Scratchbuilt Trees

[TMo]

Here's my tip for armatures - Pyramidal Hydrangea.  The dead flower heads can be harvested in the late fall or early spring, broken off at the stem by hand and you have a really nice pyramidal tree armature that's great for simulating fir, pine, spruce, etc.  Knock off the top and you have an excellent deciduous tree, plus the top can become a small spruce.  All I do is hit them with spray adhesive and run them into a tub of ground foam/leaf flock in a good variety of color combinations.  Poke a hole in your layout and add a little glue to the stump.  Done.