Nanci Walsh, topiary expert at Meadowbrook Farm near Philadelphia, demonstrates the art of topiary, the process of carefully pruning and coaxing plants into a decorative form. First employed thousands of years ago by the Egyptians and Romans, topiary is still a creative way to enhance the beauty of your home, inside and out. Many kinds of plants may be used for indoor topiary, including coleus, citrus plants, herbs and ivy. Make a simple ivy ring by wrapping a long piece of ivy around a metal ring inserted in a pot (figure A), or grow a whimsical bear topiary for a child's room on a moss-stuffed wire topiary form.
Turn an ivy hanging basket into an instant topiary by twisting the long strands around a bamboo frame. Begin by transplanting the ivy into a large pot. Insert a long bamboo stake in each corner of the pot, and join them securely at the top with a twist tie. Twist a few strands of ivy around the bamboo frame (figure B), holding them in place with twist-ties or horticultural tape. Twist another bunch of ivy strands around the frame in the other direction. Continue twisting strands of ivy around the frame, working in one direction and then the other. Be careful not to kink very long strands. As you wrap the ivy, tuck in the ends to cover up any gaps in the form.
A black wrought-iron frame is slipped over the twined ivy, so it is visible as well as the ivy (figure C).
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