My Garden Queen – How to build a life-size succulent topiary

The Story And Inspiration For My “Garden Queen”

As I wrote in my “About Me” page.  I rarely start anything on a small-scale and learn as I go.  I just jump in, feet first and hope I stick the landing.  Making this topiary was definitely one of those times.

There’s the most charming nursery in my town.  I mean, it’s absolutely enchanting and one of my favorite places to go.  If you have kids, you can take them there for free.  Of course, that’s assuming you can resist the adorable tchotchkes, including tons of fairly garden items and the delicious food.   Having said that, you can pack a picnic and eat at any one of a number of lovely shaded spots.  If not, you can buy your lunch in their charming cafe and eat on the deck overlooking the grounds.   Enjoy a berry lemonade or a piece of their Myrtleberry Pie.   It’s called Myrtle Creek Botanical Nursery and Gardens.  There’s a beautiful old estate that opens sometimes for special occasions for tours and luncheons.  Check them out at https://discovermyrtlecreek.com/   They have goats too, and in spring time, you will usually find some adorable baby goats too.  

You Can Make Your Own Garden Queen Too!

The inspiration for my Garden Queen was taken right from Myrtle Creek.  They have their own life-size topiary.  I had to have one of my own, so here’s how I did it.

 

Selecting The Best Location

You should choose a spot that does not get full sun.  I learned this the hard way.  Even though mine is flourishing in full sun, I believe it would have been far easier to care for if she’d been put in the shade.   Mine is filled with succulents, but the truth is, succulents do not like full, hot sun during the heat of the summer.  They actually do better in partial sun or where I live, even in shade.   This will also help to keep the moss filling moist when it’s hot outside and save on water.  Water around here is like liquid gold!  Once you make this, it’s not going anywhere, so be sure you’ve got it where you want it.

Construction

First, I put a 5 foot stake into the ground.  The garden stake I used had spikes on it which made securing the bodice easier.   To make the base, which is the skirt, I shaped medium gauge green garden fencing to support the lightweight chicken wire and the dirt into a skirt shape and secured it to the stake in the ground.    I made the skirt shape out of the fencing, then lined it with the light weight chicken wire.  Cinching the skirt at the waist, where I secured it to the metal stake using a light weight roll of wire.  Make sure you wear gloves, because you will get stuck by the chicken wire often.   I filled the skirt in with planting soil.

 

Then, I built the upper body and the arms separately out of light weight chicken wire.   I made the arms like long tubes.  At the  end I added a “bouquet” shape.  The bouquet was basically a pie shape made from chicken wire as well.  At this point, the arms were not yet attached to the body.  Making shapes from chicken wire is suprisingly fun and easy.  You can just bend them into the shape you want.

At Myrtle Creek, the topiary hands are hidden, one in the “skirt pocket” and the other is holding a watering can, which is super cute.  I like the idea of the bouquet because it seems really obvious she’s holding a bunch of flowers (well, it is to me, but some people, I have to admit, do not see it.  Do you??)

I attached the bodice to the skirt looping the roll of wire, as above.  Wearing gloves, I did that at about 8 places around the base of the bodice to the skirt.  I did the same to attach the arms to the top of the bodice which also made the illusion of shoulders.  For the head, I shaped chicken wire into a round shape, filled it with moss and attached it the same way, buy looping wire to the body and connecting at the head. 

Stuffing And Styling

Once it’s all assembled, stuff with moss.  It takes a lot of moss.  I estimate I used 25 bags of moss.  You can buy that at Home Depot or craft stores.  It gets a little costly too, which is why I filled the skirt with planting soil.  If you have someone to help you with the assembly, you can fill the bodice, arms and head with the moss before your attach it to the base.  That will save a lot of time stuffing the figure after you’ve attached it.  I’m pretty sure I spent most of a couple days just stuffing the top half with moss.  I didn’t have any help, so you can do it alone, it will just take a bit of extra time to stuff it after assembly.

You put the moss in a bucket and add water, then start stuffing into the shape.  Make sure to really fill the shape with as much stuffing as you can possible get inside. You want it to be really full of the moss to support the plants and so that you won’t have to go back later and refill it when you’ve already got plants growing.  

The Fun Stuff

This is only a few months after she was first made and planted

 

Plant Choices

After you’ve got the shape built and assembled, you get to do the fun stuff.  That’s adding the folage.  I had planned all along to fill the skirt with something that would grow like a weed and still look pretty and full most of the year.  Choose something that climbs and does well for most of your growing season, that works in your planting zone.   All I have to do is trim it every now and again and keep it from running all the way up the body.   Later, I added a “fringe bottom” to the skirt with bright red geranium.  Use your imagination to make the most of her beautiful dress.  You could even add a long flowering train, which one day, I intend to add myself.

Life Size Garden Queen Topiary

For the bodice, I chose succulents.  It takes a lot of succulents to fill this queen.  You can see by the pictures that I just let it happen over time.  Initially I did have to buy some varieties to start things off. 

back side of topiary
Garden Queen Topiary with long flowing “hair” (back side)

When you first start to plant with succulents, you may find it helpful to give your topiary a little help.  I used fishing line which I arbitrarily wrapped around the figure.  Once the topiary starts filling in, you won’t see it and you really won’t need it after a few years.  You can also use bobby pins to secure new, larger succulents.  Mine has basically disappeared inside the moss and plants.  It does help secure new plantings and keep them from falling or blowing off.  This is most challenging with there are not a lot of other plants for the new ones to cling onto.  You want them to get as much help as you can until they sprout into the moss.  Believe me, they will!

The greatest thing about succulents is that they continue to procreate and I use her back, which is covered with”hair” as my nursery.  I can trim and fill as I need to.

Stuff I did Wrong That I would Do Over Again

Remember that this figure will get bigger as you work with it.  I should have made mine a touch shorter so that working with the head would be easier.  Keep yours a bit shorter than you are!  I also would have made the shape “thinner”.  Well, that’s the story of my life.  But actually, as she fills with moss and plants she gets thicker and mine actually looks like a pretty larger than life figure.  If that’s what you like, go for it.

Construction Checklist:

I estimate that my initial budget was $200 however, I have really enjoyed the succulent “harvest”.  I can get cuttings all year long and add to my other plants and also start new ones.

As you can see by the pictures, she changes and evolves over the years.  But here’s the thing, she will look beautiful almost immediately.  Time just changes the maturity of the plants.  I also enjoy trimming and replanting from time to time. 

This was initially a lot of work, but she really brings me a great sense of joy and a feeling of accomplishment.  I hope you try it!  Please let me know if you do!