Natural Indoor Art for Free
Cut flowers are superb, but they lose their luster after a few days. Looking for something less high maintenance?
In NE locations, in mid-spring or early summer, go into the back yard and cut some maple twigs (doesn’t work well for all tree species— the easiest way is just to try). Warmer locales, why wait? When the tree sap starts flowing in warmer weather, they are very easy to peel if you don’t let them sit too long before doing it.The bark neatly peels off the inner wood once you get started, revealing the white sheen of the wood. Use a dullish knife to start it. In late summer and fall, they are not so obliging. If it’s a wet spring, you can soak them in 90% water, 10% chlorine bleach for 24 hours to kill mold spores. Leave them in the sun to dry the surface, then make yourself a great dry arrangement, as tall as you want it. Add some dried flowers or grasses, some glossy painted dowels or other color as contrast and— voila. They mellow to a nice beigey tan and last forever inside the house. String them with white Christmas lights if you want… Dye them with Tintex… Paint them after they’re well dried…
Try it with a larger branch and make yourself an elegant rustic towel rack, pot rack (screw in large metal hooks, or use big “S” hooks or metal shower curtain rings).
Tags: plants, flowers, nature, natural, sculpture