Topiary Centerpiece

All it takes to create this great look is a suitable container, which you landscape with a 6-inch flowering plant in the middle and ivy plants from 2-inch pots around the perimeter to soften the edges. For a stylized shape, add a wire handle and tie ivy branches to it.

1. Assemble materials. Select a flowerpot about 10 inches across and a full-flowering plant at least 6 inches across. Good choices include dianthus, kalanchoe, tuberous begonia, or chrysanthemum. Position the plant in the center of the container, and pour in potting soil to cover the root ball.

2. Line the planter with small ivy plants along the inside edges, packing the plants together. Add soil, and tamp it down around the plants. Arrange tendrils of ivy so they spill over the edges. Continue until the entire planter is skirted in ivy.