It's nuts to decorate!

The world's most difficult tree to decorate has to be a contorted Hazel (Corylus Avellana Contorta) or Corkscrew Hazel.  It's all twists and tangles everywhere!  However, I managed to hang some oversized baubles on it having given up on the idea of lights!  I reckoned if I got lights on it, I'd NEVER be able to untangle them without breaking off all the twig tips and catkins which are already forming.  This tree does bear good crops of nuts - usually gobbled up by the dreaded grey squirrels.  Anyway, at night, it's uplit and, it does look a little more Christmassy.

A Natural Christmas Wreath.

How difficult could it be to make a wreath out of materials from the garden?  Well, actually not that difficult.  I cut some Dogwood stems of varying colours and twisted them into a circle and secured it with jute twine.  I found a few Hydrangea flowers and some variegate holly which I wired in and, hey presto hung it on the back door.  When the decorations come down out of the attic, I might wire in a bauble or 2 and add some ribbon.  In the meantime I like the natural look and the 'catherine wheel' style! As for the cost...............absolutely nuffink!

Vulcan Tribute!

Whilst watching the documentary on the AVRO Vulcan bomber - arguably the greatest aircraft ever built and its very last flight, I came across this photo taken in our - yes OUR garden.  Sadly the pear tree is no longer but it's totally tragic to realise that there is no longer an airworthy Vulcan in the entire world!

Naturally it was the sound that galvanised me into photographic action.  Once you're heard a Vulcan, you can NEVER forget it.  Even when I heard it, I couldn't believe my ears.  Lucky, my trusty camera was handy.  We were away when it enjoyed its last flight on the 15th October so here's our very own belated tribute to a great old bird!

Vulcan over PTC!!

Eroticism in the garden?

By night.....

...and by day.

Blog followers my recall that Chris brought this unwanted but rather large urn on the day of the Stoke Bliss show. We were much too busy with show exhibits, border preparation and base levelling to scrutinise the actual design. HOWEVER.... as it's uplit at night, we innocently paused to admire it's classical elegance last night. How could we fail to notice the somewhat risque design?  

Who needs elves???

Making these beautiful tree decorations and gift tags is keeping Chris busy!!  They are quite exquisite and as he's used so many different woods the variety of grains is huge.  They are also fragrant - particularly the Leylandii and the Cedar ones.  

Obviously each is unique and he's recycling local trees. He has more shapes and designs but these photos just depict the hearts and stars.  Some of the really big ones make lovely stand alone Christmas ornaments and the cedar ones make perfect pomanders as they repel moths and add a lovely fragrance inside a wardrobe or cupboard.  Would I make a good salesman???

Damage Limitation & Planning for Spring

The poor old pear tree took such a beating in the gales, it was very sad to see a major bough down on the ground and others looking very unsafe. Chris started his chainsaw and got to work.  The brash was dragged down to the bonfire and, on the plus side, (together with a couple of small dead elms,) we ended up with 3 barrowfuls of logs - small consolation!

Despite the failing light, there was time to plant bulbs (late in the year, I know) and wallflowers This job was all done in complete darkness beneath the light of the trellis lanterns.  This raised border is absolutely the perfect border to plant wallflowers as it means they are at nose height at the height of their fragrance.  Clever planning eh!

Fern Frolics!

Now you see him....

...now you don't

After all the unseasonably mild weather, the temperature plummeted and gales raged throughout the night.  The garden looked like a battle scene with leaves, twigs and small branches all over the lawns and a major limb from the the oldest pear tree had crashed down across the Fernery path.  

Safely stowed

Strong and bitterly cold north winds and glacial temperatures made the clear up memorable!!  Our first job was to remove the tree fern from the terrace and settle it safely in the greenhouse for winter.  It's grown so much; getting to the greenhouse wasn't easy - in fact Chris couldn't be seen at all as he towed it along on a sack truck!  Having arrived in the greenhouse, it was a very tight squeeze and next year, I think it will have to come out of its container and be planted in the woodland border.  Yes, I know that would mean lots of winter protection would be needed but I reckon we should be able to manage it.