Earlier today I was looking for specifications for butterfly houses and I found this quote. I think you'll like it:

"To make a wish come true, whisper it to a butterfly. Upon these wings it will be taken to Heaven and granted. For they are messengers of the Great Spirit."
-Native American Lore

I love all your stuff.... my aunt passed recently, and I plan to do some of the same with her things. She was an avid gardener, like me.. and we were constantly an inspiration to each other.

Beautiful totems ! They have such a sleek design . I put figures into my totems last year - they all got condensation in them :( -- I hope yours do better !

Hi Joanne! I'm glad you got through Christmas ok. I remember when my dad passed away a month before Christmas, the last thing I could imagine was being able to celebrate Christmas. But we did, just in a low-key way, just like you did. I love your creations! You're honoring your mother in a very personal and creative way, and I think that's just awesome! Your pool house looks like a giant conservatory! Is it attached to your house? Plants must just thrive in there! Or do they fry in there?! I just noticed you are in Zone 9, so maybe it would get too hot in there?

Great idea to use sentimental things instead of just keeping them in a box! I like the blue plant stand just like it is. It is very elegant. It is hard to get through those first "emotional anniversaries." After the first year it gets better.

Keep us posted on you new creations. We love to see them!

~~Mimi

Wonderful creations!!! I love them all! the blue is pretty and all the angels.

Those are great, I love that yellow urn with the cherubs or angels on it :)

Those pieces are going to look so pretty in the garden. Nice work!

If you can assemble the glass pieces in low humidity you can usually avoid condensation. At least that is what I think happened with a bunch of mine from last year. I wish I had assembled all mine indoors over the winter months as I am sure none would have condensation now. A few have no condensation and they were assembled indoors. I've also found that the ones in the shade had much less condensation than ones in direct sun.

It's hard to tell by the photos, but do those containers have drainage for the plants? If not, you may want to pot them up in a plastic pot and set the pot inside the container so you can pour out any excess water, otherwise they will likely get root rot. Or you could drill holes in the bottoms. You may already have done this, but I just wanted to mention it in case you didn't.

My heart goes out to everyone that lost loved ones this year.

Beautiful blue thingy! Loved all the things.
Thanks Adina! My husband died in April.....

How wonderful to have momentos of your Mom in the garden! Sorry about her loss, it would be hard on you, the first Christmas without her. A lot of love has gone into your creations... it shows! I love all the angels. Can't have enough of them around.
Cait

I have used cake plates like yours to hold pillar candles of different heights and then plugged in between ivy or grape clusters (the plastic ones that look real) and let them hang over the edge...it's a nice way to display candles.

I'm sorry for your loss and I do pray for your family during this difficult time.

Thank you all for your words of encouragment and support. It really means a lot to me.

About the condensation....someone posted (a while back) in this forum to leave a small gap when sealing it with the silicone and that was supposed to help with it building up. I'm not sure if it will work but that's what I did.
:-)