Comments on: Deck the Halls

By: Dawn/LittleGreenFingers

Dawn/LittleGreenFingers — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:58:21 +0000

Please tell me some rosy-cheeked carol singers were standing outside too.

I have my beady eyes on some holly and ivy in the churchyard opposite but am worried I may be struck down for snaffling it.

By: mtp

mtp — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:20:28 +0000

Thanks for the tips everyone - will look out for those berries next November!

By: Mangochild

Mangochild — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:30:55 +0000

That’s wonderful! I don’t celebrate holidays this time of year, but I grabbed lots of leaves from my yard the other day (after advice from other bloggers) and used them as cover from my strawberries instead of using store-bought stuff… as someone pointed out, they are right there.

By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:58:23 +0000

I went to the allotment yesterday and came back laden with foliage. We too were lacking on berries so I am going to brighten things up with clementines with cloves stuck in them. Might have to do it a bit nearer to Christmas though so that I don’t have a house stinking of rotting oranges.

By: Gerti

Gerti — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 07:11:00 +0000

I started collecting some foliage and fir cones but never got round doing anything with it. Pity. I have a holly tree in my garden, but no berries, but I have another tree the birds don’t like with absolutely masses. Don’t think I’ll get round doing a wreath, the family are turning up today!

I love your website. It keeps me going with my new vegetable plot I dug in the autumn 2007. I had lots of veggies but my tomatoes on the plot were a disaster. Got the blight allround. I shall have to try your blight free variety this coming season. In addition I was given a spare greenhouse by my neighbour and now have to grow something in there. I bought a grapevine but my friend tells me I have to plant it outside to train it inside. Any ideas?

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:37:47 +0000

Awww. This makes me think of Christmas two years ago with you! I had so much fun decorating with you with our fresh supply of foliage from the grounds. I miss you!!
P.S. Living in an apartment in downtown Denver doesn’t afford much free foliage to be found right outside my home. :(

By: S@sha

S@sha — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:46:32 +0000

I live in a completely different climate than you, an arid high desert, so no holly here at all. Well, I’m sure in some people’s yards, but not my own. I waited all Fall to trim certain evergreen shrubs though, in order to use the clippings for a wreath. It turned out nicely with a combo of the greener cedar branches, bluer juniper some with lovely blue berries, and for a pop of red a few of the wrinkly apples out of the storage bin.

By: Kay

Kay — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:23:01 +0000

The holly in our garden was laden with berries but the birds are having a feeding frenzy because of the cold weather. We did have a couple of redwings eating the berries the other day. They were beautiful. Mr and Mrs Blackbird are partial to a berry or three as well.
Kay

By: Jane L

Jane L — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:22:34 +0000

There were loads of holly berries earlier in the autumn - in fact a good year for berries all round. You have to pick berried holly at least three to four weeks before Christmas before the birds strip them ( often in one go ). I have a single precious sprig with berries saved for the pudding from a holly tree in the garden. I picked it in early November. The tree was covered before the blackbirds got the rest. Picked early you can keep branches in a bucket for ages in a shed or garage.