How to Make a Harvest Topiary for Thanksgiving

This little centerpiece is actually a mock topiary tree made from Oasis floral foam, plaster of paris and garden trimmings. The project is easy to put together, and you can save the base to use for projects later in the year.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plaster Of Paris
• Oasis Floral Foam
• Flowerpots
• Garden Shears
• Garden Stakes
• Gardening Gloves
• Chile Peppers
• Nuts
• Toothpicks
• Paddle Wire
• Toothpicks

1. Soak a 4-inch clay pot in a bucket of water. This step will prevent the pot from cracking when you pour in the plaster of paris.

2. Soak 1/4 block of Oasis floral foam in water. The foam is thoroughly saturated when it sinks to the bottom.

3. Remove the clay pot from the bucket and let it dry for an hour or so.

4. Cut a shopping bag full of fall foliage from your garden. The cuttings should be 3 to 6 inches long. Some types of foliage and flowers that work well are: podocarpus (fern pine), leptospermum, asparagus fern, statice, straw flowers, oak, maple, pittosporum or rhaphiolepis.

5. Cut a straight stick 12 to 14 inches long, or use a piece of bamboo stake. The stick will support the foam and will be permanently embedded in the plaster. Select a stick that is 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter.

6. Cover the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot with aluminum foil, newspaper or tape. This will prevent the plaster of paris from leaking out the hole and making a mess all over your work surface.

7. Mix 2 c. plaster of paris with 2 c. water in a disposable container. Add more water as necessary or until the plaster has the consistency of sour cream. This will set quickly, so have everything you need right on hand: a pot with a covered drain hole and the stick.

8. Pour the plaster into the prepared pot.

9. Place the stick into the plaster. You may need to support it until the plaster sets, usually not longer than 3 to 4 minutes.

10. Allow the plaster-filled pot to dry at least 1 hour.

11. Fold a stiff leaf in quarters and place it on top of the center stick. This step will prevent the floral foam from sliding down the stick like the ball at Times Square.

12. Place a 4-inch square of the soaked Oasis floral foam onto the leaf-topped stick. No special method is required; just be careful not to run the stick all the way through the Oasis.

13. Add the foliage to cover the block of foam. Once the foam is covered and none is showing through, begin adding short shafts of wheat, fall leaves, nuts and fall berries.

Tips & Warnings

• Nuts can be added by wrapping them in pieces of panty hose which has been pulled tightly, then secured with floral wire. Wrap the end of the floral wire around a toothpick and insert the pick, nut and all, into the foam.
• Impale brightly colored chili peppers on toothpicks and add them to the topiary.
• These mock trees will last several weeks indoors. Mist your tree frequently to prevent it from drying out.
• Keep the plaster-filled pot base for projects later in the year.