Searching for simple but beautifully seasonal ways to bring the garden indoors this Christmas? See below for some inspiration.
1. Forget about using fresh flowers for the table (whatever blooms you buy at this time of year will almost certainly be imported flowers that have been shipped long distances in refrigerated containers from far-away countries) and instead concentrate on using lots of lush, seasonal, locally-grown evergreen foliage, sculptural seed-heads and twiggy bits from the garden or allotment, all of which look so good when used as seasonal decorations at this time of year. Gather the individual elements together by making lots of individual mini-bouquets (tie the bundled stems of each of these securely with short lengths of fine wire) and then wire them along a length of strong gardener's green twine to create a slender, flexible garland that can be placed loosely along the centre of the table.
2. Use an assortment of dainty vases, bottles and containers arranged along the centre of your Christmas table to create a dried flower and foliage tablescape where every individual stem sings. It might be some aromatic sprigs of pine or scented sarcococca, a few dried helichrysums, hydrangeas, or statice, or a handful of dried poppy, fern leaves, grass heads or nigella seed-heads foraged from the garden. Whatever you plump for, try to choose material that's local, seasonal and planet-friendly, ideally plucked from your or a friend's or family member's garden or allotment so that it carries added personal significance. For the same reason try to avoid buying spray-painted or bleached dried flowers or foliage, which come with a high environmental cost.
3. Dress that festive mantelpiece (or window sill) with a plump garland of locally-grown holly, ivy, pine, eucalyptus or sarcococca plus some twiggy bits (examples include bare birch or beech branches). Use fine lengths of wire to fix them together, or place them in a collection of small bottles or vases concealed by the lush foliage so that the mechanics aren't obvious.
4. Use some dainty sprigs of Irish-grown evergreen foliage and/or some dried flowers or seed-heads (suitable examples include lunaria, helichrysum, lavender, papaver) to add some truly seasonal charm to your gift-wrapped presents by wiring/taping them in place with the gift tags. It's such a simple but effective way to add a natural and very personal touch to any gift.
5. Christmas wreaths aren't just for outdoors. For a supersized one that will really fill your house with festive spirit, use a hula hoop for the basic rigid circular frame. If it's brightly coloured, paint it a darker colour or wrap it in a very tightly-bound blanket of moss (ideally use a spool of what's known as binding wire to do this) before wiring on a selection of mini-bouquets of foliage and dried seed-heads gathered from the garden. To keep it looking fresh and flouncy for as long as possible, very gently spritz your natural wreath with water every second day and keep it away from any nearby sources of direct heat such as a radiator or stove.
6. Forget that battered, wilting sprig of mistletoe and make a kissing ball instead, using a scrunched-up ball of chicken wire padded out with some damp garden moss as the base. You're aiming for a finished sphere with a diameter of 20-25cm. Hang it from the ceiling or a door frame (use a length of strong twine or fine ribbon tied to the chicken wire) and then cover it with a light layer of evergreen foliage (suitable candidates include eucalyptus, holly, rosemary, pine, sarcococca, ozothamnus, pittosporum) followed by ornamental seed-heads, berries, hips, dried flowers and grasses. To make sure that these remain secured to the wire base, it's a good idea to use small lengths of fine florist's wire (stub wire) to fix them discreetly in place. Finish off with a flourish by adding another length of ribbon to dangle from the base.
7. Looking for a space-efficient, contemporary alternative to the traditional Christmas tree? Pick a handful of sculptural bare branches from a mature/established tree – all the better if it's a gnarled, mossy specimen with twiggy branches festooned with moss, lichen or berries – and then place these in a large vase or container. To secure them safely in place, scrunch some chicken wire into the container first and then fix this in place with a criss-cross grid of sticky pot tape over the top of the vase. Leave the branches bare for a starkly beautiful look or add some Christmas bling with ribbons, fairy lights and baubles.
8. Help your dinner guests to get in the mood for festivities by making each of them a seasonal boutonniere to wear on Christmas day. Treat these buttonholes as dainty bouquets-in-miniature, using one or two short sprigs of evergreen foliage (nothing prickly) plus some ornamental seed-heads or dried grasses for texture and added interest. Wire them together tightly at the base of the stems and then (for a very professional look), wrap some pretty ribbon or stem tape tightly around the stems. Finish off by sticking a couple of florist's pins into the base, which can then be used by your guests to fix their buttonholes in place. You can also use this same technique to make charming seasonal place-settings for the table. All that's needed are a few sprigs of foliage and/or dried flowers plus seed-heads tied into mini-bouquets and wrapped with ribbon. These can then be tucked under napkin rings or placed on side plates or next to table-settings.
This Week in the Garden
Secure your garden/allotment and any garden structures against the threat of storm damage over the coming weeks. Close down vents, doors and windows of glasshouses/polytunnels, move vulnerable potted plants under cover, lift potted plants up from ground level on blocks/bricks to boost drainage, and check any mature trees or shrubs for possible previous damage sustained during Storm Barra such as dangling, broken branches etc.
Horticultural fleece offers excellent protection against frost damage and wind chill, boosting growth levels and supporting plant health. So it’s a good idea at this time of year to gather, wash and dry any lengths of garden fleece and then store it away in preparation for any possible cold snaps ahead where vulnerable plants may need some extra thermal protection, making sure to discard any very tattered sections and order more when and if required. Recommended stockists include fruithillfarm.com and all good garden centres.
