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trees from the garden

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  • Member since
    April 2007
  • 54 posts
trees from the garden
Posted by billy21 on Monday, April 30, 2007 6:27 PM

    

             i was wondering if anyone knows of some garden plants or flowers that make good trees

                                           thanks kevin

 

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: New Brighton, MN
  • 4,393 posts
Posted by ARTHILL on Monday, April 30, 2007 6:33 PM

Oh Yes. Welcome to the forum. This has been a good topic for a while. I use:

 1. Queen of the Praire for Birch trees

2. Asilbe for different small pine trees.

3. Caspia for large pine trees ( I buy this at Michaels)

4. Spirea for Elm trees (tape several together to get a tree).

5.Long grass seeds for Weeping willow (only fair)

I think there are others, but that is a start. I have pics in my photobucket  and many of us will talk about this with you if you choose to expand this thread.

Furnace filter on a stick makes great "Aggro pines"

 

If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
  • 10,027 posts
Posted by loathar on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 12:17 AM

Crepe Myrtle trees. (The flower clusters after the flowers fall off.)

Goldenrod.

Sagebrush (if you live out west)

 

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,774 posts
Posted by cmrproducts on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 9:08 AM

Sedum - flower heads

Yarrow - the Fern Leaf type

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Smoke Bush Blossom

Joe Pye Weed - Great Tree BUT can't find a way to keep the dried blossoms from falling apart after a year!

BOB H - Clarion, PA 

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 95 posts
Posted by Jason-Train on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 9:25 AM

Are you guys saying that you can use real plants as "trees" on your layout?  What do you do to keep the stuff from rotting or whatnot?  Do you clear coat it or something (or perhaps I'm way off base here) :)

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,774 posts
Posted by cmrproducts on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 9:35 AM

I usually just pick the flower heads in the fall or after they are done blooming let them dry (as in dried flower arrangements - the wife gets/uses)

Then I will spray the dried flowers with different colors of cheap spray paint (depending on the season of the layout) and then just sprinkle on the various colors of ground foam.

I usually then give the finished tree a spray of clear spary paint to lock the ground foam (keep it from falling off after a while).

I also will spray the trunk of the tree with grays or blacks. 

Plant the tree! 

BOB H - Clarion, PA 

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
  • 10,027 posts
Posted by loathar on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 9:48 AM
Jason-Yep! I just seal them with dull coat. Cover them with foam or leaves like you would Woodland Scenic or Super Trees. Super Trees are just some dried plant that they sell.
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 10:16 AM

Sedium

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: New Brighton, MN
  • 4,393 posts
Posted by ARTHILL on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 10:33 AM
 Jason-Train wrote:

Are you guys saying that you can use real plants as "trees" on your layout?  What do you do to keep the stuff from rotting or whatnot?  Do you clear coat it or something (or perhaps I'm way off base here) :)

I spray paint some. I tried dipping in diluted matte medium as the super tree people suggest and that worked great.

I apply foam and Nock leaf or grass material with hair spray. I use lots.

If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art
  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Manitou, Okla
  • 1,630 posts
Posted by mikesmowers on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 6:38 PM
   I am not surt what every one elece calles it, but around here we call them ''Broom Weeds'' They grow about 16'' - 20'' tall and you can make several trees from one plant. Spray them shades of green and you can use some ground foam if you like.    Mike
Modeling Trains Is Not A Matter Of Life Or Death, It Is Much More Important Than That!!

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