A Mitten Tree Of Natural Branches

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - You know when it snows and you suddenly have wet gloves and hats that need to dry? That's when you need a mitten tree...or at least a branch.

You can buy a mitten tree, usually made out of metal, but lots of us still have plenty of branches in our yards that fell during the past year. Look for a long, beautiful branch to hang on your wall, or combine several smaller branches in a pattern to fit your space.

Choose stout branches you can attach with screws, or the hardware of your choice. Or, you can install eyebolts, then wire the branches securely to those.

Or if you don't want to mount something on your wall, create a temporary mitten tree by arranging long sturdy, branches in an urn, big pot, or a tall vase on the floor. Then hang hats, scarves, mittens and gloves on the branches to dry.

That way, if you don't need a hat rack or mitten tree after winter, you can just return the branches to the outdoors. Then put the container on the porch to plant with flowers...or use it as an umbrella stand during April showers.