NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Don Haynie can take a lot of little nothings and turn them into a big something.
Give the floral designer sticks from the yard or woods, a small clay pot and faux pears and within minutes he whisks the pieces into a centerpiece he calls “Partridge in a Pear Tree."
“Any kind of twigs work," says Haynie.
“Lilac is a hard wood that’s good. Vitex, also called chaste tree, is nice. Old wood from a fig works, too. Just go out and prune in the garden and you’ll come up with what you need."
Haynie, who had a floral business in Warsaw, Va., and formerly ran the Buffalo Springs Herb Farm in the Shenandoah Valley, moved to Williamsburg, Va., a few years ago.
He now shares his time and talents with Colonial Williamsburg, especially during the holidays, helping decorate colonial taverns with botanical creations.
He recently created a “Partridge in a Pear Tree" topiary for Williamsburg’s annual Holiday Symposium. It can be made in any size — larger for the center of a table or for the ends of a sideboard, with smaller ones as accents. You can also change the look, using faux apples or ornaments, and colors to coordinate with your decor. For instance, a red bird would look good with rosy-colored apples. Bells and red bows can even be used to embellish the topiary.
Miniature pine cones could be used for Thanksgiving, then switched out for something more Christmas-like.
“It’s a good project for kids to do, and is fun to make," he says.
