Thursday, December 14, 2017

The Easiest Winter Containers

Does it seem like this time of year gets busier and busier every year?  Maybe it's the age my kids are now, but life keeps getting busier and free time is getting harder to find.  We haven't decorated as much for the holidays this year, but I did make time to hang a wreath on the door and decorate my two whiskey barrel containers for winter.

easy winter container
The last couple of years I've streamlined the process, and it takes me less than an hour to get my two winter containers all done (minus acquiring any store-bought material).  First I gather my materials.  A local nursery sells a big bunch of mixed greens for a good price, so I get one of those to combine with white pine that I clip from our yard.


I used to spray paint branches to put in my winter containers.  Then I found out about curly ting.  This stuff can be found in any arts and crafts store, it's cheap, it comes in all sorts of colors, and it adds SPARKLE! This year I used red ting and gold curly ting.

curly ting
Last but not least, I threw a few ornaments on some wire floral picks for some more added SPARKLE - though thankfully I could reuse most of them from the previous year, making things that much easier.  I attach the ornaments onto the wire, and then push the green pick part into the dirt in my container to secure the ornaments.  (You could just as easily use something else to attach ornaments in a container, but I happen to already have floral picks.)

floral picks
Assembly was quick and easy!  I pulled out the dead or dying summer/fall stuff that I had in the containers and loosened the soil.  I stuck the branches of greens in the dirt, working from large branches to the smaller stuff.  Then I added the curly ting and ornaments.


Viola!  If I had had more time, I might have added some ribbon or something else, but I was pretty happy with this.  Some people will then water their arrangements, but I was lazy fortunate and could wait for the next day's rain.  Then when temperatures dropped, everything froze in place for the winter.


Now my yard looks ready for Christmas, and I'll have pretty containers that will last throughout the winter.  As we know, the winter season up here in the North is quite long, thus it's very, very important to put together pretty winter containers that one can enjoy for the next several months.  


Or... maybe I should start on my indoor decorations...


Happy decorating!

17 comments:

  1. Lovely containers! It's nice to have something evergreen with a bit of sparkle to look at during the long winter months. The last picture and your comment about starting indoor decorations made me laugh. I haven't started decorating yet this year. If I wait long enough, I can avoid the work of taking everything down.

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    1. We usually put lots of lights up outside and whatnot, but somehow time just got away from us this year. Maybe this weekend we can do some more decorating! We usually end up leaving up most of our decorations through January - it's such a chore to take it all down!

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  2. Very nice! And you taught me something new: I didn't realize the actual name of those curly stems was curly ting! Believe it or not, I used them for the first time this year. They really add a bit of flair to the containers. :)

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    1. The garden club I am part of does a lot of floral design, so I have learned a lot from fellow members! I just love the curly ting - so pretty and easy to work with!

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  3. Nice! We are way behind in our holiday decorating, which currently consists of one potted poinsettia.

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    1. I have one pot of paperwhites, which I keep moving around my house to see where it has the most effect, ha!

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  4. Beautiful! I love your arrangements. I should have thought about the ting, it would look gorgeous outdoors. I was just whacking the snow off my back porch urn tonight, too. :-) You do amazing work with containers!

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    1. You do such great containers, too - I always love what you do with a can of spray paint!

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  5. Great idea! I believe you are the one that inspired me last year to begin doing something similar. I hope the snow melts enough so you can appreciate your lovely arrangement. At least it should stay fresh!

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    1. Well glad that I can inspire something! It is probably staying much fresher than my Christmas tree, which is unfortunately located next to a heating vent and dropping needles as fast as it can!

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  6. That last photo was hilarious. Great post :D

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  7. Dear Indie!
    May your Christmas sparkle with moments of love, laughter and goodwill,
    And may the year ahead be full of contentment and joy.
    Have a Merry Christmas.
    Lucja

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    Replies
    1. Same to you and your family, Lucja! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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  8. I cheat - my tree is in the bay window - so that counts for in and out!

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