Artificial “Fire” . . .

When it’s too warm to lite the fire, create “Artificial Fire”!!

It’s Christmas and all the stockings are hung on the mantel, but the weather is too warm to lite a fire. Complete the picture by creating a “fire” by adding plants with red blooms to the logs in the fireplace. Make the “fire” come alive by first placing Christmas tree lights under the logs.

I began by adding small pieces of firewood at the base of the fireplace. It also helps to have a small firebox. Undo a bundle of  Red Christmas lights and spread the lights between the firewood. I placed small pieces of firewood across the bottom firewood, creating a small platform over the lights.

I placed small pots of plants in the firewood, adding more firewood as I added more plants. For this display, I used small plants of red begonias. I have also used small plants of red poinsettias. Place the plants at angles so the blooms are facing the front of the fireplace. I added a few pine cones as accents.


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I also fixed a small basket of pine cones to set on the hearth. This is a great arrangement to complete the fireplace setting.

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To protect the fireplace, I usually remove the plants from the fireplace before watering.