

“He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” Hebrew 9:12 ESV

Purple Thistles:

Thistles are best recognized by the thorns within their blossoms. The symbolism taken from the thistle is represented in the Crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head. Secondly, purple is the historic Liturgical color to represent the royalty and passion of the Christ within the Lenten season. 

“and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Matthew 27:29 ESV

Palm Branches:

I thought of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey as onlookers acted instinctively in obedience to the scriptures, laying their cloaks on the ground and waving palm branches while shouting “Hosanna in the Highest!”

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

    Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

    righteous and having salvation is he,

humble and mounted on a donkey,

    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9 ESV

“They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 2:7-9 ESV

Silk-Like Cut Edge Ribbon:

I thought of his grave clothes and his head cloth folded and set aside as beautiful ribbon streamers – declaring in themselves that Christ has risen indeed.

“..He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.” John 20: 6-7 ESV

Hobby Lobby Materials:
Wire
Wire cutter
6′ Olive leaf garland SKU 2144251
6′ Mini Ficus garland SKU 1212349
6′ Lambs ear garland SKU 1482603 (find this in the wedding isle)
(2) Purple Thistles stems SKU 1084367 (each stem contains 3 thistle blossoms. I purchased two stems for a total of 6 blossoms)
Palm Leafs SKU 5340864 (find this is the tropical-birthday party themed isle – not in the greenery isle!)
Eucalyptus Bush SKU 113886
1 1/2″ Silk-Like Cute Edge Ribbon Mauve Purple (find a shade that best matches the thistle blossom)
1 1/2″ Silk-Like Cut Edge Ribbon Antique White SKU 1509363

Instructions:
Step 1: Begin by laying your 6’ olive leaf garland down on a long flat surface. Alternate the branches left and right spreading the leafs in the natural direction of how they are attached. Notice which direction the leaf stems fall naturally.
Step 2: Lay the back-bone of the 6’ mini ficus down on top of the olive leaf, and identify the direction of the leafs making sure that it is placed in the same direction as the layer below. Spread the mini ficus (this one tangles a bit) to open it up for the next layer.
Step 3: Finally place the 6′ lambs ear garland within the separated opening of the mini ficus. Making sure the leaf direction matches.
Step 4: Identify 6 places (about every foot) throughout to attach all three of the separate garlands together. Cut the green floral wire into short pieces about 6” long to wrap around the three backbones: olive leaf, mini ficus, & lambs ear. Creating one garland combined.
Step 5: Beginning at one end and moving your way across. Start to manipulate the greenery to better incorporate them together. This will appear more natural if you continue the leafs in the natural direction of how they are attached to the back-bone. Spread! Bend! Shape!
Step 6: Once the foundational portion of your garland is complete it is time for your Add-Ins! (This is by far my favorite part!) First, begin with mounting your garland in its desired location, or laying it as a table runner.
Step 7: Take your Eucalyptus bush and use the wire cutters to cut off the stems of Eucalyptus at the base of its attachment. Having the stems as long as they can be will aid in them adhering to the rest of the garland without needing floral wire. Do the same with your two purple Thistle bush’s.
Step 8: Next take your palm branches (notice that the ones from the Hobby Lobby tropical-birthday section are more natural in appearance and have a better floral wire back bone for shaping) and take a step back to look at your garland. Then place the palm branches underneath in the back ground of the garland. Bend the stems to give some movement, lift, and dimension. I like to use one palm branch to cover the artificial ringed ends of the faux garlands.
Step 9: Following the natural direction of the garland stick in the Eucalyptus stems throughout. Lastly, place the purple thistles (for the thistles – the direction doesn’t matter!).
Step 10: Finally, as the finishing touch – take the purple and white ribbons to drape within the garland. I prefer to even weave mine underneath to go behind the garland. Think of the imagery of a sash draped over a cross for the shaping of this final embellishment!

Storage:

To store your garland I would recommend removing all of the add-ins (ribbons, palm branches, eucalyptus, & thistles) and group them together. I place my garland in a plastic tub in the attic and try to maintain it’s shaping as much as possible. You can also store garlands in a garland bag under a bed, or in old pillow cases!