Today I am excited to share Roanne Robbins’ first post in her new series.  We are calling it Snippets and it will be all about container plantings and cut flowers.

It’s January and here in New England we are just starting to get winter. December was unseasonably warm and even though in the moment I loved the mild weather and the extension to my gardening season –Hooray for planting bulbs after Thanksgiving and feeling my fingers while hanging garland in December- cool temperatures are key to keeping winter adornments looking photo fresh.

So while it may be 3 degrees out, I am calling all gardeners to get out and toss the crusty wreaths, drag your containers into the garage and thaw them out or better yet, bring out extra empty vessels and get started.

Note: to all gardeners who ran out of time before the holidays and forgot to plant your winter composition, this is your 2^nd chance! –   As odd as this sounds, frozen soil or no soil at all, here are some easy ideas for transitioning your winter container planting in the middle of winter.

Shop your grocery store.

Materials and garden center availabilities may be limited. There are, however, great natural materials at the grocery store.

Artichokes, kumquats and nuts look really interesting when enshrined in ice. I like to fill empty frost friendly containers with cranberries and water.

It looks very graphic and bold and reminds me of Andy Goldsworthy.

Repurpose the vessel.

Think of all the other ways you can use your container. Bird feeder? Log holder? There is beauty in functionality.

What garden items can be repurposed? Topiary frames, obelisks and white lights can be used creatively.

Display Nature

If soil is frozen build an interesting composition on top.

If your winter greenery is frozen in the soil cut stems to the soil level and begin building.

Make moss landscapes beneath an over wintering tree.

Display moss vignettes, collections of pinecones and other cool treasures you find on daily walks.

Make a grapevine structure or snowball topiary (think croquembouche but with snow).

(images: Cranberries in antique Chinese mortars by Alyn Carlson, Bird seed wreath adorning base of dormant fothergilla while bird seed ornaments adorn the branches, Continuous Container Gardens, by John Gruen, birch logs with grapevine wreath and princess pine accents by Alyn Carlson,

Topiary structures with white lights from Detroit garden Works, Burlap covering willow topiary structure with grapevine garland, Birch with moss underplanting vessel,  and privet berries and white lights, Continuous Container Gardens by John Gruen)