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Could anyone explain how to "cold frame" plants?

I started some lupine and columbine in September and I read in a seed catalog that they need to be cold framed over the winter. The lupine are now in 2 liter Pepsi bottles (in potting soil, of course) and the columbine are in a 5 inch deep window box. Can I put them in the garage for the winter and will they be okay to plant in the Spring? Is this "cold-framing"? Thank you, one and all. This seems WAY too ambitious. I'm still wondering if I can keep them in my garage for the winter and if they'll still be alive in the Spring. They're perennials but I don't know how hearty they are. You were all so helpful. I wish I could give you all a Best Answer but I'll have to throw it up for the voters. Thanks again!

Public Comments

1. http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/main/pdf/coldfram.pdf this site looked informative google cold frames, plants for more
2. Cold frames are an old-fashioned garden idea that's still useful, when you don't own a greenhouse. All the ones I've used have involved building a wooden box into the ground a foot or so, and the box extends above the ground another foot or so, with an old window sloped southward on the top, set on hinges at the back. On cold days you leave the window down, and it warms the soil, and on warm days, you prop the window up a bit, so it doesn't overheat. Plants do great in a cold frame. I had a goat fall through one once, that's the major drawback that I've seen.
3. My mom had one. It was maybe 18" high on the front and 24" high on the back. Maybe a bit higher. It was plywood all the way around. It was about 6' long and 3' wide. Two old windows covered it and were hinged at the back. You could probably use plastic instead of windows. She started seeds/ plants weeks early in the spring. This should be very useful: http://www.ehow.com/Search.aspx?s=cold+frame&Options=0