Well, manzanita trees are moving North! I've been using them in vases or in large containers secured in foam for wish trees etc. for a while now... But all of a sudden, this wedding season, I'm seeing a huge increase in demand for manzanita trees as centerpieces with floral bases ( hydrangea). My question: how do you secure the trees on each table so there is no danger of them falling? (Especially considering I will be hanging candles,crystals and flowers among the branches!) Do you cement them into a low container? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Manzanita trees!
- Thread starter DIB
- Start date
- Status
wildflowerschicago
New Member
God willing, someone with much more knowledge than me will be along soon, but here is what I have done...
I have used good ole plaster of Paris. I have hot glued dry foam (just big enough to hold the branches, not coverthe whole bottom) in the bottom of a ceramic (and plastic) container and inserted the branches to the foam to place them and keep them steady. Then cover the foam with 2~3 inches of plaster of Paris. It is water proof and you can get it in 25lb bags at Home Depot/Menards in the plaster/spackle department. What I like best about this method is that it adds some weight to the arrangement and you can use oasis or just water to complete the design.
I have been able to reuse a few of the arrangement skeletons for several events. To transport them, we used dry cleaning bags to keep the beanches from tangling.
Prep for these can be done weeks in advance. It's VERY messy, but simple! If you do this, make sure you buy the mixing attachment for your drill. It's $3~$4 that is money well spent!
Hope this helps!
I have used good ole plaster of Paris. I have hot glued dry foam (just big enough to hold the branches, not coverthe whole bottom) in the bottom of a ceramic (and plastic) container and inserted the branches to the foam to place them and keep them steady. Then cover the foam with 2~3 inches of plaster of Paris. It is water proof and you can get it in 25lb bags at Home Depot/Menards in the plaster/spackle department. What I like best about this method is that it adds some weight to the arrangement and you can use oasis or just water to complete the design.
I have been able to reuse a few of the arrangement skeletons for several events. To transport them, we used dry cleaning bags to keep the beanches from tangling.
Prep for these can be done weeks in advance. It's VERY messy, but simple! If you do this, make sure you buy the mixing attachment for your drill. It's $3~$4 that is money well spent!
Hope this helps!
I would like to know where to find them too. I have not had anyone ask for them but would like them for store dispays.
wildflowerschicago
New Member
My wholesaler, Kennicott's got them for me. Robin, I think they have a Milwaukee branch?!?!? I think most fresh wholesalers can get them (some of the salespeople just may not know what they are or that they are available).
I also have a contact at a local nursery who saves funky looking dead trees for me. A little bug bomb and some clear glaze and you have magic...free magic!
I also have a contact at a local nursery who saves funky looking dead trees for me. A little bug bomb and some clear glaze and you have magic...free magic!
Thanks! They do have a Milw branch, in fact I use them a lot.
Hey I did a (very) little design show one time at a floral conference and Kennicott Chicago supplied the flowers; boy did they have a lot of cool stuff.
I'd check with your "greens" wholesaler. I get the trees from my supplier of greens (they supply all sorts of fresh greens, pods, dried greens and branches etc). (Highland Evergreen in Mississauga, On). Your other wholesalers should be able to get them in, you just have to ask! ( Many do not carry as displays or in stock). Amy- Thanks for the plaster of Paris tip- I will experiment!
enchantedfloristasheville
New Member
I ordered some last year from a guy out of Ca. If I remember correctly I paid about $2 per lb. plus freight. I needed big pieces, minimum 4' tall with base circumference of 2-3" and he was good about accommodating my needs. Did the trees in tall stands with hanging floral balls for a wedding. turned out great!
Here is his contact info. [email protected], "Eric" <[email protected]
Here is his contact info. [email protected], "Eric" <[email protected]
For the arrangements I have done, I either use the vase itself to support the branch or I've used Plaster of Paris. As a word of caution, Plaster of Paris does expand as it dries so be careful what you make it in. A lot of ceramic containers will shatter over time.
To take this thread one step further, does anyone have any recommendations on how to make a lighted base like the one in the attached photo. I'm designing a giant tree (5') as a room centerpiece. I'm making it a permanent rental item so it needs to be transportable (light and sturdy). I've done smaller versions but I'm wondering if Plexiglass is strong enough to survive repeated use with an arrangement like this.
Oh and I get it from my local wholesaler.
(Sorry for hijacking your thread)
To take this thread one step further, does anyone have any recommendations on how to make a lighted base like the one in the attached photo. I'm designing a giant tree (5') as a room centerpiece. I'm making it a permanent rental item so it needs to be transportable (light and sturdy). I've done smaller versions but I'm wondering if Plexiglass is strong enough to survive repeated use with an arrangement like this.
Oh and I get it from my local wholesaler.
(Sorry for hijacking your thread)
Attachments
enchantedfloristasheville
New Member
I can't see it good enough to see exactly what you want. I'd be tempted to do it in two parts...the lighted box separate from the manzanita tree. Maybe set the tree in a smaller cube of plaster that sits inot the larger lighted box...?
manzanita
We've had good luck getting our manzanita from Manzanita Burlworks. These guys are great and have a number of different grades of branch they offer, though shipping to the East coast is mighty pricey. Not sure they're the cheapest, but definitely really pretty branch. As far as securing them, we've used heavy plywood cut into a 14x14 square and secured the branch with lagbolts and it has held up nicely for several events. Also, we've created wooden boxes and used log wood screws to secure the branch through the bottom of the box. Paint and line the box and you can reuse it repeatedly for a crisp centerpiece that give the branch a slight elevation.
I've never heard of Milwaukee branch..... does anyone have a pic?
We've had good luck getting our manzanita from Manzanita Burlworks. These guys are great and have a number of different grades of branch they offer, though shipping to the East coast is mighty pricey. Not sure they're the cheapest, but definitely really pretty branch. As far as securing them, we've used heavy plywood cut into a 14x14 square and secured the branch with lagbolts and it has held up nicely for several events. Also, we've created wooden boxes and used log wood screws to secure the branch through the bottom of the box. Paint and line the box and you can reuse it repeatedly for a crisp centerpiece that give the branch a slight elevation.
I've never heard of Milwaukee branch..... does anyone have a pic?
Attachments
You know, I've thought about the logistics of this piece for months and within an hour of posting this, I've had three great ideas from members. As much as I've thought about it, I never once thought to make it in pieces that could be taken apart again. That makes it so much easier for transportation and storage. God, I love this site.
justducky2
Active Member
On the side of the road 1/2 mile from here, after Dept of Transportation has gone through and hacked up all the native plants! Seriously!! If not, I go knock on doors, or call friends who have ranchettes!
I'm lucky enough to live in manzanita country, but I have seen it at my wholesalers (along with moss branches, I have those in my backyard!!), but I also once googled manzanita and there's some guy north of here selling it as well...
Here's a tutorial on how to make the base:
http://www.manzanitabranches.com/?page_id=13
Here is a guy in Northern CA:
http://www.manzanitacheap.com/
Here's someone in Southern CA:
http://www.manzanita.com/sticks1.htm
Don't know any of these people, by the by...
Attended demonstration one time given by a decorator from Washington, DC.
He had plastic pipe 2 to 3" secured to a base plate. To fasten small trees in the pipe holder he inserted the branch and poured damp coarse sand around it and tamped the sand with a hammer. I've never had call for this technique.
He had plastic pipe 2 to 3" secured to a base plate. To fasten small trees in the pipe holder he inserted the branch and poured damp coarse sand around it and tamped the sand with a hammer. I've never had call for this technique.
take a square of plywood suitable to the size of the tree. If your not handy with a saw, most home improvement centers will cut to size. Use a suitable sized wood screw or for the really big trees a bolt and drive it through the bottom of the plywood into the trunk of the tree where it stands on the plywood. You want to use a long enough screw or bolt so that you have the support. This way you will have the stability with out the weight of the plaster. If you are planning on doing any fresh arrangements around the base, you can put a water try between the trunk and the plywood. Use some sealer to avoid leaks where the screw/bolt penetrates the plastic.
We use large manzanita trees for our parrots to play on and this is how we secure them.
We use large manzanita trees for our parrots to play on and this is how we secure them.
I HATE MANZANITA. I just got home from a wedding last night in DC.
It was at the Park Hyatt, 20 large manzanita in glass cylinders. Loading that stuff in is one thing, but tear down at 2 in the morning along with every other vendor, trying to carry the stuff through hall ways and elevators, terrible. I poked my eye, a lighting guys eye, and scratched a waiters face, plus the stuff tangles, and snaps on everything.
I feel like making firewood out of it.
It was at the Park Hyatt, 20 large manzanita in glass cylinders. Loading that stuff in is one thing, but tear down at 2 in the morning along with every other vendor, trying to carry the stuff through hall ways and elevators, terrible. I poked my eye, a lighting guys eye, and scratched a waiters face, plus the stuff tangles, and snaps on everything.
I feel like making firewood out of it.
- Status