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Adding Greenery to your dioramas is a great way of adding realism to your photos. It not only adds texture and colour to your shots, it also shows a sense of scale that I think adds more life to your photos. Making Topiaries and Hedges is not a complicated process and can be done on a relatively small budget. I have included pictures of some works in the process of being made and also lots of shots of them displayed in settings to give you and idea of how to use them. There are very few rules when making topiaries, but one main one would be always remember scale. Is the topiary in proportion to you doll and backdrop and container?

In the shot above I used two of the topiaries and added more realism with Bisque pillars and an urn that I painted black to look like cast iron.

For these photos I put my model in a winter garden scene. The large hedge is made of foam core and the arch and small hedges are made from Styrofoam. They are all covered with green flocking. The topiaries on each side are made from Styrofoam that I sculpted; I used a different flocking for these topiaries. In the first photo, I have turned the back hedge on its side to give more complete coverage for the backdrop.

For the base of the hedges I have used twigs to look as though it is really growing up from the ground. The fence is made from bamboo stakes and balsa wood, with wood balls for its finials. For realistic looking snow, I use a combination of salt and iridescent glitter. The walkway is made using clay that is rolled and pressed with a mold.

For a summer look in the garden I covered the snow with brown sand, and changed the ladies to reflect more suitable clothing for the weather. I also changed the background slightly with an urn and topiary placed in the middle of the back path.

Flora and Fauna Floral Design

For the flower shop, I used my studio backdrop and then added all my props.

I painted lots of terracotta pots and added flowers found at my local craft store.
The wood planters are actually eggcups.

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I found the wheelbarrow at the craft store. It came with flowers, which I removed.
The colorful pots again are egg cups.

Room Settings

Greenery adds more life to a room.

Shot of small modern arrangements on a very traditional mantel.

In this room setting I wanted to mix more traditional topiaries with contemporary furniture. The topiaries in the background are from model builder’s supply and are pre-made. They are actually squeezable.

I love the effect that the mirrored pots give to this shot.

Individual Shots

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These topiaries are made from foam in the same process I describe below. I wanted them to have the look and feel that they were not growing exactly straight. So when I was looking for twigs I kept this in mind. Little nibs and extra little branches sticking out add the realism.

I got this idea by looking around at my sons’ toys. I thought they would make great topiaries. I simply glued the piece to a wood base, painted it green and then flocked it. Pooh looks great green.

Here is your basic topiary. It is made from Styrofoam balls purchased at the craft store. I painted it and then flocked and glued it into the container.

Getting down to basics

I make most of my topiaries from Styrofoam. There are many varieties available. I use the Styrofoam that is in boxes from shipping furniture. It’s a great way to recycle, and it’s free. If you ask around at certain stores in your community I am sure you could find someone willing to give some to you.

1. The first thing I do is draw out the sizes I want to cut out with a sharpie. The foam I was using to make this topiary was thin so I had to cut out a few pieces. You would only need to do this once if your foam was thicker.

2. I then paint all the pieces green, this helps when you flock your piece. It will cover up any spot’s that are not covered with flocking.
3. I then glue the pieces to their trunk, for this topiary I used square balsa wood. Three pieces of different lengths, longest one at the bottom.
4. Next, I put glue on the foam, quite thick and then sprinkle the flocking over it. I have found to get the best coverage, put the flocking on quite thick and when you have good coverage press down gently. I then wait for it to dry. It’s best to do this in stages.
5. For the last stage I glue the topiary to its base or container. If you are gluing it to a container, I always make sure that the foam in the container is level. Then I put an even coating of glue in and then press my trunk in. I then I sprinkle my coating on. For this topiary I used colored sand. Hedges

To make hedges it’s basically the same process. I draw out on the Styrofoam what I want the hedge to look like. In this case I wanted the hedge to have a scalloped look.

The next thing is to cut out your design. I use an exacto knife, but you can also use a serrated kitchen knife. If you want a softer look you can lightly go over the edges with the knife.

Next paint your hedge green, spread out your glue and then flock your heart out.

The finished hedge For these hedges I chose not to put any twigs on the base. If you were to, just remember to keep them all the same length and secure them well into the base.

This is the back hedge I made for the garden scene. I used foam core for this and then went through the same process as above. This one can be turned on its side to create a larger backdrop, always remember to do your edges though.
I would probably prefer to use more dense foam next time I make a hedge this big. Foam core curls slightly when it’s wet.

List of supplies
1. Aleene’s tacky glue.
2. Acrylic craft paint
3. Your choice of Styrofoam, many variety’s available. The only one I would not suggest would be the foam that is meant for fresh flowers.
4. Sharpie
5. Paint Brush
6. Flocking, available at model train stores, dollhouse stores. There are lots of different varieties available. Check out www.modelbuilderssupply.com for a list of retailers.
7. Balsa wood, or twigs for trunk of topiary
8. Colored sand
9. You can also use your kitchen herbs as flocking if your short on funds. Just keep them out of light and away from the cat. LOL

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and tutorial, hope to see some of your creations on the board soon. Thanks to Audrey and Dee for inviting me to do todays talk.

-- Jennifer O