Decorated Tree

Sandra
Sandra Hirst

NGC Handbook For Flower Shows 2007 p. 200

  1. Trees may represent any holiday, season or special occasion.
  2. Schedule states purpose, theme, size, space, supplier of tree, and placement.
  3. Schedule may require tree be traditionally or creatively decorated, or designer's choice.
  4. Tree may be cut, contrived or growing in a container, but not artificial.
  5. Decorated trees may be exhibited in the Special Exhibits Division rather than the Design Division. Determined by schedule. If allocated to the Special Exhibits Division they are not eligible for any Design Top Exhibitor Award.
  6. Check federal and local fire codes before including trees in the schedule.
Designing By Types: The dictionary defines "tree" as an upreight woody plant, distinguished from a shrub by a primary trunk. Therefore, it is never merely a bushy, multi-branched shrub with no trunk. Nor is it a tree branch. It must be a standard tree or a stylized or simulated "single trunked" plant material substituting for a tree.

Click on a picture to see an enlargement.

 Tony Todesco
Tony Todesco

Purchased a contrived tree from Home Depot. (You may wish to use branches or sticks tied like a teepee to create your own contrived tree.)

Removed the artificial berries and pine needles. No artificial floral is to be used.

Designing By Types: Beyond the selection of the "tree," the all-important consideration is the composition of the "decorations" on the tree. If the class is in the Design Division, rather than the Artistic Craft section of the Special Exhibits Division, the decorations or overall effect must be one of a true design with plant material vital to the design. It must not be simply paper crafted ornaments with minimal plant material to satisfy the Design Division's requirement.

Kumquats and Antherium

white
white
White is a bull's eye		 purple
Changed to purple African violets		 tree
View in the round.
Topiary - rosemary tree decorated with flowers

3 1/2" pots of Kalanchoe provide the flowers.

3 inch tubes with tops with a hole for the stems provide water for the flowers.

  

Dried alium sprayed red tops the tree.

Craft

At the base arrange magnolia leaves (or other shiny leaves.) These magnolia leaves are stapled to keep their shape with a heavy metal disk to hold them in place. The disk has a long screw that goes into the center of the form.

For the form, use styrofoam or dry foam and pegs or wooden scewers.

Attach fruit, e.g. apples and/or pears or citrus. Here we are using tangerines and mimosas decorated with cloves and a persimmon on top.

Finally fill the gaps with greenery. We are using varigated boxwood.