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.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
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.
jyothi
I found this idea very useful. Do keep posting more such innovative/creative ideas. Keep it up, good work done.
Jeanne
just found you and I am in love!!! <3
Karen
Well Jeanne, I love you too. Actually, I'm probably more fond of you than anything, but who knows what time will bring. ~ karen!
Marjorie S. Kohler
I don't know about the law in Canada, but I live in Michigan in the good ol' USA. Since the time I was a child, I have always heard that it is against the law to cut down birch trees. I have even heard of people getting in trouble for having birch limbs that were dead. Birch trees are not a very common tree anymore, so I can see why it might be illegal to cut them down but to have branches that have clearly fallen off the trees blows my mind. Just thinking you might want to ask in the area where you are looking whether or not it is legal to cut them down.
Karen
Marjorie - Birch trees are definitely not in short supply in good ol' Canada. Limbs like this are sold in every garden centre around. I've never heard of it being illegal to cut down a regular birch tree whether in Canada or the US. In fact I was so intrigued that I did some research and found nothing. It isn't even illegal to cut them down in New Hampshire where they're the state tree. As far as I can tell birch trees are free for the cutting. Provided they're on your own property of course, lol. ~ karen!
Kerri
Very nice. What does the top look like? Do you have a photo of the whole set up?
Karen
Thanks Kerri - The top is nothing on the top. The base is the big fluffy greenery and then coming out of the centre are the 3 tall birch logs. So the planters end up being about 8 feet high or something ridiculous. So the top is just the top of the birch logs. :) ~karen!
Cindy Nauss
You are toooo funny, and this planter is so beautiful, and easy. I will be making the orbs filled with lights this year. Thanks for this idea. Merry Christmas.
Karen
Thanks Cindy! ~ karen
linda scott
love the ideas karen
Irene Cilliers
Found you on Pinterest and just spent half an hour reading all these comments out loud to my husband - we love the humour and your fantastic planter/lighting ideas. Now I'll have to spend another 2 hours going through all your blogs! Yeah! Keep it up Karen - you are amazing.. love from Cape Town, South Africa.
Karen
Hi Irene! Welcome to you (and your husband)! I post every day and if I don't make you laugh my commenters will. :) ~ karen
Marti
I still can't believe you didn't eat those pomegranates. Wait… did you do that after the holidays were past?
Mary
You are hysterical. And very clever! Thanks
Karen
LOL. Thanks Mary! ~ karen
Kari
Love your decor tips and sassy writing style. Such a pleasure to read!
Karen
Thanks Kari! Welcome to my site. ~ karen!
Bridget
Hilarious. Love your posts!
Beth
I found you thru Pinterest while researching outdoor lighting. I like the glowing orbs idea. I think I could use house paint or acrylics to make brown branches look similar to white aspen branches.
Now.. What to do with all these pine ones , buttons, and scraps of fabric??
Karen
Beth - If you meant Pine cones (as opposed to "pine ones"), keep searching my "holiday posts" and you'll find about 101 ideas for pine cones, LOL! ~ karen
LaNae
Beautiful .thank you for sharing your great design talents and ideas with us!
amy watson
I am NOT a blog reader...usually....But I LOVE yours...It spoke to me in some crazy kinda way....maybe it was the balled up mini lights in old globes?? Of which I have both.... But really I am pretty sure it was the use of PINECONES of which I have a love affair with, being from Ga.and all...I have pinecones scattered throughout my house and decorate like a mad woman with them at Christmas..but whatever it was,,, you have a new fan and follower...Now where can I subscribe so I can get to in my email?????
Karen
Hi Amy! Well. I'm starting to think you like it here. :) If you want to subscribe just type your email address into the box that says subscribe right under the picture of me holding the fish. You'll be sent a confirmation email right away. Just click on it and you'll be subscribed by email! ~ karen!
Kay
LOVE your ideas
Karen
Thanks Kay! I've been known to have a few disasters too, LOL. But ... that's necessary in order to come up with the good ones. :) ~ karen
Regina
I'm thinking maybe colored lights would be great...orange for Halloween, Red and Green for Christmas, purple for our college...Kansas State. Can't wait to go shopping for the light covers!!! Thanks!!!
Quirina
I'm thinking that different colored lights all around the yard for Easter.
pam hill
Love, love, love your site!!!
Karen
Love, love, love you! Kay, I don't even know you. But if we met I'm sure I'd be fond of you at the very least. ~ karen!
Shae
LOL! I am so glad there are others out there like my daughter and I. Thanks for the humor. Today that really helped.
Karen
You're very welcome Shae. (every once in a while someone leaves a comment on a very old post and I have to go back and see what they thought was so interesting/funny/strange.) So .. I'm leaving you now to go read my post again. I can't imagine what's funny about Outdoor Holiday Planters ... can't wait. :) ~ karen
Busy Bunny
You and me = same sense of humour. LOVE your posts/design and style girl ;)
Mary- Beth Bridges
You gave me a grat idea for Xmas a a tickle I love how you wright with a little humor. Keep it up. Love this site.
Karen
Thanks Mary-Beth - Glad you found my site. ~ karen!
Charlotte
Thank you for your great ideas and your wonderful writing style. Those Glow Balls are amaaazing!
Karen
Thanks Charlotte! Glad you found my site. ~ karen