Christmas Flowers / Wintertime hidden gems

I am just back inside from a walk in one of the more remote parts of Wexford in southeast Ireland. Now I have just sat down in front of my computer to write this latest blog where there are no cars and no distractions. This place is perfect for recharging the batteries and getting more ideas from nature ...and here, we are much closer to nature, closer to its energy... I can feel the pace of life and nature itself at this time of year has slowed down to a crawl.

What nature offers us

Coming up to Christmas time, what can nature offer us to dress up our homes for these festive times? What alternatives to the ordinary and the other seasons? Winter time is about the sleeping time so we can work with what nature offers us. Obviously as things all around are in hibernation and are asleep, this seems very small, but there is still plenty enough for us to work with.

For example, there are loads of lovely twigs with no leaves, there is winter greenery such as populous eucalyptus and berries. These are perfect materials to start off with, or for example simply just to give us an extra finishing touch. Of course in cities everything can be much easier to access and makes it easier for us all to be surrounded by the simple winter gems.

We delight in using: dried fruits, cones, chestnuts, walnuts and anything that nature can provide. We can collect these throughout the year from late summer onwards and dry them out. These bits and pieces are perfect for rustic Christmas displays.

Whatever we decide to make, be it door wreaths, table arrangements, garlands... all these basic ingredients are available all around us....

To give a finishing touch, we can use cinnamon , cloves , candles and pretty pretty ribbons.

We are of course aw ever dying to hear your ideas. If you want something specific put into your arrangement, just talk to us and we are happy to work with you. Who knows, we might even learn something ourselves!