December 2014 Newsletter

Last call to any slow coaches out there! ….

You only have a couple of days left to pre-order your Christmas tree and get 10% off the price and free local delivery. This offer ends on Sunday 30 ^th November … it’s no use turning up on Monday and saying you forgot!!

From 1^st December all trees will be full price and usual delivery charges will apply .

Phew! Now I’ve got that off my chest, I can tell you what else is going on …

This Saturday is the ‘Love West Dulwich’ Christmas fair. There is a packed programme of entertainment, events and promotions on the day, including:

10.30am – 12.30 Wreath making demonstration at the garden centre

11am – 12 noon Dulwich Opera

11am – 12noon Christmas canapes cooking demonstration at In-Toto

12 noon – 1pm Pop Choir

1pm – 2pm Tin Pan Annie

2.30pm Print-Making Demonstration at Half Moon Studio

2.00 - 3.00pm Glee Club

 3pm – 3.45pm Gems Dance School Workshop

4.30pm – 4.45 Mrs Christmas

The entertainment will be taking place just outside Lloyds bank, under an amazing Raj tent.

As well as these timed events, there is also the following going on …

• Street Food Stalls in the car park area on Croxted Road
• Arts & Crafts stalls on Rosendale Road
• Christmas Food Tasting at Cook
•  Cup of mulled cider with every Christmas treat purchased at Dulwich Bakery
• ‘Where’s Santa?’ Competition – collect forms from Dulwich Books
• Opium Jewellery Presentation with Prosecco in Jaadu
• Chianti Mulled Wine at La Gastronomia
• 15% off any retail product in Polished on Rosendale Road
• Roast chestnuts and pulled pork baps at Scotch Meats on Rosendale Road
• Christmas Decorating Workshops at The Dulwich Trader
• Free prize draw for a Christmas hamper when you pop into Thomas’s
• Santa’s grotto and face painting with Wigwam on Rosendale Road
• Wine tasting at Oddbins
• Buy one coffee, get one free at Tea West

As you can see, West Dulwich will be well worth a visit on Saturday! Hope to see you then.

Here at the garden centre we’re getting into the Christmas spirit and the place is certainly looking and smelling very festive. Our first delivery of trees has arrived, so we’re enveloped in that pine forest scent again.

There are still fabulous plants and shrubs to be had … naked winter stems on the silver birches that almost glow at dusk, heavily laden berried Pyracantha and Skimmia reevesiana, delicate Cyclamen bravely flowering their hearts out, and formal looking standard bay and Ligustrum.

In the shop, we have Amaryllis bulbs ready to plant now, in shades from palest cream, through vibrant red, to deepest black.

If you haven’t already seen the fantastic decorations we’ve sourced this year, come in soon as they are disappearing fast …. gorgeous smoked glass baubles, handmade silver door wreaths, tiny rocking horses, glass baubles in a range of colours, rustic gingerbread men and wooden tree decorations – ranging in price from just 95p to £200, there really is something for every budget. Oh, and there are the CUTEST decorations made from felt … little elves, foxes, robins, pheasants and more. Plus some that come in kits to be made – either by you or your children. Something to do on these long dark winter evenings!

In the Vintage Shed you’ll find one of us hard at work as we manage the florist – with berried twigs, swathes of ivy and sparkly stems, the shed is transformed into something quite delightful for the month. We’ll be making door wreaths and table decorations as usual which you can either pick off-the-shelf, or have made-to-order for a specified day. We are delighted that Tamsin, whom many of you know, is able to help out again this year. Drop by and have a chat with any of us to find out what we can do for you.

Most of you know that we have a plethora of items that make ideal gifts and stocking fillers, ranging from hand carved pencils, to fabulous Felco secateurs (for the serious gardener!); from luscious hand creams to exquisite candles – be seduced by the scent of cinnamon and clove, fig, sandalwood and stem ginger. Hand made in the UK is the range of bird nesters and feeders. Also made in the UK are our Burgon and Ball gardening tools. Or if you’re still not quite sure what to get that gardener friend for Christmas, what about a voucher, so they can come and choose for themselves?

Doing your Christmas shopping locally is so rewarding. You’ll avoid the crush of the crowds, get better service, and remain calm and zen … with no lugging of heavy bags home on the tube or bus! Add to that the prospect of a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie being handed to you, and you’ll see it makes sense to ‘stay local’.

So, we very much hope to see you on Saturday and beyond, but I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year.

As usual, Sally’s check list of things to be doing in the garden over the coming weeks follows this.

With warm wishes to you and your family

Karen and the team

PS December opening hours are back to normal ….

9.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm Sundays.

Garden jobs for December

Nobody's very interested in going out into the garden in December, so this isn't a long list, just a few simple hints and tips to keep your outside space healthy and looking good.

My top 2 jobs for December, and the winter ahead

1. Protect tender plants from cold temperatures, either by moving them to a sheltered spot or into a greenhouse, or by mulching and fleecing plants which can't be moved.

2. Write a Christmas wish list for the garden... Santa can have green fingers!

Planting, pruning and protection

• There is still plenty of opportunity to plant containers for winter interest. Use crocus or narcissi (available in pots), skimmia, cyclamen, polyanthus and trailing ivy, to brighten up the view from inside.
• If ferns are looking a bit tatty, give them a Christmas haircut, close to the crown, just as the new growth is coming through. A drop of liquid fertiliser will give them a boost too.
• Sow broad beans, directly into the ground, but not if it's frozen or waterlogged.
• Prune apple and pear trees during the winter months.
• Plant deciduous trees and shrubs.
• Move containers to a sheltered, dry spot, grouped together for mutual protection. Stand pots on feet or bricks to prevent water logging, and wrap with bubble wrap, hessian or fleece to protect the roots from freezing temperatures, and prevent the pots cracking in freezing weather.
• If snow is forecast, tie up cordylines, conifers and other plants which may be damaged by the weight of snow.
• Raid the garden for ivy to trail through Christmas decorations, and for pretty seed heads and cones to spray.

Indoors

• Indoor bulbs such as hyacinths, narcissi and amaryllis will last longer if kept in cooler conditions of 13-15C. The same applies to indoor plants such as cyclamen, azalea and poinsettia - they don't like central heating as much as we do!

Lawns

• Throughout the winter months, avoid walking on waterlogged or frozen grass.

General garden maintenance

• Check fences and trellis and repair as necessary.
• Make sure climbers are tied in and trees are stable to protect against wind damage.
• When freezing temperatures are forecast, a ball left floating on the pond can be removed to leave an air hole. This is especially important if there are fish in the pond.
• Frosts will improve the structure of previously dug soil, but take care not to walk on or work the soil when it is waterlogged as this will do more damage than good.
• Frosts and freezing temperatures will help to kill off pests and disease, so there's an upside to those cold days and nights!

Wildlife

• Birds need regular supplies of food and water through the winter months, so keep the feeders topped up with high calorie offerings.

Gift ideas

• One of the best and longest lasting Christmas presents I've received was a Camellia, 20 years ago! It lives in a container and flowers reliably every year. Other special plants to give include beautifully scented Daphne, elegant Magnolia stellata, an Olive tree, large or small, a pot of scented paperwhite narcissi, or an elegant amaryllis to grow.

I wish you a peaceful Christmas season and look forward to 2015 with lots of ideas for your gardens and outside spaces.

Sally