Now that it is almost Christmas and any left over outdoor Christmas lights are going on sale, here is an idea that might be usefull for those of us with plants that we are afraid might freeze.

As we all know lights give off heat as well as light and this makes them ideal for helping protect those plants that are almost hardy enough to go through the winter here.

Before putting plastic over your citrus, bougainvillea, or ??? string a couple of strands of outdoor Christmas lights. It doesn't matter if they are clear or colored. Just wrap some lights around the plant and then cover it.

A warning. Don't wrap up tight at the base like a lollipop. Part of what we are doing is trying to trap any warmth given off by the soil. Everyone makes a big deal about letting plastic touching the plant but in my experience that only means that foliage that actually touches the plastic gets nipped. No big deal.

Ideally build a frame with plastic on the top and sides with a 1' opening at the bottom. In an emergency just draping a blanket or tarp over the plant with the Christmas lights underneth will help.

Thias is a place to use those old lights that you retired because they are the wrong kind or color.