Make an initial move toward spring with this personalized topiary. The look varies slightly depending on the fi rst letter of the gardener's name: Emily can use a round pot like the one shown here, while Harry will need a window box. We used ivy for our monogram sculptures.

Materials

• 12-gauge covered floral wire
• Wire cutters
• Pebbles
• 1 or 2 ivy plants

• A pot or window box with drainage hole
• Potting soil
• Twine

Instructions

1. To make the topiary support, double a length of floral wire and twist the strands, except for the bottom 6 inches. Shape the twisted piece into a letter, hooking ends together as needed at intersections, and leaving a straight portion at the letter's base. (To create a 1-foot-tall E, we used 4 feet of wire. For M, with two base points, we used wire cutters to cut two 4-foot-lengths, then twisted and hooked them together at the center.)

2. Bend the support's untwisted bottom portions into prongs, as shown. Twist more floral wire around the base to create a second pair of prongs. Bend the prongs into a rough claw shape.

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• 2-3 Hours |
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• Wire Crafts

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• Nature Crafts |
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• FamilyFun March 2011