trees from the garden

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

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

thanks kevin

2

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”

3

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

Goldenrod.

Sagebrush (if you live out west)

4

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

5

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) :slight_smile:

6

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

7

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.

8

Sedium

9

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.

10

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