Topiaries

I have always adored and admired topiaries

ever since I saw my first one in the pages of a book.

They're often shown on tabletops in magazines and in blogs

In 2000, when I hosted my first Valentine's Luncheon for my friends

there were topiaries at the market

The heart shaped ones out numbered the ball ones

And I debated long and hard about which to buy

because I thought a topiary would make a smashing centerpiece

for that Valentine luncheon.

The ball won out

For I had long admired the ball topiaries

And I figured that I'd get more mileage out of a ball than a heart

And I was right.

But the topiary that I long admired was the myrtle ones

A book, Season At Seven Gats Farm,  by James Kramer and Dean Johnson

had a whole greenhouse full of topiaries.

I drooled!

And I tried myrtle topiaries

One after another

And one after another they became casualties

Until

I brought this little guy home.

He lasted a year and a half

But, finally, he too succumbed.

Oh, to have the topiary green thumb of Kramer and Johnson!

And I must admit that I prefer natural things at Linderhof

But what does a person who has the kiss of death for a topiary do?

Why make her own!

With balls of moss, packages of sheet moss, some styrofoam, two branches from the garden and glue

Oh, and a couple of old antique greenhouse pots from England

The perfect conner for the topiaries.

I think they look smashing!

And they cost way less than the ones offered by Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware.

I still yearn for a real myrtle topiary

But I think these faux topiaries will do for now.

Oh, and I still have that ball topiary I bought years and years ago.

But mostly it stays outside in the summer

And in the breakfast room in the winter.

It likes those habitats.