Long ago we filled our homes with Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe, then Victoria married Albert and the Christmas Tree was introduced; the Victorians loved them. Victorian Christmas cards often depict a family, rosy cheeks glowing, trudging through the snow carrying home the tree. Nowadays we are more likely to hop in our cars and visit our local nursery or garden centre where we have lots of choice - non-drop Scots Pine and Nordmans, Norway Spruce, cut or potted, they fill the home with a wonderful scent.

Every year brings new and very realistic artificial trees, green, touched with snow or for a real impact, black. Modern homes look good using a twiggy tree with lights on. Using just one colour such as silver on a black tree looks stunning.

Once you have chosen your tree and set it up, first you need to put the lights on; the Victorians would have used real candles (Health & Safety would have had a field day!). Check the lights before they go on the tree, nothing is more annoying and frustrating that to find a bulb gone when you have spent time placing these carefully on the tree. There’s lots of choice you can go for multicoloured, clear, Led or chasing.

This year black and bronze is a strong theme followed by red, gold, silver, blue and turquoise. Bows look pretty placed on the end of branches or woven through the tree. Baubles are a must – choose different sizes and hang these on the tree using different lengths (fishing wire is useful for this). Flowers such as roses look lovely clipped on to branches, berry garlands give depth to the tree. Lastly the top, this could be a large ribbon bow, a glass tree topper, a fairy or like me an angel, many years old made by an Aunt out of cardboard and a gold doily, happy memories.

A Happy Christmas from all at Swanland Nurseries.

Carole and Sue
December 2008