Cold climate decorations

Living where it's usually cold and snowy for Christmas and New Year's can be seen as a negative by folks who have never experienced our climate. To those of us in the know, it means we can enjoy the kind of decorations they can only dream about.

I'm talking about ice candles — beautiful and useful items that need cold weather to keep from melting. I first saw these wonderful creations in my Scandinavian design books. And I first made an ice container — filled with flowers and herbs — to chill white wine in the summer. But nothing matches these elegant winter containers that can be lined up to light your walk or give a special glow to your front entry. 

Gardenista has complete directions using glass containers to mold your own "Botanical Ice Lantern" with holiday greens and berries trapped in the ice (above). Even more magical is this creation from Willowday (below) using latex balloons to mold her ethereal icey candle holder. 

Suddenly the temperatures here have plunged to below freezing levels so I can now make these candles out of doors without tying up precious freezer space in these days leading up to Christmass.

For folks in the area, Olbrich Botanical Gardens is offering a couple of related classes in January.

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

Fabulous. I have seen these in magazines. I could have had them for a couple of weeks this month. We are now having abnormal highs. You never know around here. Most of the snow has melted. Everything is beginning to look grey. I would prefer to look at the snow. Oh well, no one asked me.

[rusty duck]

Wow. Those are beautiful. I love the ice bowl, tempted to have a go if it gets cold enough here.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

You never know about the weather; ​we're cold here now but when I wanted to make them it was too warm. At the moment I'm busy enough I'm not sure I can fit a craft project into the schedule!

[Jean]

Those are very cool!! I've never seen them before. Guess they won't work down here but I like knowing they work somewhere.