The Presence of Winter Indoors-You Can Grow That

Winter has finally reared its frigid presence and is trying to spoil the wonderfully mild weather we have been experiencing. Not complaining, however, we should consider what we can do to bring winter indoors (without the chill in the air) …especially after the holidays. You Can Grow and most likely are growing plant material that will allow you to bring the presence of winter indoors.

Most of us think that we should go to the store or local florist to purchase items for indoor floral arranging. Great idea, support your local florist, but also consider something a little more unique and curiously creative. Freshly filled vases are an integral part of my home decor, at any time of the year. I pay special attention during the winter months, as I walk outside for inspiration from Mother Nature enabling me to think outside the box.

Keeping in mind that all indoor arrangements do not have to include blooming plants. Here are a few suggestions on how to bring winter interest into the home.Gather a few branches of Nandina Domestica, add at least one branch that has a cluster of the berries, insert this into a container that picks up the green and burgundy blushed leaves and you have a great simple, natural, as well as seasonal arrangement. For a more daring creation, gather a few golden blades of an attractive ornamental grass. Strategically place them in your arrangement and embrace the feel of winter.

Try Golden Deodar Cedar in a medium cylinder or short, wide clear vase. Add a bodacious amount of lemons in the vase, add greenery and water. The texture and color play is wonderful. Lemons in a bowl during the winter months can uplift the spirit. A visual citrus treatment for the blues so to speak. You can also add colorful berries on a stem to add a red or orange spark to this arrangement.Let’s take a fresh look at boxwood. Boxwood is not just for kissing balls and arrangement filler anymore. Boxwood can be clipped, snipped or just left in its natural state. The beauty of boxwood is you can soak it in water after freshly cutting it, arrange and leave it so it can turn a wonderful wheat like color upon drying. You can use all sizes and shapes of vases or creative containers, to make simple green arrangements that can be placed just about anywhere. Boxwood wreaths are s easy and such a joy to make year round you can even add creative touches as the season progresses. Removing some runaway grapevines from your garden??? Use that grapevine to make a circle or a swag (size does not matter), use leftover ribbon from the holidays or green floral wire to attach bunches of boxwood around the form. Decorate with a different texture of leaf-like holly, variegated holly or Osmanthus, cotton seed pods, forsythia or winter jasmine that has buds. If you use the winter jasmine or forsythia that has buds and keep it moistened, at the right time and unexpected spark of yellow will liven up your room. Using floral tubes carefully tucked in and concealed by greenery so they are not seen is a terrific idea as well!

Other quick ideas…

Magnolia seed pods in a vase. Tuck in a few small leaves or perhaps place on top of fresh potpourri – simple!

A tall urn with boughs of magnolia branches, so Southern and elegant!

Gum ball seed pods, spray paint or not, in a shallow container with soft edges – the contrast in texture is amazing!

Use branches of red, coral or yellow twig dogwood to prop stems of Amaryllis…just beautiful!

Curly willow branches with mixed findings from the garden. The willow branches will easily root and the water can be used as a rooting agent….sharing an old tip!