Green Fingers: It is beginning to look at lot like Christmas
Creating a homemade Christmas wreath.
While many people start the Christmas mode in November, the vast majority begin from the starting blocks once the month rings in December. It is amazing to see the transformation that a change in a date makes, as I am one of those and then there is a set routine all the way until Christmas day.
There are great intentions about being prepared well in advance so there is no panic or mad rush to get everything organised, but in reality that ideal situation never arises.
I suppose that many of us have reached that halfway mark where some things are completed well in advance, and the routine tasks are completed as and when required but I have to say there has been no panic or mad rush for years.
With time comes experience and perhaps wisdom and, like many others, we start to gather and put aside useful items that might be used as gifts in the future and this is a small insurance that ensures there is no blank spot when it comes to having a handy gift available at any time.
Anyone who spends time in the garden is usually easy to please and the scope of possible gifts is huge. A garden gift token with no expiry date, in our experience, proves to be one of the best received presents for anyone who likes being outside, and is not a “boring cop-out” at all, as in our garden centre we are at the receiving end of tokens being used with the “chat” on the lines of getting some items that would not normally be considered, so it is thought of as a treat.
Giving a plant is more personal but a little care would have to be taken unless you know the person well, as in family or friend, and it is nice to receive an unusual plant, which would be a pleasant surprise and a lasting gift.
It is usually straightforward as it is a living item, which can be exchanged if the person has that plant or prefers a different one. Camellias, unusual shrubs, fruiting plants and small ornamental trees are proving the most popular choices.
The vast majority of wreaths are used as a seasonal memory on a grave for a loved one and are available everywhere but for something different you can get neat living decorations or a potted container, both composed of a mixture of natural pine, holly and fir.
Door wreaths are of limited popularity but there are beautiful ones available, both artificial and living that will make your door look like a traditional Christmas card!
Gardening for some might be an all-year-round activity but, in most cases, it is seasonal with peaks and troughs of involvement as personal interest dictates. Being outdoors, however, is an all round interest for a huge number of people and this includes our family, who feel we must get out in the fresh air whenever we can and we get energised by being in the woods, mountains or beaches for a few hours before settling inside in the warmth of our home, and with this in mind I should like to wish all of you a peaceful and relaxing Christmas and a Happy New Year.
When you think about it, it must be obvious that vegetable plots need regular top-ups of manure or compost. Quite simply, harvesting food crops each year depletes the ground of nutrients and needs replacing, the amount of which depends on what type of vegetables were grown in a particular plot.
If you have any queries or comments you are welcome to share them with me on 051-384273 or orchardstowngardencentre@hotmail.com and if of general interest I will include it in a future newsletter.
