Ways to draw wreath in AD?

[deeds]

What are the ways to draw a wreath in AD such that it's editable in terms of radius, numbers of wheat grains and the rate of size diminishment from base to tip of the wheat strand?

 

[NotMyFault]

My 2 cents:

 

1. Create your own font containing wheat grains in required orientations and variants. Then use text on curve to add your prepared glyphs.
2. Create symbols of what grains, use power-duplicate with the transform origin moved to the center of the circle
3. Create a PNG form one grain, create an intensity brush and/or image brush. Create left and right curve, assign your brushes. This will allow easiest scaling by just using move tool / transform panel, but exports will be rasterized.
4. You can paste images into path texts, at least on Desktop versions (not on iPad). 
5. Create a linear section of grains using power-duplicate, then use warp group and bend it to half circle. Duplicate and mirror, try using symbols. 

[deeds]

5. seems to be the best option. Limited as it is.

 

 

Blend functionality sorely needed for AD