While some of us live in areas where we can garden outdoors year round, many others of us are in a deep freeze. Don’t let that stop you! Create a winter garden indoors—pick a spot by a sunny window on a side tabletop, and gather your materials. Find a variety of plants, candles and ornaments, mixing them up to create a shimmering scene.

For my indoor garden, I wanted a very cool, luminous and slightly sophisticated feel—so I focused on all-green foliage plants in white pots, then mixed in some clear glass and silver as reflective accents. I warmed it up with candles and moss, and then added some sparkling crystal Christmas ornaments for a bit of bling.

Vary the heights of your materials to create some drama—I started with a tall, whitewashed candle lantern, and then placed some candles and ferns on stands to elevate them. I love the mix of ferns, succulents, tillandsias and ivy topiary; there’s not a flower to be seen, but the contrast in foliage textures keeps things lively.

Polish up some of your old silver candy dishes for plant display. I found some of my mother’s that I’d had in storage, and realized they were perfect for a tillandsia (or air plant) display! Tuck in a small handful of reindeer moss for another layer. I love how the nearby crystal star ornament lends a bit of glamour to the setting.

Try placing tiny bits of moss under clear glass cloches for a non-plant accent—I found these for a couple of dollars each at a craft store. Any small clear glass container would work just as well—diminutive tea light holders or tiny jars, for example. The glass somewhat magically magnifies the moss underneath, creating an interesting texture.

For small tabletop gardens like these, choose a loose theme and work within it—too many different elements will compete with one another and simply appear busy rather than intriguing! This garden wasn’t planned out item-by-item—rather, I decided upon the wintry feel of silver and white with splashes of “bling,” then went shopping through my apartment, filling out with pieces I bought for very little. The result is a beautiful, seasonal garden to enjoy for months.

~Jenny Peterson