December is arguably the quietest month in the garden. And with the Christmas prep in full swing, that's no bad thing in my opinion! Having said that, I do like to escape into the garden now and then this month; it's a lovely way to take a breather from the fast pace that Christmas often demands. And there are still plenty of things to plant, which is perfect for helping us look forward to spring. If you'd like to do some planting this ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in November
As the gardening year starts to draw to an end, the amount of work to be done outdoors gradually decreases. So far this month my gardening time has been spent clearing up and putting away, rather than looking ahead to next year’s flowers and harvest. But it’s not all about putting things to bed for winter this month! There is still some planting to be done in November if you feel like a more uplifting task in the garden. Here ...
Tips for choosing the perfect real Christmas tree
Are you opting for a real Christmas tree this year? It’s hard to beat the impact of a real tree laden with all your treasured family decorations - even if those decorations are all in one small area thanks to the kids’ creative efforts! A real Christmas tree isn’t a cheap option, so naturally we all want to choose a really good one - but it can be quite bewildering knowing what to look out for and what to avoid when you make your ...
Taking the RSPB Wild Challenge: trees, leaves and seeds
Have you been getting outdoors and enjoying nature this autumn? We’ve been trying to make the most of the mild weather, and enjoying all that nature has to offer at this time of year. If you read the blog regularly you’ll know that we’re partnering with RSPB on lots of fun nature projects, and this month we’ve been trying out another of their Wild Challenge activities. RSPB Wild Challenge is all about helping wildlife and connecting with ...
Ideas for creating privacy in a family garden
Do you think of your garden as an outdoor room? At this time of year in particular, our gardens work hard to give us extra space for outdoor dining, family garden games, entertaining, and simply relaxing in the sunshine. Using our gardens more can make us feel the need to create some privacy. Unless your house is situated in a large, detached plot, your garden is likely to be overlooked in some way. Even if you get on well with your ...
All About the Japanese Maple
Today's post explores one of the most well-known small trees, the Japanese maple. Enjoy! Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are small, deciduous trees grown for their graceful habit, autumn colour and beautiful foliage which may be coloured or deeply dissected. Many acers grow extremely slowly and are perfect in a smaller garden, grown in large containers. The Japanese maple tree (Acer palmatum) belongs to the Aceraceae family, which is a ...
Woodland wanderings
I think this week has been the hardest so far this Winter for me to find any garden inspiration. The weather has been pretty foul and our garden is looking a bit like I feel; rather drab and in need of a bit of colour and sun to liven things up. Ah January, how we love you.... So with little to inspire us on the doorstep, and with Lily keen to continue her never-ending mission to find the perfect stick, we headed to our local wood to blow ...