Season's Greetings
to all our TWILite Members & Friends
December is already upon us and I will forgive you if gardening is not the first thing on your mind this month but if you go into the garden to hang out the washing or to replenish the bird table you may well get a whiff of winter flowering plants which have amazing scent, like Viburnam bodnantense, honeysuckle purpusii, sarcococca and witch hazel to name but a few. If you do not have any of these amazing plants maybe consider where you can put one in the spring.
You will no doubt have been busy buying gifts for the family, do not forget to write your own wish list, it could be an opportunity to get some decent tools which make tasks so much easier. Be specific down to the model number, any old thing will not do. Good tools are expensive but last a lifetime if you look after them and if they cost a lot you probably will. Spades I mentioned earlier, likewise a fork, in stainless steel, not too heavy and one that fits YOU, not the person who bought it. Secateurs, only one make the professionals use, Felco, they cost about £50 but can be overhauled and will last forever. A hand fork and trowel, again stainless steel is best, make sure the metal part of the implement goes right up through the handle or it will fall off after a while. Those are the most important tools but you will need good shears, a rake and hoe. Do not just buy what is in the garden centre, go online and see what is out there and buy high quality.
If you have some holly in your garden with berries on and you would like it indoors for Christmas decoration, I suggest you cut some and put it in a bucket of water somewhere cool or you will probably find the birds have eaten it by Christmas Eve.
Remember that Amaryllis (proper name Hippeastrum) make lovely gifts that go on giving after Christmas has been forgotten, they are very easy and not expensive, a bigger bulb will give better results.
to all our TWILite Members & Friends
December is already upon us and I will forgive you if gardening is not the first thing on your mind this month but if you go into the garden to hang out the washing or to replenish the bird table you may well get a whiff of winter flowering plants which have amazing scent, like Viburnam bodnantense, honeysuckle purpusii, sarcococca and witch hazel to name but a few. If you do not have any of these amazing plants maybe consider where you can put one in the spring.
You will no doubt have been busy buying gifts for the family, do not forget to write your own wish list, it could be an opportunity to get some decent tools which make tasks so much easier. Be specific down to the model number, any old thing will not do. Good tools are expensive but last a lifetime if you look after them and if they cost a lot you probably will. Spades I mentioned earlier, likewise a fork, in stainless steel, not too heavy and one that fits YOU, not the person who bought it. Secateurs, only one make the professionals use, Felco, they cost about £50 but can be overhauled and will last forever. A hand fork and trowel, again stainless steel is best, make sure the metal part of the implement goes right up through the handle or it will fall off after a while. Those are the most important tools but you will need good shears, a rake and hoe. Do not just buy what is in the garden centre, go online and see what is out there and buy high quality.
If you have some holly in your garden with berries on and you would like it indoors for Christmas decoration, I suggest you cut some and put it in a bucket of water somewhere cool or you will probably find the birds have eaten it by Christmas Eve.
Remember that Amaryllis (proper name Hippeastrum) make lovely gifts that go on giving after Christmas has been forgotten, they are very easy and not expensive, a bigger bulb will give better results.
All that remains is for me to wish you a happy Christmas and healthy New Year and to look forward to the next phase of the gardening calender.
Caroline x