Urn Gardening

This sphere looks expensive but costs less than the average floral arrangement.

Grouped together on a side or dining table, moss-covered spheres make an especially sophisticated statement. Varying the sizes adds visual variety.

• One 7-inch cast-iron urn
• Three or four plastic-foam spheres (we used a combination of 3-, 4-, 6-, and 8-inch spheres)
• 1 package light reindeer moss
• 1 package dark reindeer moss
• Several pieces of sheet moss (available at crafts store)
• Green food coloring
• Hot-glue gun
• Glue sticks
• Old cotton cloth (to protect your hands from burns while pressing moss onto spheres)
• Bowl of ice water
• Scissors
• Spray bottle

Step 1

1. Use a hot-glue gun to apply glue to back of small piece of light reindeer moss. The size of the piece depends on the sphere size; you want the result to be a patchwork of different-tone mosses. Because reindeer moss is pricier than sheet moss, use it sparingly. Press moss firmly onto sphere, using a cotton cloth to protect your hands and arms from burns. Keep a bowl of ice water handy in case of any mishaps.

Step 3

2. Repeat Step 1 using a small piece of dark reindeer moss, then repeat the process with a larger piece of sheet moss.

3. Continue to apply alternating types of reindeer and sheet moss until the sphere is covered with an even patchwork. Trim loose pieces with scissors.

4. Repeat with other spheres; place an appropriate-size sphere gently atop urn. Keep them out of direct sunlight and spritz them occasionally, using a spray bottle that contains water and six drops of green food coloring.