Thread: THe SWAMP-trees and shrubbery

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Ok southerners, or those that live in the swamps of our southern states. I am doing a swamp for my haunted house. I need to know what kind of shrubbery and or trees I need to look authentic, as well as grass if I can put that on the ground without it getting runined in the first 30 minutes. Where can I find thes shrubbery, and trees. Is it better to have real vs artifical I am on a budget. How much should I spend, or can I spend? Any help would be appreciated, thanks as always.

1. Moss. Lots of moss. The real stuff is illegal (at least here) to remove. I've seen the fake stuff at craft stores.
2. Cat tails. don't need alot, just a few in small bunches.
3. Palmetto leves/ long grass

Since I'm sure you can't get a cypress tree start with that. Cooled fog would be great with that. Where do you live anyway?

Definitely some spanish moss. I'm not familiar with any laws about removing it here in Florida - I might be able to hook you up with some... but it sometimes has little bugs in it so you have to be careful. Let's see, like sikntwizted said, cypress trees or cypress knees is the first thing to come to mind. Maybe some of what we call "air plants", some ferns, palmettos, alligators, frogs, lizards, hyacinths, lightning bugs, snakes. Let me think on it some more and I"ll get back to you.

I'd also use some camo netting to fill in the dead spaces. Get it, dead spaces? <I crack myself up>

Halloween Props and Special Effects - Camo Netting

From East Coast Central Flordia. Our backyard party theme was the Swamp last year, and will probably continue the backyard Swamp this year. We don't have true swamps around my neck of the woods. The "beach"is what is close.
I have a small 12 round in ground pool in the back yard and wanted to incorporate it for Halloween. When I was thinking of what to do, I noticed my backyard was looking a little unruly.....and it had just rained.....and it looked all steamy like a swamp. So, my first project was a 6 foot alligator ( monster mud)
done in 3 sections so I could store it easier. Bought 3 - $1 each kickboards-
2 taped together for the topof the head- 1 for the lower jaw. Put a hinge on them .... built up some features with news paper and tape and monster mud and burlap... left eye area in back a little open so I could slide in a battery run
LCD's (red ofcourse) into the eyes. Used fat dowles sharpened with a pencil sharpener for the teeth. My monster mud was a nice grey green so I, turned my shop light to low level and painted highlights in appropriate colors with dry brush. The body and tail. The body a larger kick board we had laying around the house .....built up with paper including shoulders and front and back legs. Tail section - all paper and tape. Monster mud and burlap...
Then spray coated with polyurthene the entire gator 2 or 3 coats.
Since the mouth can be opened or shut.... I inserted a prop "arm"....
My gator sat up on a Hillbilly Deck that over hung on the pool- made by using a stockage fence on some cinder blocks , In the pool we had a floating body
face down missing one arm ofcourse. Fog machine and flood lights...Moved
some potted palm trees to cammy a few things like fog machine . Squater's Shack.....Airboat....( Airboat fan blades can be very dangereous LOL)...
Or Flat boats with push poles.
Oriental Trader had some really big Misquitoes ( sp?)....that they sold as giant flies. When you saw the picture you would say - that's not a fly. So I bought them hoping I wasn't getting a fly. They were mesquitoes and great looking.
Spiders, snakes, lizards. ( Check Dollar type stores. ) I Spent $$20 buying these really cool mushy type baby alligators and lizards. They floated..they were great to put on the tables etc. Moss as others have mentioned. Bats ( yes in swamps) and vultures. Was going to get some flamingos and paint them glow green , but never did. Swamp thing would be a good prop- but didn't get around to him.
Canjun swamp you could had some Voodoo stuff- If southen style you would vere off into almost hillybilly back woods stuff. Right now I am working on
3 large severed pig heads to put on sticks to stake in front of my "shack".
Foliage.....think dense undergrowth .....potted palms ( not tall coconut type).
Cypress Trees are good....but I think hard and large. You want that steamy
hot buggy feel lots of fog..... any moment Jason's cousin could appear.
OMG>>>almost forgot about my minions. Swamp just wouldn't be right without FROGS ~ lots of Frogs and Toads......Devil Frog himself.....
Frog peeper in the bushes. ( I had plastic frog masks buried into the bushes and strung thier little peepers (eyes) to light up. A couple had huge tongues
rigged up to bob in the air..... I have a few pics on photobucket- but will admit was lacks on taking good pictures. I will dig through and see if I have any more that could help....If your have a "party" got a CD I put together for the swamp party....well....enough about MY swamp.....
what do you have to work with........garage, yard, foggers...? Would like to hear your plans.....May help me to add for this year..... Good luck.
if I figure out how to post a pic or link to photobucket I will ....
search threads for swamp under introduction...I think there may be some old ones there.

That sounds pretty damned COOL! Please find pictures

Don

Search "Gator" in this forum
Thead Introduction: "Shy Hi" ....
There is a photo of the gator at night, will try to get one in daylight
or in the stages of building.

The other photo is of my Graveyard and Scarecrow in the daylight.

thanks for asking.......

Ok thanks. I will be doing this in a garage. The swamp will probably be the opening room. I live in ND, way up north.

Originally Posted by cylonfrogqueen

Search "Gator" in this forum
Thead Introduction: "Shy Hi" ....
There is a photo of the gator at night, will try to get one in daylight
or in the stages of building.

The other photo is of my Graveyard and Scarecrow in the daylight.

thanks for asking.......

I LOVE it!! Great atmosphere, it ties together so well. Super scarecrow,very creepy!!

Don

Thanks for the compliment Don. Scarecrow /grave yard looked much creepier at night and in the fog.

Back to Scorpio's haunt. Been thinking how I might do a garage. Scene Setters ( you can get them at Party Supply stores - Oriental Traders - Most of the Halloween stores) has a
Haunted Forest wall covering. I believe its 4ft tall x 50 foot. I think it was part of the Jason
Scene Setter. I might use that to cover the walls. It is pretty cheap and can be used again.
Oriental grasses would make a good cover for the area between the floor and bottom of the
scene setter. I found in working with Monster mud - I buy the burlap landscape material.
It is cheaper than buying burlap at a fabric store- much more workable and much less burlap smelly than the fabric store. I use it for other than Monster Mud. If you can kind of streach it out of shape and camo paint it .....much cheaper than buying camo cloth, although camo cloth comes in bigger sizes. Again you can use the burlap again next year.
Don't know if your having TOT's walk through or for adult type party. But if you want the look of "water".....mirrors ( or mirror like?) on the floors will reflect like water. You could use Moss or spray painted Oatmeal to kind of sprinkle over the water to represent the algae look.
Pallet crates reworked could give you a "boardwalk" across the swamp, But make sure you make it safe. Cut Tree stumps or fallin trees could be utilized with oriental grasses or potted plants-you can get them roadside (free-thats a good price) - that's were I get my scarecrow bodies and limbs.- for foreground stuff. Add your gators, spiders, lizards or create a swamp monster ( half torso) - swamp witch or what have you coming out of the water.... hatchet with blood in a tree stump etc. JUst some ideas. But I think the scene setter haunted forest would really be a good start for your own ideas. check it out. Good luck