It is probably close to 15 years ago that Rob wrapped a vintage steel tractor tire hoop with a string of incandescent holiday lights, and hung it in a tree. On a whim, I might add. A hank of ten ends jute attached to the top of the ring at one end, and a stout branch of the tree on the other end, also provided cover for the electrical cord at the end of the light string that would run across the top of the branch and back to the main trunk. Once that cord dropped to the ground, an extension cord would deliver the electricity needed to light up that ring. So unexpectedly beautiful -a lighted circle effortlessly suspended from a branch of a tree. With no apparent source of electricity. Magic, this. And not to mention simple. One lighted ring 3′ in diameter would speak loud and clear to the holiday and winter season ahead – every day and all through the night.
In its most basic form, a circle is a powerful and compelling shape. It has no beginning or end. The history and importance of the circle in art, engineering, music, mathematics, astronomy, design and so on dates back centuries. There is much more to the symbolism and meaning of a circle than its geometry. Very little of human endeavour does not touch on or recall the circle in some way. Every circle I design in to a landscape recalls all of that history. A circle has an aura that comes with it. Every lighted circle displayed over the winter and holiday season makes that aura visible.
That first lighted hoop gave way to a channel steel version designed by Rob in various sizes, and manufactured for Detroit Garden Works. Later came his rather brilliant design for a spiked hoop held aloft by a steel rectangle whose four long rod steel legs could be inserted into the soil in a pot or in the ground. Lighted hoops featured in winter and holiday pots and container arrangements delighted my clients. They have become a mainstay of our winter season. Soon we were shipping the lighted rings all over the country. I was so pleased to see our gardening clientele coming to Detroit Garden Works to shop for materials for that 4th season. The winter.
Those original hanging light rings from years ago did a brave job of keeping the dreary part of the winter at bay. The dark part, that is. Having moved the design and construction of our winter container arrangements indoors means we have time to study on the design and construction. The time constraints of the winter container season is an invitation to hurry. Hurried work can look hurried. So we have had some time to study on those light rings, and think about how else we could use them. Or what we could add to them.
It was inevitable that given enough time and exposure, we would start to tinker with that basic light ring. Maybe a different style of light would change things up. Perhaps the ring could be a structure – an armature upon which something else beautiful and sculptural could be built. For this project, the lighted ring was lined with a diminutive evergreen garland that would connect that steel circle visually with the evergreens populating the box. The circle is stronger, and is a more important part of the composition, given the additional emphasis that the garland provides. The trio of over scaled steel pine cones that Rob had sourced overseas anchors the ring to the ground plane of the box.
Each of the four light rings are immersed in alternating rows of red bud pussy willow stems. Two fingers between each branch is how we space them. That thicket softens the geometry of the circle. It provides some mystery. The mass of them soften the light shining back into the windows. The twigs, and greens surrounding them suggest a garden environment – similar to and reminiscent of those places outdoors that gardeners treasure. Needless to say, I have clients that keep their light rings powered up all year round. Given how little power the LED lights draw, there is no reason not to enjoy them all winter long.
Whether the weather obliges with one inch or 10 inches of snow, the rings will keep beaming.
Love your work!
Hello Deanna. Thank you for your letter. my best, Deborah
Your designs are so clever, and clean in how they showcase the natural materials. Soothing, yet beautiful to look at and admire.
Perfection.
I am going to take your word for it, Marguerite! Thank you for your letter.., my best, Deborah
Very nice strong designs – clean, elegant w/o being overly stark…nice take using traditional elements.
It would be appreciated by all who care about the environment if you would use an alternative to flora foam. Here’s what Bloominhaus has to say:
Floral foam is a single-use plastic that has as much plastic content as 10 carrier bags.
Using floral foam damages the planet and the health of wildlife.
There are green alternatives to floral foam that protect the planet and human/animal well-being.
Kate, I certainly understand your concern. But we do not use the single use florist’s foam of which you speak. We save and store our client’s forms and they are reused year after year. best, Deborah
Your talent and vision is amazing! The fact you are willing to share your abilities and design tips & tricks demonstrate how brilliant you are. You now are the only shop worth visiting in Michigan that I know of. I treasure every gift I’ve been given or I’ve bought from you. Thank you so very much.🌸🐝
Dear Pauline, I greatly appreciate your strong support. Thank you! best regards, Deborah
I love my three lighted rings from you! They bring such beauty to the dark winter days!
Dear Donna, we certainly share a love for the rings-that feeling is still going on all these years later since the first ring was hung in a tree.
Very creative and enjoyed the history of how it was birthed and the improvements to it.
Dear Sharon, the story of how things came to be is always compelling. thanks for your letter. my best, Deborah
It has been a long time since I received news from you, and I have missed them. Good to see you are still making beautiful designs and sharing them again.
Dear Alice, it has been a very long time since my last post, and even longer since I posted regularly. I hope to take up the regular writing again. I have missed it. my best, Deborah
I took inspiration from your beautiful designs and used an old bicycle rim, sprayed gold, to create a similar display. It has given us much joy for the last couple of years and is a real eye catcher. Thanks for sharing the beautiful work that all of you do.
Dear Diana, I do hope your ring continues to inspire your winter season. Those rings surely inspire ours. my best, Deborah
So delight to see your post pop up in my emails. I had lost contact with you after following your news for many years. Gorgeous installations as always – wish you were in the UK. Looking forward to the rest of the year!
Hello Pippa. I am determined to write regularly again. thanks for your encouragement! best, Deborah
I’m wondering if perhaps, they could be left up and grow ivy or a flowering vine in warmer months? When I entertain in the summer, I often have twinkling lights for ambiance in certain areas of my garden.
I love your work, and look forward to your posts. Thank you so much for sharing.
Ps. Those metal pine cones are gorgeous!
Hello, Sharon. I leave all of my winter lights up and running until March. The winter in Michigan can be so dreary and gray. I do not see any reason why a ring could not be used as a plant climber -why not. best, Deborah
I remember being captivated by the first rings. I still find their form beautiful and contemplative to this day.
So good to hear from you, Mario. I had not thought of how the lighted rings could be contemplative-thank you for this. best, Deborah
nice -enjoyed it and your company’s take on holiday decorations. Knowing the story behind it made it that more unique and fascinating. The circle is a powerful symbol.
Dear Merrill, I am rather serious about the garden and garden making. I do think what people do in their gardens to celebrate the winter or the holiday season is a form of gardening.There is something about facing the winter season head on that makes me feel good. Ha. best, Deborah
I have your lighted circle on the four spikes. It’s a wonderful holiday and winter element that I look forward to using each year. The instructions that originally came with it indicated that leaving it lit would extend bulb life. Thus, it’s enjoyed at the rear of my small suburban lot for six weeks day in and out, Thanks for it and thanks for returning to share design with us.
Dear Kit, I am happy to hear how much you are enjoying that ring. I never tire of them. my best, Deborah
I am so very happy to to read this email!! I have missed them Deborah. It is so good to hear from you again! Beautiful as always! Happy New Year!!
It is good to hear from you again, Jeannine. Happy New Year to you too! best, Deborah
Beautiful and thank you.
Hello Melissa. Thank you for taking the time to write.
Woohoo!!!
YOU ALL ARE SIMPLY AMAAAAAAZING.
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT…..as always!
WAVES OF GRATITUDE AND BLESSINGS FOR THE COMING YEAR!!!
Dear Jeannie, Thank you for your enthusiasm – and your well wishes. my best, Deborah
Great
I love your stories. Your stories have stories and that is what makes you and your creativity second to NONE!
After admiring your lighted rings for a couple of years my husband surprised me with two this Christmas. I’m so in love with them and look forward to using them with different elements for years to come. Thanks so much for all the inspiration and beauty you create. I can’t wait to see what you do in 2025! Happy New Year!
Dear Shelly, those rings encourage expression, don’t they? thanks, Deborah
Great to see a post again!!
So beautiful. Always inspired by the work…
So lovely to get a new post from you. I so love those rings and if we could we would source them from you from you but as we are many hundred of miles away way it is not practical. We are keeping our eyes out for supplies to re—create them here at home in Guelph, Canada. All the best for the New Year.
Hello, Lorelei. It is a very simple design, so I feel confident you can figure something out. Just so you know, Jackie does ship them. A pair of 3 footers can fit in a box, and go UPS. best, Deborah
Hearing from you again on the first day of 2025 is an omen that we will have a good year! I remember distinctly the first time I saw your lighted rings and I was mesmerized. Not being able to get them out of my thoughts, an artisan blacksmith made rings for me of varying sizes which I then wrapped with lights. We got out the ladder and hung those rings from trees in our front garden. The first night that we lit them was amazing….to think I had something so beautiful made me ever grateful to you for sharing what you had created. Because I had five rings made we had our own set of five golden rings.
Years later now, due to age and health (and some of the lights going out!) we have been unable to experience the annual lighting but it almost doesn’t matter because we have it in our memories.
Thank you for all of your essays, past and future.
Dear Ann, I love this story. Thank you for sending it. I have seen a number of iterations of Rob’s on instagram and various websites – its all great, the inspiration his rings have provided.I am happy that we still have such a strong call for them. best, Deborah
Thank you for all the inspiration throughout the years.
thank you for your letter, Rosanne.
Love your work and style. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me all these years. Happy new year!
Happy New Year to you too, Katherine. I am glad to be writing again.
What a great surprise getting your new blog post! Thanks for the years of inspiration, and your continuing effort to share the beauty you all create.
Dear Pam, I have been on hiatus, haven’t I? I thought maybe I would start up writing again. Thank you for reading that first 12 years! best, Deborah
I’ve missed you. Seeing your dramatic installations lifts me up.
Seeing your name in my inbox has made me so happy. I have so enjoyed the beautiful narratives and photos of your exquisite creations over the years. I have lived vicariously through them. Thank you so much for this latest post!
Beautiful and inspiring as usual.
I revisited your store of wonder this year after facing several challenges all year long.
It reminded me of the many years I went to see you and your wonderful creations for fresh inspiration. And a shout out to Sunny , sorry I didn’t have time to catch up with her.
Hi Deborah and Crew,
Seeing this new post led me to revisit past holiday entries ( for the better part of an afternoon). The work is always so creative, inspiring and beautiful!
I had noticed on a few projects that at times there are center posts for stability on some pieces yet other pieces, that seem to be as elaborate, have no post protruding from the base. What determines the need for the extra support as they are all so large?
Best wishes to all in the new year…
Hello Mark. A gathered centerpiece-in which all of the elements are gathered together in the center and bound with concrete wire-needs a center post which gets pushed down through the foam and in to the soil. A centerpiece in which each element is individually inserted into the foam is secured with 4 pieces of steel rebar pushed through the foam and down into the soil-after which concrete wire is wound around all 4 pieces of rebar. Once the soil freezes, nothing will move. I hope this is clear. best, Deborah