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.....on Mountainbeach's thread "going from 3br to 2br for our lives". Are the 2 potted plants that are pictured real? Were they between pillars ? I have a similar situation in my house and have often thought of placing some sort of planters between the columns. Your homes are so beautiful.

Thank you,
No they are not real. Dillards had a sale before Christmas one year and I went to purchase the ones I had on my mantel, and found those as well! I loved them in my front hall! I sold those on Craigslist and the lady who bought them was so happy to see the quality.

They were in urns that I purchased (plastic) from Lowe's on sale! Here is a picture of when I brought them home and put them in the pots to try out. I later added some moss on top, but can't find the photo of that right now.

Picture taken with flash so it is bright!

Here are the ones I went to Dillards to purchase for my mantel, also fakes.

I worked long hours, sometimes 16 hr days, and DH worked long hours too, I had no time to take care of plants so I got my greenery this way. I still have these! I got them for $10 apiece just as you see them with the bamboo pot.

Thanks for the pictures Mary Ruth. I am going to be on the look out for something similar. The areas where I would place the pots receive natural light but I just don't have the time to care for real ones. Love the ones on the mantel and you got quite a bargain.

Thank you!
I literally wash them well every spring. And I dust often with a brush. I also cut away any fraying that might occur. I bought a fake greenery spray at Michaels and use it after the plants dry (after I clean them). It is a fixative, I ran out or I would read the can, and it brings them back to a nice sheen that repels dust for a while. Makes the plants look more alive and well.

The coconut hair type fibers on the palms at the bottom, I used the compressor to blow the air out or use the canned air meant for computers to get out the dust before cleaning.
Nothing looks worse than a very dusty old silk tree! LOL

I also hand tool the plant.. I use my fingers to shape the fronds and to help it look more natural, shaping them to look more like the plant grows makes them more believable.

Good luck finding what you want!

Mary Ruth, I am sure the dusting part was the reason I removed my artificial arrangements from my house. Are you familiar with the schefflera plant? I actually still have 2 artificial ones in my storage trailer, and probably are still in the large shiny brass containers. I do remember spending lots of time dusting the leaves. Haven't thought about using an air compressor. Today I was in our local Hobby Lobby and found 2 palms I liked but they were 139.00 each....ouch!! I'll keep looking.

I KNOW! They can be expensive! All my silk palms came from Costco! I saw the quality of the way it was made verses the price.

I worked for a time in a florist shop (while I was in college) and put together silk trees and saw the difference between the inexpensive branches and expensive branches that were shipped to the store. I bought myself a box of good branches while working there (got it for wholesale price) and saved it till I found a great ficus trunk. Then we put the trunks in the freezer at the shop to kill the ficus and cut away the branches and roots. Then with a drill and glue gun (industrial strength hot glue) I proceeded to put the branches on. A set of branches came with so many large graduating to smaller for the top of the tree.

When I saw the silk palms for $89 I jumped at the chance to own them, I bought the only two they had. While walking around with them in the cart, about 4 different women asked me where I got them and loved the way they looked and thought they were real.

The next year I bought another one for $129, same tree price hike. Then I found one larger plant at Costco for $129 and grabbed it, a few women offered me more money for it before I even bought it! I had to watch my cart!

The reason I told you this is because you can find good palms or plants in places you would not expect. And just watch for a deal, have a price in your head you are willing to pay and then look until you find close to that. I sold a few on Craigslist in Virginia and a friend of mine bought two. I brought one with me, and am about to sell it because I want something different than a cluster of small leaves type.
The photo attached (my Virginia house) is the one I brought with me.

I brought it because I could thin it out and use some of the fronds in a different way.

Found online:

"Acrylic Craft Spray

General-purpose acrylic craft sprays are an excellent choice for protecting and maintaining artificial plants. They're very inexpensive, with an 11 oz. bottle usually costing less than $10 as of 2011. After just one coat, plants get a tough, glossy finish that prevents fading; the permanent, non-yellowing formula won't affect the vibrant color of your flowers. These products dry to the touch in about 10 minutes and you can return the plants to their display location in two hours or less.

UV Resistant Acrylic Craft Spray

Artificial plants that get a significant amount of direct sunlight exposure need protection from a product with extra UV coating. Protecting a non-treated plant with a general-purpose, UV-resistant craft spray at a cost of $10 is a bargain --- you can buy pre-UV-treated artificial plants, though they tend to cost considerably more than standard artificial houseplants. In addition to protecting plants from sun damage, these product help keep plants from bending or breaking too easily. The sprays dry in minutes, leaving a matte finish and providing permanent, non-yellowing UV protection for your plants.


Read more: Is There a Fade Prevention Spray for Artificial Flowers? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_87850...s.html#ixzz2H76Sa4dp

Mary Ruth...you have a gorgeous home!

Hey that's neat, I used to work at a florist too...in the 80's. I did real and artificial arrangements. The artificial ones costs more than the real!

Thanks zone9alady!
That is from my Virginia home I sold to move to Florida. We are in the process of fixing up our retirement house here in Florida.

HI! Now I have to go get some of that spray for my palm trees Thanks for telling about it, I had no idea it was out there. You know me and my allergies, keeping away dust for any length of time is good for me.

You got two of my palm trees didn't you? I couldn't remember if it was one or two!