Fruit Topiary

[lmharden]

I'd like to put a topiary together using fresh fruit. Any suggestions on how to construct?

[OliviaEllyn]

from BHG

Purchase a 12-inch-high plastic-foam cone for the base of this topiary. (The cone may seem small at first glance, but it will grow in size as the fruit is attached.) Then, make your fruit selections. We combined fresh pears, lady apples, kumquats, and cranberries with an assortment of dried pomegranates, dried oranges, nuts, and aromatic bay leaves. You needn't keep to this shopping list--choose the produce you find most colorful and striking. However, be sure to select the smallest pieces available because larger fruits are more difficult to apply. Other items you'll need to complete the centerpiece are sheet moss (available at garden supply stores), a hot-glue gun, florist staples, and green wood picks (available at florist and crafts shops).

1. Wet the sheet moss thoroughly to bring out its color and make it easier to shape. Then, blot with paper towels. Wrap the moss around the cone, piecing it as necessary; secure in place with staples. 2. Plan the arrangement of the fruit on the moss-covered base. Our topiary is worked in a circular design that spirals around the cone; you may choose a more random placement. To attach the fresh fruit, pierce each piece, except the cranberries, with a wood pick. Push the pick halfway through the fruit, then push the remaining pick into the cone. Because the fruit is attached with picks, it's easy to rearrange the pieces until the composition is pleasing. Add dried items (fruits, nuts, bay leaves) and cranberries with the glue gun.

[OliviaEllyn]

also from suite101, festive holiday decorating

Colonial Williamsburg is known for its fruit decorations. The doors are festooned with swags, garlands, and wreaths of fruits. I saw instructions for a gorgeous pear swag in a magazine, though I can’t remember which one. They started with a standard swag of Christmas greens, and then added pears and English walnuts.

Create delightful fruit topiaries using styrofoam topiary forms, available in various shapes, such as trees and standards. There are two ways to make fruit topiaries. You can start by covering the styrofoam with Christmas greens, and then add whorls of fruits. The other method is to only use fruits. Between the larger fruits, insert cranberries.

There is another simple way to decorate with fruits during the holidays. Layer the fruits in an attractive, clear glass container. Usually it works best to use an assortment of related kinds. For example, combine oranges, lemons, and limes. When picking your own citrus for this, leave some leaves and stems on the fruits. This adds an extra touch of color to the arrangement.

A beautiful bowl of fruit is decorative enough for holiday displays. For this, choose the most beautiful container you have. Fruits like pomegranates and limes look nice enough to use alone. For the more common fruits, you might want to mix and match colors.

Windowboxes work beautifully for displaying fruits. These can be used indoors or out. Fill the basket with an assortment of different Christmas greens. Add some curly willow or a few stems of 'Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick' for architectural interest. Finally, nestle the fruits on top of the greens. Pomegranates and red apples are just perfect for this. For outdoor use in cold climates, you might want to spray them with clear lacquer. This acts as a preservative to keep them looking fresh.

Add a touch of color to the Christmas tree with real fruits. Use scored citrus, red cherry peppers, and other suitably colored items.

Kissing balls are essential. Craft your own with fruits. Start with a round styrofoam ball. Using floral picks, cover the ball with ‘Lady’ apples or crabapples. Cranberries can be inserted between the apples. Tie a ribbon on the ball, and it is ready to hang.

I’ve seen lovely Moravian Christmas trees decorated with apples. This is done by covering a pyramidal wooden form with holiday greens. Apples are placed at the corners and the top of the tree. Their centers are removed so candles can be inserted.

Fruits need not be edible to become part of holiday decorations. Winterberry is just perfect for all sorts of holiday items. This plant is actually a deciduous holly. Its stems are covered with colorful, long lasting berries.

The berries of the true hollies are very decorative. I’ve seen gorgeous wreaths made entirely of assorted hollies. Mix variegated and green ones. All of them need not have berries.

Grapevine wreaths are the perfect way to decorate for the holidays. Start with a basic wreath, and add seasonal bows and decorations. These wreaths can be displayed year-round simply by replacing the Christmas motifs with other items as needed.

Grapevines are also crafted into various other items. Wind the pieces around to form loose balls. These can be painted in holiday colors. If you don't have any grapevines, you can buy the balls from Terrys Village. The catalog refers to them as Vineyard Spheres.

As mentioned above, Colonial Williamsburg is known for its festive holiday decorations with fruits. The holiday season is a favorite time for visits to the area. Now you can decorate like a pro using the very same techniques of the decorators at Williamsburg. "Williamsburg Christmas-the Story of Christmas Decoration in the Colonial Capital" is by Libbey Hodges Oliver et al with gorgeous full color photos by Erik Kvalsvik.

This useful and enjoyable title was published by Harry N. Abrams in assocation with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. It provides an engrossing history of the Christmas traditions of Colonial Williamsburg along with a list of plant materials, and illustrated step-by-step instructions and diagrams for some items. Each chapter highlights a specific area, such as doors. The chapter on dining areas is entitled 'Groaning Boards,' and even features historic recipes for sugared flower petals, punch, and other delicious dishes.

Along with all the fruit decorations, include some traditional holiday plants. Poinsettias are available now as standards and topiaries. These are especially decorative, and lend seasonal color to the indoors.

[gracie]

Ooooooh!!! OliviaEllyn, Thanks for all that great information!