For a little diorama I made approximately 160 plants like this.
To make the “flower’ spikes cut several pieces of green 26
gauge flora wire 2 1/4” long. Next cut a strip of masking tape
5/16” wide by a couple of inches long. Start about 1/16” from
one end, wrap the tape around the wire 2 1/2 to 3 times and
cut off. Roll this tightly
between your thumb
and finger to make a
smooth spike and color
with a brown marker.
Because the leaves are
glued at the base, the
wire will have to be cut
so that the top of the
stalk is about even with
the leaf top. Glue the
wire stalk in the leaves
and squeeze them
around the wire. When
the plant is glued in the
pond the leaves should
be spread out a little.
With a few made, glue
them into the pond to
start a stand of cattails.
Water lilies
Water lilies are float-
ing circular leaves with
a notch. I used a punch
sold by Micro-Mark
Waterlillies and cattails - 2
4: Cattails with water lilies
ready to be added to the
swamp.
4
MRH-Oct 2013
