When it comes time to buy an “Aunt Tilly gift,” Susannah Davis and Sarah Brown’s wreaths come in handy.

“If you have people in your life that you like to give a gift to at Christmas, but you just don’t know what to give them, then you can’t lose,” said Davis. “Who doesn’t want a wreath?”

Davis, owner of the landscaping company Davis Land Design in Marion, began making wreaths for friends and family when she lived in western Massachusetts. Eventually, she made the fresh wreaths for clients, and it snowballed. That’s when Sarah Brown got involved.

The two, who were both Marion residents at the time, met almost 20 years ago in what Brown calls “the doggie connection.”

“I used to walk by her house with my Airedale,” said Davis.

After chatting with Davis, Brown and her husband eventually bought an Airedale, and the two women two stayed in contact.

“It’s just a wonderful friendship,” said Davis, who now takes painting lessons at Brown’s workshop in Rochester.

The studio is also where the pair makes their wreaths. For about nine years, they have designed the seasonal decorations using branches from rare fir trees that Davis has cultivated at her home and at Brown’s.

“These are things that you can't go out and buy in the trade because they are unusual,” explained Davis.

A wreath may include eight or more varieties of greens as well as local berries and twigs. At least one design always has local shells as well, something Brown works on all year.

“That’s my job, to acquisition the oyster shells,” said Brown, who also soaks and scrubs them throughout the year to get them wreath ready.

The wreaths have creative names, from Dandy King to the Magnificent Magnolia, and they have gained a reputation in Brown and Davis’s networks. Last year, the pair made about 80 wreaths, and this year they’ve already exceeded that amount.

Many wreaths stay in the area, but the ladies also send them to 14 different states, from California to Florida. Producing that many wreaths in a short time is a full-time job for the pair, but they expect to be done at least a week before Christmas when Davis said they come to a “screeching halt” for another year. Before then, there’s still time to order.

Stop by the Drawing Room at 11 Spring St. in Marion to place an order or call Sarah Brown 508-763-9880 at or Susannah Davis at 508-498-4677.