This Woman's Annual "Ice Garden" Is Beautiful And Pure

    "I only have a vague plan, and you never know what you're gonna get."

    Ishmael N. Daro
    by Ishmael N. Daro

    BuzzFeed News Reporter

    This is Pat Palanuk, a retired electrical engineer in Winnipeg who builds a huge "ice garden" each winter.

    Pat Palanuk

    The results are pretty stunning. For about two months every year, her front lawn is transformed into a winter wonderland, with flowers of all shapes and sizes blooming out of the snow.

    Pat Palanuk

    The work starts in early January, and Palanuk keeps adding to the garden as the season goes on.

    Pat Palanuk

    "I started out making forts in the front yard with my son when he was younger," Palanuk told BuzzFeed Canada.

    About four or five years ago, however, Palanuk shifted from snow to ice as her main building material.

    Palanuk said she uses a variety of moulds, including paint cans, casserole dishes, and egg trays.

    Pat Palanuk

    The flowers are not frozen in her freezer, though. Instead, she places the moulds in the garage.

    "The slower it freezes, the better the ice looks."

    Pat Palanuk

    She said her neighbours were wary of her art project at first, but over the years they've accepted it as a nice addition to the area. In fact, her garden has grown so big that this year it's even extending onto her next-door neighbour's lawn.

    Normally, Palanuk keeps gardening until about Valentine's Day. That's when she adds some hearts, and then lets the whole thing melt away as spring arrives.

    Pat Palanuk

    But this year has also brought some unseasonably warm weather in January, meaning it probably won't last as long as usual.

    Pat Palanuk

    "This is it," Palanuk said. "It's going to be destroyed and look like the ice apocalypse after that."

    Pat Palanuk

    As tempting as it is, Palanuk said she has no plans to rebuild the garden after it melts.

    "I look at the ice out front as art, for sure. But it's also just something to do in January to get out there and get some exercise," she said.

    For now, though, the garden is still around for all to enjoy.

    Pat Palanuk

    Palanuk said a big part of the fun is just seeing what she ends up with as she painstakingly puts the garden together over the weeks. "I only have a vague plan, and you never know what you're gonna get," she said.

    Pat Palanuk

    "It's always a pleasant surprise at the end."

    Pat Palanuk