Aroundtown Magazine November/December 2022 Edition

HOME & GARDEN
May your days
be merry and bright
By Garden Designer, Sally Cunis
The ground beneath
the vast golden canopy
of the old oak tree
crunches underfoot, a
dense carpet this year
of shining acorns.
After the seemingly endless
months of heat, hedgerows and
trees are ablaze in their autumn
coats of fiery scarlet, orange, russet
and yellow in striking contrast to the
blue skies above, a dramatic sight
to behold until winter winds tear
the leaves from the branches and
scatter them across the land.
Apples and pears have been
extremely bountiful and surplus
windfalls are left in the orchard for
the pheasants. Rose hips, haws and
berries glow red in the hedgerows
and on berrying trees such as
Sorbus and Ilex, a welcome feast
for hungry birds and wildlife. As
usual I will have to wait and see if
Robin
Pheasant
our resident blackbirds and visiting
flocks of Redwings strip all the holly
berries once again!
As the year rushes to a close
and the nights draw in remember
to bring in tender plants, wrapping
those that cannot be moved with
“ Simple,
biodegradable
wreaths can be
made however
using foraged
material rather than
shop-bought items.
”
hessian against the cold; check
on stored Dahlia bulbs, tie in loose
climbers, tidy up the garden and
then clean and put away tools and
the lawn mower (and maybe arrange
for a service) until the spring.
Consider leaving a pile of garden
pruning and dry leaves in a quiet
corner as a shelter for hedgehogs
Woodland walk
Decorated willow wreath
or build a hedgehog home or insect
hotel to help the wildlife through the
winter. In addition, put out a regular
supply of fresh water, seed and
fat balls.
I enjoy making wreaths with
friends at this time of the year to
hang on my door. The traditional
way to make a wreath is to use a
wire base onto which moss and
greenery are tightly bound prior to
adding embellishments of choice.
Simple, biodegradable wreaths
can be made however using
foraged material rather than shopbought
items. Twist several lengths
of flexible willow, hazel or other soft
twiggy material into a circle and
secure with garden twine. Wrap
long pieces of trailing ivy, Vinca
minor, or holly around the circular
base tying on well. Tuck in teasel
heads, grasses, dried fern fronds or
feathers to suit.
Berrying plants can be added
but remember that the birds may
swoop down and strip them! If you
wish to add some late flowers and
evergreen foliage from the garden,
first wrap balls of moss around the
cut stems and they should last for a
few days. Consider making another
twig wreath adding only berrying
material such as holly, Sorbus
and Cotoneaster, decorated with
perennial seed heads or a large, dry
sunflower head and hang in a tree
as a festive treat for the birds.
Make up a doorstep planter
either as a Christmas gift or to
brighten up your own front door.
Choose a pretty glazed pot in which
to plant colourful, hardy Cyclamen,
winter heather and winter pansies
Posy of garden treasures
Berries of Euonymus, Rose,
Ilex and Cotoneaster
underplanted with miniature spring
iris and anemone blanda. Push a
few pieces of red Cornus (dogwood)
in amongst the display to hold up
the plants and add a pop of colour.
For the festive table, arrange small
posies of evergreen foliage, larch
cones on slender stems and holly in
old jam jars or place a homemade
wreath flat on a large plate in the
middle of the table with a pillar
candle in the middle for a dramatic
centrepiece.
Keep designs low to enable
visitors to see and talk across the
display rather than being obscured
by it. If using candles, remember to
extinguish them when leaving the
room as dry foliage and seed heads
are combustible.
Gardening friends always enjoy
homemade garden gifts such as
a wreath, a pot of bulbs, a bowl of
hyacinths or a jar of jam from the
fruit gathered on an autumn walk or
from the garden.
Whatever you do, enjoy the rest
of the fiery autumn colours and the
excitement of the festive season.
78 aroundtownmagazine.co.uk