GARDENING
The
Secret Garden…
at Christmas
Catherine Howell, a kitchen gardener at Preston Park Museum
and Grounds in Eaglescliffe, shares her tips for success in the
garden during the festive period and beyond…
HINTS
AND TIPS:
NOVEMBER/
DECEMBER/
JANUARY
A
s we reach midwinter, the shortening
days take their toll in the Walled
Garden. We have just a third of the
hours of daylight that we enjoyed during June
and the plants respond by scaling back their
growth accordingly.
The garden is quiet and the lack of cover
invites us into the world of the birds and the
small mammals who brave the open in search
of food.
We’re sheltered from hard frosts (the
Victorians designed the garden perfectly
to make the most of the sunlight and any
remaining warmth) but on the rare occasions
Jack Frost visits, we’re treated to jewelled seed
heads and glittered leaves on the crisp, winter
mornings.
The garden and grounds yield Yule
treasures of berries and branches, pungent
aromatic herbs such as sage and rosemary
and evergreens like yew and juniper. Our
Christmastime kitchen cooking makes the
most of the restorative flavours and our
hardworking wreath makers use its treasures
to adorn the doors of the Victorian street.
Bringing a little outdoors in is good for the soul
and worth repeating at home.
The bitterest of days provide us with the
perfect opportunity to tend to the Winter
Garden plants, many of which are mirrored by
domestic houseplants, though some are more
tropical.
We remove dying leaves, only water
sparingly and feed lightly. For those with itchy
green fingers, houseplants are the perfect
antidote when outdoor time is impossible but
for the most courageous!
It’s difficult to resist a little seed sowing and
we begin as soon as we return from the festive
break. The Mediterranean fruits – aubergines,
tomatoes and chillies – all benefit from the
earliest start and sit in a heated propagator
under grow lamps while we plan their eventual
resting space in the garden.
If the ground is thawed just enough, we
attempt broad beans and garlic outdoors with
the hardiest volunteers!
• Seeds and plants are the perfect
gifts for friends and relatives.
Make your own seed envelopes
or decorative pots for the
personal touch
• Adorn your home with some of
nature’s bounty – seed heads,
lichen-covered branches and
pine cones make beautiful festive
decorations
• Indulge in a little ‘you time’.
Take a moment to sit outdoors,
breathe deeply and allow the cold
air to reach the bottom of your
lungs. If you’re quiet you may be
lucky enough to see an unusual
bird (take a guide book!) or why
not draw or photograph the
things that catch your eye?
O
ur Christmas shop will
be open by the end of
November. Why not combine
your gift shopping with a visit to
the Winter Garden, a crisp walk
through the woodland and a hot
drink at the café?
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