How to Fill an Outdoor Container for the Holiday Season

 

Hi, all!  I know this is coming late and I apologize for that but, I thought I would share my tutorial for filling an outdoor container for the holidays with you today, anyway.  I hope you don't mind.  Time has gotten away from me.  I truly meant to have all my decorating done by Thanksgiving like reputable  bloggers do but, we had some unforeseen sadness happen in my family and I was waylaid in my decorating.  I am playing catch-up right now but, I am still enjoying getting my home ready for the holidays.

So to begin, I already have two stationary planters on my front step and for practicality-sake I decided to use them for the holidays again this year.  I filled these white branches around the brown branches of the curly willow that was already there.  Some of it is still alive so, I didn't want to disturb it.  The curly willow didn't interfere with anything I was doing so, that was good.  It added a little more interest anyway.

Next, I started filling the containers with evergreens from my yard.  

More greens (different ones) from my yard were added for interest~

More greens~  These were purchased at my local farm stand.  I am sorry the names of them have eluded me.  I apologize.  Do you see the yellowy tint at the end of the branches of the newly added greens?  I spaced the new greens around the planter in various spots, not always in a symmetric way.  I did it all by sight.

I added in some blueberry spruce.  I think that is the name of it :).  It has those beautiful blue berries.

Next I added in some soft pine and a tiny bit of boxwood from my front bushes.

Next came the addition of the short birch logs/branches I had leftover from last year.  I hope to find a new stash next year, for sure, but these will have to do for now.

More of the birch logs~

This was how the container(s) looked at this point.  

I probably should have stopped here, especially if I wanted the "natural" look.

However, this is 2020 and I felt really I needed to add pizzazz!

I found some sumac in the woods and Tom painted them a darker red for me.

I also had my husband spray paint some greenery from my yard red to add more color.  I also added in some pinecones.

Yet again, I probably should have stopped here but no, I was still going.  I added in some large white Christmas balls to the base and hung some red ones from the branches.  

Next, I wove some electric Christmas lights into the mix for brightness in the evening.

This is the planter that sits to the side of the two containers on the front step.  I filled this container at the same time I did the other ones.  I added in a little bit more white and some interesting branches, that were also painted red.  I love being able to use my creativity when filling the planters.

Here was how the front step looked during the day.

The birds love the scenery too!

Here is how everything looked at night.  We added cool lights that hung from above and projected snowflakes on the ground.  Thank you to my son-in-law, Tim, for making that discovery.  I completely stole his idea!  He seems to be a good sport about it though :).

I am happy that I went a bit overboard with the planters this year.  2020 really does need a little pizzazz!

Oh, and I almost forgot!  A little known trick is to water your container when you are all done.  The water will freeze and hold all the branches more tightly in your container.

Happy Decorating!

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