All About Topiary

Want to try something new, fun, and a bit exotic?  Topiary may be just the thing for you!  Topiary is the art of creating ornamental sculptures out of shrubs, plants, or trees.  Remember the movie Edward Scissorhands?  Edward was a walking, talking, topiary-creating machine.  But you don't have to have hands made out of scissors to enjoy spectacular topiary in your own home or garden!

Around and around the spiral

Topiaries take many forms and shapes.  Traditionally, topiary dates back to ancient Rome and was found in the gardens of the wealthy.  Standard shapes included spirals, cones and balls.  Now, though, you can sculpt topiary into wild animals or life-size people!  No longer confined to gardens, you can find topiary just about anywhere, ranging from restaurant walkways to your own kitchen table. 

The outdoors are a great place for topiary.  Whether you want to add decorative flair to your driveway or hide eyesores, such as electrical boxes or wires, topiaries can provide an added touch to your home. You can also add lights to your topiary for evening elegance.   

Artificial topiaries make great indoor decorative pieces.  Silk topiaries, like silk plants, look real, are easy to maintain, and are cost effective.  The entryway to your home makes a perfect place for artificial topiaries.  

Great for the indoors and the outdoors, both rosemary and boxwood make for excellent topiaries. Live boxwood or artificial (silk) boxwood is the popular choice of many. Boxwood is noted for its densely packed green leaves, providing a compact look, while live rosemary is easy to care for, has a great aroma, and is extremely functional. 

Get adventurous!  Topiaries can be formed out of non-traditional materials and placed on a topiary frame, such as: flowers (roses) herbs (rosemary), fruit (strawberries), or vegetables (carrots).  These tabletop decorations will spruce up your living space.  

Get into the holiday spirit

Looking for something special for the holiday season?  Christmas is the perfect time to incorporate topiary into the mix.  
 

Small topiary Christmas trees look lovely on tabletops.  They also serve as nice centerpieces during holiday dinners.  Christmas trees can be decorated, and you won't have the mess of a live tree!  A lighted topiary tree can set the right holiday mood. 

Large Topiary Christmas trees really spice up your holiday!  While these trees can take the shape of the traditional cone-shaped tree, you can also find spiral trees.
 

Consider making your own holiday topiary tree.  Use nuts, dried fruit or rose petals, beads, marbles or ribbons.  Be creative!

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