How to Make Victorian Topiaries
Topiary is the art of sculpting trees and shrubs into attractive shapes through clipping and pruning. The Victorians of the mid-19th century, with their love of plants, flowers and related pursuits, took pleasure in creating large topiary sculptures for outdoor gardens, as well as smaller topiaries with dried flowers for indoor decor. A small, handcrafted topiary is easy to assemble with a few basic supplies, and makes a long-lasting keepsake or a quaint gift.
Things You'll Need
- Container with opening measuring 4 inches in diameter
- Craft foam block
- 12-inch tall wooden rod with ½-inch circumference
- Foam ball with 4-inch circumference
- Spanish moss
- Greening pins
- Assorted dried flowers
- Craft glue
- Optional: embellishments such as lace, ribbon, artificial butterflies or birds
Instructions
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Creating a Victorian Topiary
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1
Cut the block of craft foam to fit inside your chosen container. Place glue on the bottom and sides of the foam to secure it in the container.
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2
Coat the top 2 ½ inches of the wooden rod in glue. Poke the glue-coated portion of the rod into the center of the foam ball. Do not push the rod all the way through the ball.
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3
Coat the bottom 2 inches of the wooden rod in glue. Poke the glue-coated portion of the rod into the center of the foam in the container to a depth of 2 inches. Now you have the basic shape of the topiary: a rod in a container with a ball on the top.
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4
Using glue and greening pins, cover the foam in the container, the rod and the foam ball with Spanish moss. The greening pins are used to hold the long or bulky pieces of moss against the foam so the topiary retains a fairly tidy shape.
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5
Use glue to adhere a variety of dried flowers to the ball. Cover the ball's surface, allowing bits of moss to show through as desired.
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6
If you wish, add ribbon or lace to the base of the rod and wind it around until it reaches the ball. Add artificial butterflies, birds, or other embellishments to the topiary.
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1
Tips & Warnings
To create a more elaborate topiary, use a larger container, a longer rod, and two or three foam balls of varying circumferences. For example, the balls may decrease in size from bottom to top.
Use exclusively dried roses, rather than a variety of dried flowers, for a truly Victorian look.
Use silk flowers for a more durable topiary.
To make a Victorian topiary using fresh flowers, use instant floral foam inside of the container for the ball instead of dry craft foam. Submerge the floral foam in water until it is fully saturated. Assemble the topiary as you did this one, using moss, fresh greenery, and fresh flowers. No glue is necessary; poke the stems into the floral foam to a depth of 1 ½ inches.
