Ooooh Herb! Sorry 'bout the snow, but does THAT EVER LOOK PRETTY! How are you West Coast folks handling the cold?

I can't even see my troughs now, they are completely buried. (Think 'good insulation'!)

-GardenChicken.

How do we handle it? Well, I turn the heat up, and just wait indoors for a few days until it starts to drizzle again. I'll be surprised if the snow's still here a week from now.....

Brrrr!

Herb, that's such a pretty scene. You've got a great eye.

We got a couple of inches of snow last night but it's melting off. My gunnera and baby's tears finally died back in that hard freeze the other morning. I thought we were going to just skip this kind of weather this year but it has it's benefits, I guess. Thanks for the reminder!

Deb

Hi Herb

Can you put a light in that lantern?
I have a nice 4 piece outdoors lighting kit I've had for years unopened. I don't care muce for the design of the plastic lights at all but putting the guts into 4 lanterns like yours would be very nice.

Deb,
You probably know this, to cover the gunnera so that the crown does not get damaged from water into it and freezing.
Herb,
great lanter and I really like the sedge in front of it. Is the basin to the right a shallow bath of some sort.
Dena

Thanks, everybody!

CDND - Yes, there's probably enough room for a small light.

Dena - You're right - it's a bird bath.

H.

...a picture worthy of framing.

In my internet travels I found this cute freeform lantern just dying to be imortalised in tufa.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2101268}}

CDND -

I think I've seem the same lantern on the Internet, though I don't remember where. I'm not sure, but I have the feeling that it may actually be made from Hypertufa. It probably wouldn't be difficult to make a similar one.

Herb

Hi Herb.
If my tufa experience is good I'm adding four of these types to my list of future projects. I like that they could be sand casted without molds
I have a great outdoor lighting kit with very crappy plastic fixtures. The fixtures will go in the dust bin and the lights will find a home in tufa.
I bought two of these kits years ago and was so disappointed with the first set I never used the second.

It's minus 20C here right now making my life miserable.

Herb... any updates on your lantern? Still holding together?

GC,

No problem so far, but it's been freezing for less than a week. I'll feel more confident if it survives the thaw.

Herb

Herb, Lookin Good! Glad to hear it's holding up to your extreme temps. there. You have another great picture there.
Kin

It's thawed, the snow's all gone, and today the temperature was back to normal - around 12C - well over 50F. And I'm glad to report that the lantern's perfectly O.K. - no effect on it at all.

Herb

That is really lovely. I would like to make one with the mix I have left over because, my containers for plants look great, but the plants are not doing well. I have Malibu lights, so if I made a lantern, I could add it to the string of Malibu's.

That picture belongs on a hallmark christmas card