Most people go to the cottage to relax. To sip coffee in the morning and lay in the sun. Maybe read a book and roast a wiener or two.
I go to the cottage to pilfer from the forest and judge people wearing inappropriate swim trunks. Honestly. There is just no place for G-String bikinis in cottage country. For a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is sand spiders.
I spend the majority of my days scouring the edge of the water, the beach and the forests for things I might want to bring home. Could be twigs or reindeer moss or small children I think are especially cute.
For me the cottage isn't about relaxing, it's about work, which often requires power tools, safety glasses and prescription strength deodorant. Oh! And those little boxes of Froot Loops that you tip on their side and eat right out of the waxed paper liner.
So last year when we went to the cottage my boyfriend didn't even raise an eyebrow when I told him I wanted to bring some Birch branches home. I do that sort of thing all the time. The eyebrow raising came later when he saw me sawing and shoving entire Birch trees into his obsessively well maintained car.
Birch trees are the perfect thing to pilfer from the cottage because they aren't the hardiest trees around and, in fact, tend to fall over and die with great frequency. Those trees that had fallen over and died? I took em. In the middle of summer, drenched in sweat, I had the foresight to bring em home for Christmas.
Once I got them home I cut them into equal lengths of 6 feet and stored them until it was time to do my planters. I stored them for the past year and brought them out again this year and they're still in perfect condition. Granted, there are many of you who don't have the inclination or opportunity to pilfer the forest. Lucky for you, you can now buy birch logs at garden centres.
Here we go! The basics of how to make a stunning outdoor planter.
If your budget allows, buy a variety of greenery.
If it doesn't allow, steal a variety.
Incense Cedar
Western Cedar
Boxwood
Shore Pine
White Pine
Birch Logs
If you're using large tree trunks or smaller branches, dig a hole for them. Insert the log/branch and then pack the dirt around them tightly. Tight, tight, tight.
At this point if you're going very minimalist you can call it a day and go inside for a Hot Toddy or whatever you fancy.
The rest of us will continue on, adding in the greenery.
I don't ever have a real plan other than dividing up the branches evenly between the 2 planters before I start working.
This eliminates the pesky problem of having used too much in one planter and not having enough for the other.
Once your greenery is in you can add whatever other embellishments you have.
I used pomegranates and a huge pinecone. The pinecone you can keep from year to year.
The pomegranates? Not so much.
As you can see, the result is very pretty. Mine looks a little more contemporary with a hint of tradition.
If you were to do yours in a more traditional urn, it would appear heavier on the traditional side.
Now most bloggers would be done here. This would be the end of the story.
But not here.
Remember in the summer I told you I used my Glowing Orbs in the winter as well?
Yup. It's time to break 'em out.
Tie a wire around them ... I used picture wire, but you can use whatever wire you can get ahold of.
Then tie one or two of them to the lower portion of the logs in your planter.
And then stuff them full of mini-lights.
Scatter the lights among the branches as well.
You have now created a thing of beauty ...
... that will only get more beautiful the darker out it gets.
There are a few more tips and tricks I could tell you about with regard to creating holiday planters but frankly I'm sick of writing this post . I'm dying for a coffee and my G String is starting to itch.
Louise
Love your ideas. Will be searching for orbs directly. I just saw something similar-looking at Costco for $65. They are larger, white, slightly flattened and rechargable. They are waterproof and FLOAT! Would look amazing on a pool. Can't wait to try out yours! Thank you for sharing.
Karen
No problem! ~ karen
Yvonne Newman
I am more than impressed. I found you through Pinterest and I am so glad I did. This is going to be my No 1. Christmas theme this year ! Using solar lights will eliminate all expenses too. Thanks !!!
Karen
You're welcome Yvonne! ~ karen
Alexus
You're a genius! I just stumbled on this website from a referral from HGTV website. Wow! Love your ideas - thanks!
...Alexus
Karen
Thanks Alexus! Glad ya found me. ~ karen!
Diana
I love your ideas and you quorkie comments. Thanks for pinning and your comments have made my day..
Karen
Thanks Diana! Yeah .. some even say the comments are the best part! Much to my chagrin. :) ~ karen
dianne
love everything about your blog and personality' I use to be so creative and crafty then life got in the way. I think I feel those urges simmering again. thanks, keep that wonderfully creative mind thinking, you inspire me again.
Teresa
You got it going on girlfriend....Yes....Thanks for the tips and I plan to try this one too.....Have an awesome day ........
Laura
I'm reading this a year later and just plain cracking up. Here's to good humor, it never gets old! I just got done running through the garage, trying to find those glass orbs. I KNOW we have them somewhere around here!! I cut down a tree this past week and saved the thicker branches, figuring I could "do something" with them. And then? I landed on THIS post at random. The Universe, it is interesting....interesting indeed.
Cathy P
I agree that this is one of the funniest posts - the bowel sentence had me snorting!
Love the porch as is - no wreath... less is more.
patti
okay I tripped and fell...well not really...but somehow I found myself right in the middle of your blog...
And I decided I'm stay...like it or not...you're not getting rid of me.
I think I'm in Orb heaven...
I have two hidden in my pantry right now...
See ya later...heading toward my favorite thrift stores now to confiscate the rest of them I may find in our town.
patti
Karen
Hah! Welcome to the blog Patti! I blog Monday - Friday. I used to beg for money to allow me to continue writing the blog, but now it's making me a couple of bucks so you joined up at the right time! If you'd like to send me money for no apparent at all that's fine too though. ~ karen
Rosanne
Oh crap, now I gotta wait seven months to do this.
I better put it on my calendar.
Karen
Rosanne - You could ... or you could wait to see if I do something even *better* this year! Meh. I probably won't. I like the birch logs. :) ~ karen
Tiana
It was Eighteen in the market. The greenery on yours is definitely nicer and they obviously were lacking int he glowing orb department.
Tiana
I read this the day you posted and I shit you not, TWO DAYS LATER came across nearly the exact same thing outside a 'fancy' restaurant in Ottawa.
I was back later and took a snapshot for you. Here is the link to it on my flickr.
Karen
Tiana - Thanks for the pic.! They are pretty darn similar. LOL. I actually like their planters better but think I did a much nicer job on the greenery. I guess they just need practice. ;) What restaurant was it? (I have family in Ottawa!) ~ karen
jj jordan
Thanks Karen for the great idea! Can't for my guests to see these tonight! It looks like a real holiday at my house for once!
Karen
You're welcome! Send a pic. if you have one! ~ karen
Bess
Gorgeous! I'm off to try my hand at these and we'll see how they turn out. Thanks for the idea!--Bess
Stephanie
I'm still laughing about the itchy G-string. You're a gal after my own heart. The planters are great, too.
Carol
Sooo gorgeous Karen, Luv them!!! Years ago before you could buy birch logs at the garden centres,,,I 'gathered' some large fallen branches from a park one day but they weren't birch,,,,,so I took some white paint and dry brushed them to look like birch! I had fake birch logs in my planters. I've since replaced them with real ones from the flower market though not the forest. Fall and winter planters are so much more interesting than summer ones aren't they,,,,I always hate to take them apart in the spring.
Karen
:) Thanks Carol. My mother nearly killed me last spring when I took the birch logs out of the planters. She wanted me to leave them all summer. I wish I had the money to put huge trees in them and change em up all year. Magnolia in the spring, then Snowball bushes, then Rose of Sharon, and on and on. :) ~ karen
Lesley H
EPIC! Your planters are absolutely stunning and confirming that my idea of putting special-color-changing-lights on my potted evergreen is just not gonna cut it. Off to find some downed branches....thanks for sharing :)
Maryann Pusateri
i love white birch trees, and everything else in these pictures!! very pretty.
Karen
Thanks Maryann! ~ karen
Beth
thank you Karen! I needed some inspiration and your planters are perfect!!
Jennifer Halloran
Hey Sanj -- not sure where you're located but Target has something similar (in stock and not *too* pricey) right now: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/192-5280790-0329416?asin=B002RTXNCO&AFID=Froogle_df&LNM=|B002RTXNCO&CPNG=patio%20garden&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B002RTXNCO&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001.
Bess
Jennifer, you win super-sleuth award of the day! Thanks for sharing that Target link.
Sanj
Thanks so much for the link! I'll have to give Target a visit to check them out!!!