GARDENS
Ho, ho, hoe!
Enjoy the festivities but keep on top of your plot this month: it’ll give you time to breathe, support wildlife and plan for next year’s harvests
by LUCY HALL
MAKE a simple wreath
The tradition of fresh greenery bringing luck to our homes may stretch back in time but it still provides a joyful welcome for guests. For a simple, handmade wreath (above right), prune whippy lengths of stem from wisteria or clematis and soak overnight to aid flexibility. Form into a loose ring and tie with twine, then weave a mix of evergreens (shrubs, hedging, ivy) through and round the ring, tying in as you go. Top off with colourful accents, clustered around the ring – seed- or grass-heads, berries, fresh chillies and dried fruit all work. Compost after displaying.