December weather is often the worst of the year in that it is grey, wet, cold and dank. However, if we get cold, frosty weather then the garden can be transformed into a glittering wonderland and suddenly all kinds of winter jobs are possible from winter pruning, gathering up those papery leaves and tidying up those messy borders. If you haven’t yet cleared out your used compost it can be used to level up lawns or spread over the borders as an extra mulch.
Each year we use what we can find in the garden to make our Christmas wreath. It may not look professional but there is something about using whatever we find to create a thing personal to us.
Yes, the holly can be very painful to use, Japonica sometimes “loose” their berries before we get there but the birds are welcome to them and making a wreath to hang on your front door is a lovely welcoming gesture at Christmas. Why not have a go yourself? It’s really easy!
Begin by wrapping a combination of holly, ivy, pine sprigs and mistletoe around a flexible wire frame then shape this around an overturned bowl. That will ensure your wreath has a nice, even circular shape. Arrange berries, twigs, foraged pinecones and teasels amongst the leaves before securing them together with small ties of string. Adding rosemary gives a lovely scent each time you open the door. If you fancy it, add a touch of sparkle or some snowflake shaped decorations amongst the leaves. Use red or gold ribbon to hang it up, this can even be hung inside the house on the back of any door. Too much? How about a Christmas posy of your favourite plants tied with a red, gold or silver ribbon?
FRA this year is also inviting Frenchay Residents (and beyond) to have a festive window display - further invitations in this copy. This is an opportunity to bring our outdoors in! Garden foliage and other odds and ends found in the treasure trove that is the back garden, can make stunning festive displays, centre pieces and even the main event - the Christmas tree itself! We have a Christmas tree in a pot that we move to our front of house display. You never know what you might unearth if you go for a forage in the foliage or root around in the rough. Logs, twigs, stones, pebbles, leaves and branches can make super versatile Christmas objects. Try making a window box with silver foliage plants and bright red cyclamen - it will look fabulous!
Relax in the knowledge that as well as creating stunning, one-of-a-kind festive masterpieces, you’re also doing your bit for the planet and bring your own potpourri of natural fragrance to your home.
Alan Caswell
Each year we use what we can find in the garden to make our Christmas wreath. It may not look professional but there is something about using whatever we find to create a thing personal to us.
Yes, the holly can be very painful to use, Japonica sometimes “loose” their berries before we get there but the birds are welcome to them and making a wreath to hang on your front door is a lovely welcoming gesture at Christmas. Why not have a go yourself? It’s really easy!
Begin by wrapping a combination of holly, ivy, pine sprigs and mistletoe around a flexible wire frame then shape this around an overturned bowl. That will ensure your wreath has a nice, even circular shape. Arrange berries, twigs, foraged pinecones and teasels amongst the leaves before securing them together with small ties of string. Adding rosemary gives a lovely scent each time you open the door. If you fancy it, add a touch of sparkle or some snowflake shaped decorations amongst the leaves. Use red or gold ribbon to hang it up, this can even be hung inside the house on the back of any door. Too much? How about a Christmas posy of your favourite plants tied with a red, gold or silver ribbon?
FRA this year is also inviting Frenchay Residents (and beyond) to have a festive window display - further invitations in this copy. This is an opportunity to bring our outdoors in! Garden foliage and other odds and ends found in the treasure trove that is the back garden, can make stunning festive displays, centre pieces and even the main event - the Christmas tree itself! We have a Christmas tree in a pot that we move to our front of house display. You never know what you might unearth if you go for a forage in the foliage or root around in the rough. Logs, twigs, stones, pebbles, leaves and branches can make super versatile Christmas objects. Try making a window box with silver foliage plants and bright red cyclamen - it will look fabulous!
Relax in the knowledge that as well as creating stunning, one-of-a-kind festive masterpieces, you’re also doing your bit for the planet and bring your own potpourri of natural fragrance to your home.
Alan Caswell
RSS Feed
