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Tree two (the accident)

As I stated earlier, it was quite by accident that this next tree came into being. I had already shaped a few tree trunks ready for the plastic fern, and was waiting for the fern to dry. I had bought from a florists some dried weeds to use as bushes, these weeds are called, (or so the florist says) "Bloom Bloom". (In the U.S.A. I believe they call it "Babies Breath") Also I have heard it called "Cotton Candy".

Anyway, I had placed the balsa tree trunks on the floor, and was working with this weed to make small bushes when part of the weed broke and fell to the floor. It landed across the tree trunks in such a way that it almost represented a tree as it was.

I stood looking at this strange and wonderful new tree that had appeared as if by magic, and thought, what would it look like if I glued tiny branches of this weed into the balsa dowel? So I set about inserting the weed into the tree trunk in the same way as I had done with the plastic fern.

Small pieces at the top, getting larger as I went further down the tree trunk. When this first stage was completed, I sprayed the whole tree a Matt dark earth, and let it dry. Apart from it's overall brown colour, the tree looked fine but needed that something else to bring it to life.

As I had only enough of the Woodland scenics ground cover to complete the first kind of trees, I turned my attention to Heki Flor, I just started teasing little bits off and gluing it to the branches at various intervals. This gave the tree an individual character, no two trees are quite the same (The accident) completed.

By the way, if you make this kind of tree, no need to paint or spray the tree trunk first, do it all afterwards. I never did get around to making those bushes that I wanted, every time I buy the weed to make them, they turn into tall trees. Now then, - what else would make a different kind of tree!. Hmmm.

Written by Paul Templar
http://www.badger-creek.co.uk/

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