If you like easy entertaining, invite the ultimate low-maintenance guest
to your next party: moss. In the garden, this unassuming plant is an organic
powerhouse, performing amazing feats in the darkest of conditions. At your table,
moss will impress with its lush verdure that's easily shaped into any number of
decorative projects.
To prepare the setting, you'll need a large shade tree to keep things cool.
Start by gathering two tables. You'll want one to seat your guests and the second if you'd like to hold food or beverages. After you establish the location
and choose the tables, you will want to select your mosses.
For our projects we used a mix of garden moss and
common crafts-store varieties. Reindeer moss is easy to
find at crafts stores and will add a gray-green touch. Living
mosses, such as Scotch moss, trailing Irish moss, and
baby's tears, are sold at nurseries. The nursery staff will know
which mosses
thrive in your climate. Although it might be tempting to harvest
your own moss from the forest floor, resist. Moss
serves an important role in its natural setting and would be
missed by every living creature it serves.
Once you have selected your moss, follow our plans to these simple moss-theme projects. Some will live long after the party ends and can be transplanted into a shade garden or along a rocky path, while craft varieties can be tucked away for future use. It's the combination of guests, after all, that makes a party interesting.
Make It Last
Keep your moss-covered projects
looking great long after the last guest
leaves with these tips.
Maintain the moisture. Make sure
the moss is moist before you begin to
assemble projects, and check the soil
occasionally to make sure it is moist
to the touch. Some projects, such as
our centerpieces, need little more
than a squirt of water from a spray
bottle to keep them happy.
Avoid the sun. Nothing will burn up
moss faster than a blast of bright
light.
Store it right. After the party is over,
you have options. Projects made
from reindeer moss can be stored.
Here's how: Give the moss a spritz of
water, put it in a plastic bag, and
store it in a dark place until you are
ready to reuse it. Projects made from
garden mosses can be given a
permanent home in your shade garden by simply disassembling the projects and transplanting the moss.
Moss Is Boss
Freshen your landscape with one of these cool varieties of moss.
Scotch Moss or Golden Pearlwort. Dense tufts of slender stems form a carpet of golden chartreuse foliage with small star-shape flowers. It’s perfect to creep between stones or along walkways. Grows best in sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil.
Trailing Irish Moss. One of the easiest to grow, this moss requires a well-drained, organically rich soil, shaded conditions, and plenty of water and humidity. It thrives in terrariums or hanging baskets.
Baby’s Tears. This small, creeping plant is usually submersed in water alongside slow-moving streams and rivers and in shallow pools. It can grow in deep shade or bright sun.
Reindeer Moss. Readily available at crafts stores, this moss is actually a lichen, meaning it is composed of two separate organisms that live in harmony: an algae and a fungus. It grows in gray-green, spongy masses. When moist, it has a rubbery texture, but wind can make it brittle and sunlight can send it into dormancy. But this moss is a survivor and will bounce back when proper growing conditions are reintroduced. |
