Have you checked out Milkweeds with the pods on? I find the pod shape with inside "tongue" to be quite interesting. You could also paint or spray color on the pods to match a color scheme. Pods could be affixed on a wreath without their own stem too. Along the ditches there are interesting seed heads and pods of other weeds that are readily available.

Sorry I have no especially interesting sticks to help you out with at this time.