Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

[SugarPlumTree]

Potting shed thread for those who enjoy talking about gardens and plants. Plenty of garden chairs and the wood burner lit now there is a chill in the air, please join us !

Holly is slow growing but does grow from cuttings
I raked up yet more damp leaves. I do like the smell of damp oak leaves in the autumn, it is a lovely fresh earthy smell, and the sky was blue, so it was a pleasant task.
I still haven't got the leaf mould out from the bottom of the heap though and now the top is overflowing wildly with this years leaves. Monty would probably come along and tut at the chaos though the robin seems to like it.
My tulip bulbs aren't quite in yet either.
The cyclamen leaves are growing wildly, the lacecap hydrangea is putting out yet more delicate pink and white florets, and the hellebores and azaleas are in bud already!

LightT I suspect that taking a cutting from a female tree is the only way of ensuring berries (assuming too that there is a male tree nearby). You wouldn't know what a seedling would turn out to be, would you?

It was a lovely day here on Saturday too and the birds seemed to be having a singing competition while I planted a few things my SIL gave me. They moved a couple of years ago to a house with a very shady garden, so have been buying shade-loving plants, and I am the lucky recipient of cuttings. It was glorious to be out in the garden again, after such a long time, just after MrB's operation, when I was too busy to be able to get out and do anything as frivolous as gardening.

Don't worry LightTripper Welcome to our lovely site

Oh I love that oaky damp smell too funnyperson We have fast growing different species of oaks here (continental ?).

Since hearing that the worms take the leaves underground to enrich the soil and watching the birds turn them over to get to the slugs\snails I haven't done any enthusiastic leaf clearing. I noticed many more worms in the garden too which is fab news .

My leaf mould comes mostly from sycamores-we live over the road from woodland. It's great to have a good source of leaf mould but sycamores are rather dispiriting leaves - dull brown with black blotches - like moths compared with butterflies, and they don't smell particularly.

Apparently the black blotches only grow where the air quality is very good so maybe that can be a happy thought!

I think I could live with berryless holly (I already have some plastic ones that this year are going to have to be woven into a wreath made out of bay and ivy )

I stupidly bought 2 male hollies Light (I think) so there'll be no berries though they're not old enough anyway.

Here in Fr. they sometimes sell mistletoe and holly in the markets but it's not everywhere like in Britain. Even though there's tons of mis. growing about the trees in fields.

I was reading an article in a magazine about mistletoe and how to propagate it. Apparently one smears the insides of some berries into a wound in the bark of a tree: apple and hawthorn will do. We have a little wild area round the back of the houses where hawthorn grows: I might try propagating some mistletoe, as the clumps on the trees in the pictures in the magazine looked amazing.

Yes I saved some berries last year to do that (I forgot where I put them after Christmas though) , but it's not easy because the berries really need to go through a birds' digestive system first apparently IFYSWIM

I was out in the cold mulching my newly planted alstromeres and phlox this morning, it's suddenly winter here, not freezing though.

We have to make room in the grange for a delivery of logs for the wood burner. I've put a lot of 'to be recycled' stuff in there and my car's in the garage (dh is in London). Darn.

None of my many Holly plants have berries though that's probably due to my hacking than being male. I never knew that btw. I think I'm going to have a go at a real wreath rather than my very old fake one. What I lack in artistic skill I make up in variety of greenery available! how hard can it be?

There is mistletoe growing on a tree over the road from me, although its a funny yellowy colour.

The 4 Roses are planted, all bulbs are in and leaves raked up -mostly--

I've got an overgrown euonymous that needs shaping and I'll cut lots of it to put in vases for my Christmas greenery,

I'm not good at wreaths (it upsets me that the greenery dies so quickly). Also it's fiddly

I am hosting a wreath making workshop on Thursday evening as a fundraiser for the preschool. A lovely local florist is giving her time and expertise for free. You should all come! There will be wine and nibbles and acres of lovely foliage

Ooh, Rhubarb. If only I lived a little bit closer, I'd be at your wreath-making workshop like a shot. I have not done much floristry, but have really enjoyed it when I have.

Oooh that sounds good Rhubarb... I wish I lived closer.

The first year in this house, with a large, and berried holly bush in the garden to play with, I made a whole wreath out of holly wrapped around. ouch ouch ouch.

These days I make a couple of circles of garden wire, one slightly smaller than the other, then wrap ivy pulled off the apple trees' trunks all round and between, then poke holly in and fix with florist's wire, and add baubles and ribbon. No ouch. One of my favourite advent tasks.

I shall be sure to post a pic of my creation!

It's freezing here today. Poor Rhubarbcat has been shivering - her fur is a bit thin where she was radioed; so I've put the heating on for her. I really need to go outside to exercise ds and rake up leaves, but we are all cosied up on the sofa instead.

Hello all

The wreath making sounds fabulous.

Quick question - I have two potted rhododendrons on the patio (Madame Masson and Germania from Homebase) and a rescued camellia in the flowerbed.

Should I be applying fleece to protect from frost? The Germania is laden with large buds and the others have a smattering.

Thanks!

Ref. wreath workshop I love to come Rhubarb but `i'm here till after christmas at least.

That sounds an easy way to make a wreath Bear. Thanks.

Ref. Rhodies. on patio. They'd probably be happier in the earth or at least placed on something that won't freeze the roots. Someone else may well have a better idea. HaveYouSeen.

Oh I'm going to use Choisya Ternata for my greenery not euonymous.

Ooh rhubarb what a lovely fundraising idea. Geoff dog is cold too no heating for him just a rediculous Christmas jumper which is a bit too small.

I am pondering how I could steal recycle the wreath-making workshop as a fundraiser for Brownies.

I think Camellias are generally quite hardy. However if they are newly planted and it is very cold like it was in 2010 then they can take a bashing. Mine did this and the Camellia nursery said it was it not being very established and very cold.

Would love to be close enough to you Rhubarb for your Wreath making night, sounds fabulous. I am looking at a lovely jug of Cornish flowers with foliage from my garden on the kitchen table - accompanied by the cat who is sitting on DD'S GCSE mock revision, which is taking over my dresser shame it is here and she is in the other room! I'm posting it but you'll have to tilt your heads to get the idea as it won't go straight.

Someone threaten me with something dire if I don't plant the tulips soon please ..

Hmm, magically it is the right way up, how strange.

What a gorgeous jug of flowers. What's in there? ::squints::

Shall we make a pact, SugarPlumTree, to get our tulips planted? I'm aiming for tomorrow or Saturday afternoon, depending on weather.

Rhubarb - There are folks on this thread asking for tips on wreath-making. Perhaps you should be marketing your workshop there?

Good plan Maudant, a pact of is . I think Saturday more realistic for me. Shall we say if we don't no plant buying next year ? I've just been given a garden centre voucher I am itching to spend so good incentive !

Flowers are Alstromeria, Sweet William, Paper White Narcissus and Anemones.