Making the moss Christmas tree

Once I decided to make a moss tree for Christmas I knew right away what the base would be. Thank god I'd saved this chicken-wire covered tomato cage I used back 2017 to make the opuntia Christmas tree, even before that the tomato cage was the base for my "Cousin Itt" tree in 2014.

In case you're curious how the opuntia tree came together there was a "how I did it" post for that one too. 

It was November 12th when I got to work on the moss tree. Having our extra-long outdoor dining table to work on made a huge difference; lots of space, great light, and no need to worry about making a mess. Yes those plastic bags are full of moss.

I sorted the moss into piles according to size and type of moss (going by looks only, I don't know moss at all). 

I used some older dried moss I had on hand, and the loose pieces from this haul, to stuff the inside of the tree form. I feared if I covered only the outside with moss it would dry out too quickly. I then laid the moss over the form and started wrapping with wire. If you've ever made a wreath wrapped with paddle wire this is the same idea. 

Peeking inside before I filled it up the rest of the way.

The finished "tree"...

I made the moss wreath that same day, using an old wreath form I had on hand.

After I finished the tree and the wreath I stored them in our garage until Nov 28th, aka decorating day. I didn't want them getting too wet in the rain, and I didn't want any animals picking at the moss. I did take them out of the garage a couple times and hose them down.

A few days after completing the big tree shape I went ahead and covered the two larger of the three mantel-sized trees. The smallest one was actually my first run at the idea and had been in the basement for weeks getting misted on the regular to see how it would hold up.

These I filled with ripped up paper bags.

And a layer of plastic at the bottom. They were going to be on the painted wood fireplace mantel and I was hoping to cut back on the drips.

Remember the bird that made it into the Christmas scheme? It was a fluke that I happened upon these (very) red birds for 50% off at Pomarius. How could I not take one home for only $3.88?

I used the metal drum the moss tree is sitting on to keep it off the floor in the garage. It was pure luck the form fit right inside the lip. It worked so well that I decided to use it in the house too. 

I think after Christmas I'll pull the moss off the small tree shapes (I don't want them to rust up too badly), but keep the big tomato cage tree intact and take it out to the garden. It will be a fun addition for as long as it lasts.

The Bit at the End

Andrew asked how I was going to bring a moss Christmas tree into the house, without also bringing in a bunch of unwanted critters. That was part of why it was nice to work outside. I thoroughly inspected the moss before I added it to the tree form. I picked off a few beetles, slugs, and worms. Since it was in the garage for a couple weeks I reasoned any remaining creatures a chance to flee. Then I watched this video "Moss, the brilliant green icon of the Pacific Northwest, and the microscopic world it supports" okay so I guess there's an entire wildlife safari in my living room now...

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