Getting ready for the workshops

Just limbering up for the workshop season.  Really looking forward to all of the sessions that we are doing this year with both the University of Bristol Botanic Gardens and the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project.  

We are doing two sessions on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th in the Potting Shed at the Botanic Gardens making fresh traditional Christmas Wreaths.   If ever there was a perfect place to spend an afternoon making something lovely that is it.  And its warm....

New this year is a day at Bristol Zoo making traditional blue spruce swags to decorate fireplaces and staircases on Saturday 10th December.  We are going to make a day of it with a walk on the Downs after lunch with Mandy Leivers, the Education Officer at the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project talking about the history and folklore of the foiliage used for Christmas decoration.  Last year we did that walk after a heavy snowfall the day before and the temperature was well below zero even in the afternoon, so we were very happy to get back for tea and cake after..
 
More details are on the website.  There are a few places left so come and join us if you can....

a warm welcome to our Clifton Life readers

been a great week.  About to take delivery of our first batch of Welsh blue pine to start working on samples and our first order of wreaths  for delivery to The Better Food Company in Clifton later in the month.  The rope for our swags is on order from Neil in Norfolk too so its really starting to feel a lot like Christmas.

The Clifton Life article is out. Jamie Oliver on the cover and greengarland on page 11 with an interview for their regular GreenLife feature, all good stuff.

We are coming to the end of the hydrangea season and they have been selling very quickly. Hopefully we should have a few left for the markets in December but if the frost comes that will be all the hydrangeas until next year.

  the secateurs are being sharpened and we are nearly ready for the season.  Come join us..  

Orange and Cinnamon Wreath

Orange and Cinnamon Wreath

 Been making bases for this year's wreaths with some good willow from my mother's garden.  Its very easy to work with right now and doesn't need soaking.  It really is starting to feel like Christmas is coming.  
This Orange and Cinnamon Wreath was a big seller in 2010.  With the cold and the snow last Christmas season we decided that we should leave most of the holly berries to the birds and made these instead.  These smell gorgeous with Welsh Blue Spruce, perhaps Juniper or Bay depending on what is cut  and good on the day, and decorated with Orange slices and Cinnamon sticks.          
     

These we send in beautiful red gift boxes by post all over the UK.  They make lovely presents for family and friends with handwritten messages on greengarland gift cards.  Those first two weeks of December are going to be very busy.....