When the garden ices up, it’s a good thing

Ah, Solstice! It’s officially winter now, even though we’ve had a surplus of snow in the gardens since October. The good news is it’s the birthday of the Unconquered Sun. Or, as the Romans called it, Dies Natalis Invicti Solis. Actually, ‘solstice’ comes from the Latin solstitium that breaks down into ‘sol’ for ‘sun’ and ‘-stitium’ referring to ‘a stoppage.’ The sun has stopped going south. We can celebrate the return of longer days and put away those SAD lights.

I like that . . . unconquered sun and birthday parties to ward off the winter’s chill. The temperatures are just right for making lots of ice parts for growing fun alien plant forms in the garden. It’s the perfect time to get together with friends and family, make some snow and ice sculptures in the garden, and finish up with a feast.

Making ice sculpture components is easy. Just use any smooth-sided containers, fill them with water and freeze. Add a bit of food color if you like. I like the clear shiny look of unadulterated ice as it looks brighter when candles are used to light the sculptures. Ice made in old Bundt cake or shallow baking pans, serving platters, and muffin tins can be glued together with a slurry of snow and water to build light towers or grouped together to form geometric flowers.

Balloons filled with water make cool bubble shapes and long narrow balloons used for twisting into shapes can be taped around forms before freezing. The balloons easily strip off after freezing. An enterprising winter gardener could build huge spider mums in ice or waving grass-like forms. Icicles can be stuck into big mounds of snow to make spiny seed pod forms. The possibilities are endless and fun.

If you need some inspiration R. Todd King’s photographs of the Harbin Winter Festival in China are phenomenal. Go to www.rtoddking.com and click on his China photographs of Harbin. I particularly like the 2005 photos. The huge 8-meter-high horse sculpture in snow is one of many gargantuan sculptures in this annual event. A whole city of illuminated and colored ice in a beautiful virtual tour awaits the viewer.

Don’t forget to check out local gardener Les Brake’s ice creations at www.schultzphoto.com/sunset-alaska-editorial-photographer.php and http://community.adn.com/adn/node/114737. Les can party all night at subzero temperatures making ice sculptures in the garden. This is real Alaska winter gardening with colorful geometric pod-like constructions, candlelight and subtle colors of the northern lights. You can be sure his cat is watching from the warmth of the cabin window while her crazy gardener celebrates the long winter night.

Now put the soup pot on so you can thaw your fingers out on a bowl of hot cassoulet. Martha Stewart’s recipe is fabulous, but, takes a week to make. Just chop up several links of andouille or kielbasa sausage and a couple of chicken breasts. Sauté in a deep pan over medium high heat. If the sausage is very lean, add a bit of olive oil. Chop a whole onion and toss it into the pan along with a couple of minced garlic cloves. When they’ve begun to brown up, add several cups of good chicken stock and a cup of white wine. Boxed liquid low salt stock is great for this and its quick. Add a couple of beef bouillon cubes or a tablespoon of soy sauce to darken the flavor, three cans of great northern beans (kidney and black beans will work as well), some chopped flat leaf parsley, cracked black pepper, and simmer until the meat is done. You can add chopped carrots and celery if you like more veggies in the soup. Serve hot with grated Parmesan cheese and some toasted sourdough bread.

This is a quick version of cassoulet that’s easy to play with. Traditionally, this soup is made with duck meat, but, leftover turkey is a very tasty alternative. No doubt an enterprising vegetarian can come up with a hearty version as well.

All right, you have your mission. Let’s bring the sun back and celebrate our way to the gardening season. When you’re thawed out and your tummy’s full, kick back with that stack of seed catalogs and work your way into a warm winter’s nap. Maybe Santa will bring you some tiny plastic reindeer to keep those garden gnomes hopping in the cabbage patch. With luck, they’ll be self-cleaning and come with batteries included. Happy Solstice and a peaceful Holiday Season!

Brooke Heppinstall, artist and gardener, is the owner of Wool Wood Studio & Gardens, an art studio and nursery specializing in Alaska-grown perennials and shrubs. Visit online at Woolwood.blogspot.com.