Decorative Topiary Trees

Topiary, the art of ornamental gardening, dates back to the 18th century. Often found in Colonial and Victorian decor, it is easy to re-create with plastic foam and glycerin-dried greenery.

Steps:

1. Choose a plastic foam ball or cone in a size that suits the decor and the purpose of the topiary. Spray-paint it green using a paint made for plastic foam.
2. For the base, choose a clay pot in proportion to the ball or cone. Cut a piece of plastic foam down to fit inside the pot, and glue it in with low-melt glue.
3. Use a dowel or a piece of a tree limb for the "trunk." The dowel or limb should be long enough so that the height of the "tree" is 2-1/2 times the height of the pot. Insert the stick into the foam in the pot to make a hole for the "trunk," then remove the stick.
4. Tuck Spanish moss into the pot to cover the plastic foam, and fasten it down with U-pins.
5. Cut the glycerin-dried plants into four-inch pieces.
6. Insert the stick in the foam ball or cone to make a hole for placement. Then, working in concentric circles from the top, attach pieces of greenery by dipping their ends in glue, and sticking them into the foam.
7. After half the foam is covered with greenery, glue the stick in place, and cover the rest of the ball.
8. Attach the stick inside the pot, and embellish the greenery and the moss with dried flowers, ribbon, lace, etc. Lace lends itself to a Victorian look, and dried roses are appropriate for a Colonial decor. Poinsettias work well during the winter holidays.
9. Paint the pot, or leave its natural clay finish.