A wintry spell wand is a magical device used to create snow and ice with a wave of the hand. This wand is typically made of wood from a tree that thrives in cold climates, such as the holly bush. It is intricately carved and adorned with symbols of winter, such as snowflakes and frost. When a witch or wizard uses a wintry spell wand, they can instantly transform their surroundings into a winter wonderland. They can summon snowfall, create ice sculptures, and even freeze objects in place. The wand amplifies the user's magical abilities, allowing them to control the weather and manipulate ice and snow with ease.
Other kits are available, including the Christmas wand, decorate your own stocking and the mini Christmas decoration kit.
Original material offered in Bloodstone is a non-commercial product of the Vintyri Project , solely owned by Steigerwald EDV USA, Copyright 1993-2005, Steigerwald EDV USA. As an individual plant it would not be one of my first choices for a garden but when you see it as part of a mass planting you realize just how much its olive hue lights up the more intense colours.
The wand amplifies the user's magical abilities, allowing them to control the weather and manipulate ice and snow with ease. One of the key features of a wintry spell wand is its ability to channel the user's intentions and emotions. When a witch or wizard is feeling joyful and excited, the wand will produce light, fluffy snowflakes that dance through the air.
Magic Wands: cornus, salix, acer varieties spell winter colour
Many varieties of cornus, the dogwoods, are outstanding, as are some salix, willows, and some varieties of Acer palmatum, the Japanese maples. Of the latter Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ (‘Senkaki’), the Coral bark maple is the one to grow if you want colourful stems. . This is a slender, upright plant when young, with fine twigs carrying delicate, light-green foliage. The leaves turn a soft canary-yellow in autumn, before they fall to reveal the brilliant coral- red young stems. Although this maple grows into a small tree with age it is slow, and therefore suitable for the small garden and perfect for a large pot. In a container I love it underplanted with the black grass-like perennial Ophiopogon planiscarpus ‘Nigrescens’
The glowing twigs of the willow, Salix alba ‘Britzensis’ are a familiar sight against blue winter skies. Although the scarlet willow is a large, graceful tree it can also be grown as a shrub if the stems are cut back to a little above ground level each spring. Willows are excellent plants for wet and heavy soil, and they grow easily from rooted cuttings. The cut stems of willow will even root in water if you leave them in a vase for a few weeks. Grown as shrubs these stooled willows (in other words cut back to just above ground level each spring) are lovely planted along side water where their glowing wands are reflected in still, cold water.
The red-barked dogwood, Cornus alba is perhaps the best known shrub grown for its winter stems, and there are several varieties with coloured and variegated foliage which add colour to the garden throughout the summer. The variety which produces the most intensely coloured stems is the plain green-leaved Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’, this has glowing scarlet winter bark on the vigorous upright stems. I’ve never been that positive about its other attributes, but having really noticed its crimson autumn leaf colour last fall I have completely changed my mind.
To encourage vigorous growth, and fine upright stems you need to prune hard in early spring, to just a little above ground level. This may seem harsh but your plant will respond with glorious straight wands that grow quickly and light up the garden the following winter. The long, wand-like stems of this cornus are flexible and can be cut and made into Christmas wreaths or garlands for decoration. The cut stems also look effective in a glass vase and remain in good condition for several weeks.
Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ is the green-leaved dogwood with greenish-yellow stems that is often planted with Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’. As an individual plant it would not be one of my first choices for a garden but when you see it as part of a mass planting you realize just how much its olive hue lights up the more intense colours. It’s also good in gold and green planting schemes, with yellow variegated evergreens, adding green leaves in summer and gold stems in winter.
Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ lives up to its name; this is my favourite dogwood for winter colour. The branched stems are orange-gold at the base, and flame orange at the tips of the shoots. Even a single plant is a real feature in the winter garden, even on dull cloudy days. This cornus grows well on wet or dry soil and is a good subject for a pot for a season or two. Again hard pruning in late winter is essential for the showiest shoots; having said that I have seen specimens left to grow into large shrubs. They have quite a horizontally branched habit and the youngest wood is still flame orange in winter. This can be very effective under deciduous trees where shafts of sunlight light them in winter.
There are a number of newer cultivars. ‘Midwinter Flame’ I noticed this autumn for its sensational golden fall foliage. ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’ is a more scarlet orange for the length of the stems. Last winter it looked particularly sensational underplanted with Hedera colchica ‘Dentata Variegata’.
These Cornus sanguinea varieties all have light green foliage which mixes well with other shrubs and perennials. They also colour brilliantly in autumn. They make a great backdrop for any garden feature or piece of sculpture as these objects become even more significant in the winter garden.
Of course any of these plants grown for their winter stems look spectacular against freshly fallen snow. However, not all of us can rely on a generous sprinkling to enhance our plants. So for best effect it is best to underplant shrubs for winter stems grown in beds with evergreen ground cover subjects such as vinca, hedera or carex, these will show them off so much more than a background of bare earth.
Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park, Berkshire and The Winter Garden at The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire are two great gardens in the UK to see winter stems at their best. I’d love to hear about other gardens where you’ve admired winter stems, and of course your favourite shrubs for magic wands.
Andy McIndoe
. Read more Andy McIndoe is our Chief Blogger, and teaches five courses on the site. Andy has over thirty years experience as a practical horticulturist and consultant. He has designed and advised on gardens of all sizes and was responsible for the Hillier Gold Medal winning exhibit at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower for 25 years. A regular contributor to magazines, newspapers and BBC Radio, Andy lectures widely at home and abroad. Special interests include hardy shrubs, trees, herbaceous perennials, flower bulbs, wildlife and garden design; he has authored books on all of these subjects. A keen gardener Andy and his wife Ros have a two acre garden in Hampshire, U.K. that is open to groups by appointment. Started from scratch fifteen years ago, the garden is naturalistic in style, with an extensive wildflower meadow and informal planting. The emphasis is on foliage to provide colour and texture. W W . Read more
If the user is feeling mischievous or playful, the wand may create ice slides or snowball launchers. The wintry spell wand also responds to the user's level of expertise in handling cold and ice-based magic. Beginners may find it difficult to control the wand's power, resulting in uncontrollable blizzards or ice storms. However, the more experienced the user becomes, the more finesse they can have over the wand, creating delicate snowflakes or freezing specific objects without affecting the surrounding area. The versatility and enchanting properties of the wintry spell wand make it a sought-after accessory among magical beings. It is particularly popular during the winter season, as it allows users to conjure snow and ice for a festive atmosphere. Some witches and wizards even use the wand to create ice sculptures for special occasions or to participate in magical ice-skating competitions. In conclusion, the wintry spell wand is a powerful and magical device that allows witches and wizards to create snow and ice with a simple wave. Its intricate design and ability to channel the user's intentions make it a true marvel of winter magic. Whether being used for decorative purposes or for practical uses, this wand is a must-have for any magical being seeking to harness the power of winter..
Reviews for "Winter Wonders: Using the Wintry Spell Wand to Brighten Dark Days"
- Sarah - 2 stars - The Wintry Spell Wand was such a disappointment. The claims of it being able to create magical ice and snow effects were completely false. It doesn't produce any special effects or even make a sound. You're better off buying a regular wand and pretending it's wintry. Don't waste your money on this one.
- Mike - 1 star - I was really excited to get the Wintry Spell Wand, but it ended up being a total letdown. The wand feels cheap and flimsy, like it's going to break any minute. It also didn't do anything special as advertised. It's basically just a regular wand with a wintry design. Save your money and get something better.
- Emily - 2 stars - I bought the Wintry Spell Wand because I wanted to bring some winter magic to my cosplay costume. However, I was extremely disappointed with this product. It doesn't have any magical effects or powers. The only thing wintry about it was the design, but that's not enough for the price. I wouldn't recommend this wand to anyone looking for a truly magical experience.