Under the 'Kissletoe!"

Rudolph is born!

Chris has got reindeer making off to a fine art. The idea started with me drawing one on the back of an envelope about 5 years ago.  Since then, Chris has streamlined production and Rudolph only took half an hour to build.  The prototype took most of one Saturday as I recall!  This just has to be a good use of Leylandii conifer which were topped 2 years ago and make up his head and body.  His legs and antlers are Hazel.  He now stands at the gate welcoming or rather poking his tongue out at visitors and passers by over the Christmas period. These are very popular locally and Chris has been selling them - two sizes: large and small!! Funny how a scribbled design has grown over the years.

Rudolph is finished

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???