Bring a Piece of Your Garden Indoors for Winter

Every winter, our home is adorned with garden foliage and 'recycled, fallen bits and pieces' from the surrounding fields and hedgerows. Winter Solstice's arrival a couple of weeks ago signalled the darkest December days are over as we now look forward to longer daylight hours and more enjoyable times outdoors. Bringing a small part of the garden into the house at the beginning of a new year, has become a seasonal ritual here. Old mirrors, bare walls, shelves and tables are enhanced and become energised  with the addition of different bits and pieces of 'green' from the gardens. It's early January, the sun's shining brightly in the lightest blue sky. Air temperatures are averaging below zero and the back garden borders are frozen solid! An ideal time to get out into the chilly fresh air and sunshine to make a few decorative 'winter pots' to bring indoors! Well wrapped up, I'm in our unheated studio at the bottom of the garden, sorting out old terra-cotta pots of various shapes and sizes. I'll clean them first then move outside to fill each of them with a variety of sprigs of winter foliage and before lunch will bring them down to the house. I enjoy giving 'winter pot' gifts to family and special friends to mark the start of an exciting new year ahead! Here below is a tried and tested method for creating your own 'winter pot' if you'd like to give it a go?

How to create your own unique 'winter pot' in 6 easy steps. Brighten up an empty windowsill or make a vibrant new year table centre for the kitchen or dining room? Happy 'winter potting'!

What you'll need

Outdoor table to work on, secateurs, garden gloves, sharp scissors, an old small terra-cotta plant pot or alternative container for your winter pot, container e.g. small container, (to collect your foliage), mug of cold water, pre-used bubble wrap, some soaked tissue  paper which fits into base of your pot. (This keeps them fresh for a good few weeks).

Step 1 

Wrap up well! Enjoy 30 minutes in the fresh air as you search for and collect sprigs of different kinds of evergreen winter foliage from your garden. Pick a variety of different / complementary foliage colours  and leaf shapes if possible. Once you have a good handful, stick your collection carefully into a mug of cold water. Herbs like Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Hebes look good in a winter pot. Different coloured Photinias, Winter Jasmine and Hellebore flowers add colour and also work well together.

 Step 2  

Use the foliage collection from the table and create your own arrangement using an empty terra-cotta plant pot. What will the display and overall shape be? Is there a 'theme' ? - wild, compact, leaf and stem mix or a mini bouquet? Play with contrasting colours, size, scent....until you're happy. Use scissors to cut and size collected stems or damaged leaves. How does it look? Enjoy a few quiet moments trying out different kinds of display.

Step 3 

Remove foliage and put to one side. Line the inside of your pot with some pre-used bubble wrap, this seals the pot, preventing water leaking later. Wet a scrunched up piece of tissue and position at the base of your pot . Keep this damp during the lifetime of the foliage in the pot.  

Step 4 Carefully lift your sprigs of foliage from the table and arrange your in the pot in a way that looks and feels right for you. Take your time. Experiment and play with different kinds of display.

Step 5 Find a suitable spot indoors to display your winter pot creation. Where might it look best? Gracing a kitchen or living room windowsill or perhaps as a kitchen or dining room table centre piece? 

Step 6 Once the foliage is past its best, discard into your nearest compost bin along with the tissue. 

Remember to clean secateurs and scissors carefully and thoroughly. Wash, clean and dry the pot and store for future use.