Each Christmas season the Brandywine River Museum decorates its trees and galleries with thousands of whimsical "critters." These charming ornaments are fashioned by volunteers of the Brandywine Conservancy from natural dried flowers, grasses, seeds pods, and leaves. Critters can be animals, angels and athletes; historic figures and storybook characters; and famous and infamous people; and more.

Starting in March, more than 100 dedicated volunteers meet weekly to gather a variety of natural materials including seeds, pods, pinecones and berries. Using their imaginations, these creative and talented folk craft nearly 9,000 unique critter ornaments each year.

The first critters were created in 1972 by a group of volunteers who were asked to use natural materials decorate a small tree for display during A Brandywine Christmas using natural materials. The woods, fields, and roadsides near the museum became the volunteers' main resource. Those first ornaments were simple, unadorned pinecones, teasel pods, milkweed cases and dried flowers.

Through the years, the critters have become more elaborate and creative. For each critter the basic ingredients are the same. It is the way the materials are put together that lends each critter its distinct character. Interesting shapes, colors, and textures are of primary importance.

Gathering plant materials is always done with conservation in mind. Plants are always cut, never pulled out by the roots. Seeds are shaken out of the seed head at the site, allowing future plants to germinate. Materials are carefully preserved and stored; what is not used one year is saved for the next.

• Critters--Now available in the Museum Shop!
• Create a Critter
• Critter Crew

For more information send email inquiry to inquiries@brandywine.org

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