Recycled Centerpiece (using Tree BARK!)

Way back in September my husband and I were wandering around our shelterbelt examining some lilacs, sumac and red twigged dogwoods that were slowly establishing themselves around the property. The shelterbelt is littered with old trees, probably aged between 75 and 100 years old so we’ve been trying to get new tress and shrubs going for a while now. The old trees really have a lot of character, worm marks, twisted branches and lots of mossy bark just waiting to fall off and begin the natural composting cycle. While enjoying all this and the beautiful fall weather I pulled some bark off a tree and was presented with a large piece of mossy bark. It was just too cool to toss to the ground and my inner-florist immediately knew there were lots of creative ways to use the bark. So, until today (March 14), it has been sitting in the garage, waiting until I was ready to contend with it- my thoughts churning all winter about what it could be.

I started the project by vacuuming off the bits of dust and who knows what from the inside of the bark. Right about at this moment, my glue gun broke so I had to take a break, head to the hardware store, come home empty-handed and continue my project without my handy sidekick. I then laid a black garbage bad on the inside bottom of the bark to keep any water from leaking through to my table. After that I started filling the vessel with potting soil and fun fake flowers I found at Michaels. I guess I was going for a ‘found’ in the woods look and I hope I achieved that.

I started to assemble this on the deck. Any time I use potting soil, things get a little messy and it’s best done outside!

Who knew fake grass from Michael’s could look so good! Real grass would’ve been fun but I wasn’t organized enough for that. Eventually I’d like to replace all the faux plants with something real. The tall white flower is most likely a faux dogwood. I cut it apart and poked the stems into floral foam.

I was able to place a few hen and chicks in the arrangement as they are just starting to come back to life. They are the first plants in the spring to green up and the last plants in the fall to die back.

When we’re out and about in the yard and trees we routinely find birds’ nests that fall out of trees with our excessive winds. I sent the boys on a mission and they brought me two perfect nests. I placed some feathers from our chickens inside each nest. More bark pieces, pine cones and moss and it was all done.

The project reminds me of spring and Easter and I love it! It was the ultimate recycling project as everything, except the items from Michaels) literally came from our trees. And, placed on our recycled dining room table, it fits right in!