“…a tardis shed that’s bigger on the inside than the outside!”
Enjoy the festive season indoors and out! Naomi Slade picks her favourite plants for winter wow
Naomi Slade chooses her favourite plants for winter wow,
With its colours, bright lights, decorations and sense of anticipation, the festive season can be delightfully all-consuming. But, with a little attention, outdoor planting can jingle its bells too, with fragrant flowers, bright stems and berries, and glowing leaves of every hue.
As you deck your halls, bear in mind that there might be a whole host of seasonal surprises on, rather than under, your trees. Glossy evergreen foliage is perfect for creating swags and wreaths brightened with foraged berries. Vases can be filled with colourful stems and fragrant flowers – beautiful, locally sourced and sustainable, too.
Ditch gaudy plastic baubles for handsome, structural pinecones and ethereal, elegant seedheads left over from summer. These can be touched up with just a hint of sparkle or left au naturel for the eco-Christmas at home.
Make the view from the window seasonally on point too with a string of solar lights twinkling among icy-white birch branches and structural evergreen trees arrayed with edible treats for the birds. Tubs with a shrubby skimmia, a few early bulbs and a cascade of ivy, set by the door, welcome you home from frosty outings and, on dull days, a few pots on the windowsill present a welcome splash of colour.
Even in the depths of winter, hope can spring anew as plants push out of the sod and twigs burst into miraculous bloom. It’s a time, if not to be jolly, then certainly to appreciate peace and any small wonders, so head outdoors and see what gifts your garden has in store for you! ➤
Glossy evergreen foliage is perfect for creating swags and wreaths