FLORIDA FEDERATION
OF
GARDEN CLUBS
farmers' market topiary
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Making a Topiary out
of a Clay Pot!
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A
miniature "garden" (image on right)can be created with veggies
"planted" in
the "soil" which is made using brown sugar sprinkled over thinned
glue.
A fun project to do with children.
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Topiaries
are wonderfully
decorative and can brighten any occasion.
A simple clay pot makes an excellent container, and provides weight so
the topiary will not topple over. If desired, the clay pot can be
placed into another slightly larger ornamental pot or basket. Most
materials
to be used can be purchased on a visit to the grocery store or farmer's
market while shopping for the food or refreshments for the party.
In most
places, ALL of the materials
can be bought in this manner!
Materials
needed:
- clay pot, select a pot in proportion to the
finished topiary
- a branch or limb to serve as the "trunk" - it's
best to sharpen each end
a bit, but not necessary
- a block of soaked floral foam
- moistened sheet moss, or Spanish moss
- mushrooms, brussel sprouts, grapes, cherry tomatos
- roses, solidago, statice, yellow or white daisy mums
- galax or ivy leaves
- raffia
Follow these easy
steps:
- Line the clay pot with florist's foil, tinfoil or
plastic baggie.
You could also use a square cut from a plastic garbage bag.
- Cut the floral foam block in half and place one
half into the clay pot,
leaving one inch above the rim. Place the other half onto the upper end
of the "trunk" which has been inserted down into the foam in the pot.
- Using toothpicks, wood piks(obtained from any craft
store or florist),
or bamboo skewers, which have been cut into 3 or 4" lengths, begin to
affix
the fruit and veggies to the top block of foam. Add some to the surface
of the bottom block of foam as well.
- Insert short stems of the flowers into the foam
blocks, randomly but evenly
spaced for balance.
- Tuck in bits of moss to cover the foam, and then
tuck in the galax or ivy
leaves. Sprigs of pittosporum would also work well.
- Add a bit of raffia for a rustic look.
Note:
This could be done in any
particular color combination you
would like. An all green and white color scheme would be lovely, as
would
an all yellow and green look using yellow lemons. Keep the topiary
moist
with a mister, and it will last for up to a week or more.
See Image on Upper Right
Perfect for
a Garden Circle or Club
luncheon in Spring. Finish decorating
the table with garden tools, gloves and seed packets, keeping the other
table appointments rustic and informal. In the recent National Gardener
magazine, a door wreath was shown made of a garden hose looped around,
and with garden implements and seed packets attached, along with clay
pots.
This would be a great door piece tohave for this themed luncheon!
HAVE FUN,
AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH
FLOWERS!
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