Easy Ivy Topiary for Valentine's Day

Hi Friends, hope you all are well and staying warm. And I'm hoping all our friends on the East Coast are safe and staying home somewhere away from the blizzardy snow and winds. Although we're having a sunny day here in the lower Midwest it's still cold and shivery. Anytime I can sit still for awhile you'll find me wrapped up in an electric blanket or throw. It's days like today that make me want to play with some plants and then put out a few vintage Valentine's to brighten up the house and shelves.

You all probably know me well enough by now, that you realize I just blog about what I'm doing "at the time". I'm not a post planner or big project person. I'm not terribly organized so what you see is what you get. I used to do more DIY stuff and have had a lot of fun in the past, "pre-blogging" days where I always had some kind of craft or project, home decor project, or hobby to work on, but now (especially since Covid) I don't like to get out and just browse the stores. It's all I can do to take care of home tasks and cook (not sure you could call it that) and share with you all what I'm up to.

But today I opened up some tubs of Valentine's goodies and happened to find a heart topiary form that I've had for years and used in several different plantings. I usually keep a few ivy's going; having a new start or two each year, so I grabbed one of those that's been around for awhile and thought I'd put together a heart topiary to celebrate Valentine's Day. 

As you can see it came from a florist years ago, but a heart form would be so easy to create using a smallish grapevine wreath or metal clothes hanger. You can tell by the dried out vines that it's been used before, and I just left them on the heart form for extra organic bulk.

It's easier if you have an ivy start that's been growing for awhile and that has multiple long tendrils to wrap around the form. You can start with a smaller plant of course but this makes it easier to get a more  "mature" look instantly. 

I just poked the tines on the base into the middle of the ivy;

no need to remove the ivy and replant it.

Super easy for me the lazy gardener.

So here it is after I wrapped four long ivy vines around the form. 2 on the left and 2 on the right. It looks pretty full, so I was happy with the outcome. Some people trim off the extra tendrils, but I like to let them grow in case one of the wrapped ones decides to poop out on me.

I've been playing with some of my vintage and antique Valentine's cards, and thought I'd try adding a few to the topiary for some fun. I've been taking snaps of them in several places around the house. That's the thing about old cards and ephemera, because you can move them around and use them multiple places for a quick cute vintage vignette.

Of course you'd remove them before misting or watering.

I thought I'd move the topiary over to the little white desk/table

 by the window in the Garden Room, to keep Goosey Gander company.

After Christmas I added the old cardboard suitcase to the desk

for a little added height and substance. 

Goosey has on his new seasonal wired "LOVE" ribbon for Valentine's Day.

The old white garden gate makes anything instantly "vintage garden".

Did you catch my last post?

Have a great weekend, friends!

joining in here:

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All About Home at Common Ground and Follow the Yellow Brick Home
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 Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life   Wonderful Wednesday at LeCultivateur 

Turnabout Tuesday at My Wee Abode,  Centerpiece Wednesday at Karin's Kottage

Share Your Style at French Ethereal Vintage Charm at Our Hopeful Home,  

Thursday Favorite Things at Follow the Yellow Brick Home,  

Create, Bake, and Grow at Shabby Art Boutique, Farmhouse Friday at  County Road 407

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