Hi All,
With Christmas fast approaching we are all beginning to dig out those decorations and set up the fairy lights. It is my favorite time of year as I can reflect upon what has passed and set up new plans for the future, but most of all I just love the cosiness that comes with setting up my home for Christmas. However one area that is long overlooked in winter is our gardens and although I don’t have one, I do believe it is important to remember that our garden designs and interior designs do go hand in hand with each other.
To me there is nothing prettier than our gardens when the snow comes; the hints of color from winter plants, mixed with the purity of the snow is almost magical and definitely what a white Christmas is all about! Being inside in the warm, when the snow has blanketed everything else = perfect. So how do we create the ultimate winter wonderland garden for 2013 – well here are some top tips.
Look at your winter color palette.
“baby it’s cold outside” are not just lyrics from a song, it is soooooo cold outside, that we are not going to want to stay out for hours gardening, fact! One of the simplest and most beautiful ways to get a wonderland garden is to inject a simple color palette into some hanging baskets. That way all you will need to do is water the baskets and check the flowers every now and again!
Now I know you are thinking that I am just going to be pushing red, white and green for Christmas and although I do love the classical I am also a fan of navy blue and silver for Christmas. So this is where I am starting.
Firstly you need to make sure you have a strong hanging basket base, have a look at ones from YouGarden. This way you have a solid foundation to build upon and you can start adding in some green shrubbery, making sure that they are a hardy plant or flower to take the winter chill. Now the majority of blue flowers blossom in January through Spring, so you may need to wait for them, but by starting now you will catch the end of winter into the next spring.
Set aside an area for those sunny days
Yes even in winter the sun can still come out and when it does it brings with it something magical. It is the blending of the icy cold air with the incandescent sun that makes this time of year the perfect dreamscape. So what better than having a warm area to sit in and just watch the frost melting – I know I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday morning.
With warmth being the number one thing here, you need to have a look at have a look at the current structure of your garden. It maybe that you have a patio where a fire pit could be perfect, especially for winter evenings of mulled wine and freezing air. Or you may have a pagoda where you could fit an electric heater to, perfect for reading the paper under on a Saturday morning. However if this is out of your budget, then simply grab yourself a variety of vintage blankets that you can snuggle up under to keep warm – with the right person this can be very romantic.
Look for some winter bushes
Nothing says Christmas more than holly and ivy, so let’s start right there! It maybe that you are already blessed with the beauty of a holly bush in your garden, the dark green speckled with little red berries is a childhood favorite of mine. However if you don’t want to take on the responsibility of a full grown holly hedge, then why not opt for a couple of smaller bushes placed within large pots and scattered around your garden. This will be easier to keep and can match the Christmas colours inside your home.
Along with holly, look for other long lasting shrubbery that offers dark greens and reds to your flower beds. This way you know they will survive frosts and snow, and on days when there is a sprinkling of snowflakes, you get the stark contrasts between the colours.