Apple Topiary

In order to make this piece, start with an easel and three curly willow wreaths. Each wreath needs to be bigger than the last. The smallest size should be at least 16" across. Start by setting up your easel, then placing the largest wreath over the top of the easel and pushing it down till doesn't go further. You will need a helping hand on this; when you push the largest wreath down, you want it to come about half way down the easel. The only way to get it there is by unlocking the legs, so find someone to hold the easel while you do this to keep it from falling over.

Secure your wreath into place with floral wire. Push the second size wreath over the top and stop about 15 inches above the first wreath, secure with floral wire. Put the smallest wreath over the easel point and have it rest about 10 inches above the second wreath and secure it with floral wire. Once you have all three wreaths safely secured to your easel, work on the stability of your easel. Since you have altered the widths of the legs with the wreaths, you need to create a sturdy base for the topiary, to keep it from falling over. Even if your topiary seems secure you must add extra support, as it can still fall easily. Measure the width of the three poles from one across to the other, at the point right under the third wreath. Cut the measurements out from 2x2"inch wood. Nail your 2x2 to the easel poles and to each other. This will create a very sturdy base that will keep the poles from closing or leaning.

Now you can begin to decorate your topiary. First, get branches of lemon leaves, variegated ivy and pines. Cover up as much of the easel as possible with your greenery. Do this by sticking the stem into the wreaths or attaching it to the easel with floral wire. After you have covered your easel in a manor that looks like real greenery cascading over the sides and intertwining into the wreaths, begin adding the apples. To add the apples to the display, insert a 6" stick into the bottom of the apples (I suggest using smaller apples to keep the weight down.) Begin pushing the stick through the base of the apples and then into the wreaths. The stick will keep the apples in place. Add as many apples to this as you like--I think the more apples the better it looks.

Put a few longer sticks in the bottoms of the apples so they sit higher off the wreaths, to create a façade that the apples are sitting atop each other. Make sure you decorate all three wreaths with the apples. Go back and add more greenery if you find a hole that you wish to cover. For the easel poles I also added a few apples, I did this by putting a 12" stick into the base of the apple and then with floral wire attached the stick to the pole. The longer stick helped secure the weight of the apple. Make sure that all your floral wire gets covered with greenery. You can also add sugar-covered apples to this for an extra touch of glimmer. Once all your apples are securely in place, go back with small 3" votive candles encased in glass and place them around the wreaths. Make sure the area that you place the candle on is flat and there is no hanging greenery that will catch the flame. Secure the bottom of the glass to the wreath with a large dollop of hot glue. After your candles are in place, go back and add sheet moss to any holes left open and also put a little bit of the moss around the base of the glass candle holders. The moss really completes the overall look and polishes the topiary off. This is a great conversation piece and an accent of light to an apples party night.