gardening
Go with the GLOW
Story by Pat Rubin Photos by Fred Greaves
Canning jars and candles light up the night
I love sitting on my deck each evening watching the canning jar lights come on. Some hang from brackets attached to fence posts while others hang from shepherd’s hooks placed among the flowers. They don’t come on all at once; instead, one comes on here and there. The lids have solar panels built in and are attached to a string of miniature fairy lights. You can buy lights and lids and hangers and brackets and jars, and have them all delivered to your door. Easy. And while I find this project fun, it seems a little too “done for me” instead of “do it yourself.” So, I decided to start from scratch and see what I could create using canning jars. My version uses wire and hose clamps (my husband’s idea and they are easy to get at home improvement stores) and voila! I’ve made my own path lights. I add a little sand or gravel to the jar and put a votive or tea candle (real or LED) inside. I also use an assortment of canning jar lights as a centerpiece on the table when company comes for dinner. Another idea is to fill the jar about half full of water and add a floating candle. Very showy and romantic. A little research online yielded these ideas: If you want to add more pizzazz to the project, dip the jars in a paint/water solution to give them a marbled effect. Or spray the jars with paint for frosting glass to give them a softer look. Add a bracelet, bangle or ribbon to the top of the jar to dress it up for special occasions. A grouping of jars with candles inside and bangles around the tops makes a great centerpiece for holiday or everyday dinners.
Pat Rubin cbmagazine@californiabountiful.com
MORE ONLINE Pat Rubin offers tips on dealing with the summer heat in the vegetable garden and tackles reader questions at californiabountiful.com.
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July/August 2023
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