BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN...

Harriet Rouse looks at ways to bring the garden indoors, including homemade table decorations and wreaths no rules, just take your time and ensure that you have scissors or secateurs to hand to trim to length, and some twine to fix things once you're happy. it just takes a little

The temperature may have dropped, with those mild summer evenings sat out in the garden or at the beach a distant memory, but there is still joy to be had from the garden even if we find ourselves spending less of our time in it. Whilst it may seem that nothing very much is happening, there are still plenty of plants thriving in the winter months, and, with a little planning, enjoyment and colour can still be found before the early shoots of spring start to appear.

Hellebores come in an array of colours and are also beautiful in cut arrangements. Flowering from December to March, they are known as the Christmas Rose and are the perfect addition to the winter garden. There are also several varieties of winter-flowering clematis (cirrhosa) which add some much-needed interest and blooms. The easiest way to inject an instant bit of colour is in hanging baskets or pots. Head to the garden centre and seek out winter pansies, violas and trailing ivy, and make sure you position your pots and baskets somewhere that you'll be able to enjoy them from the inside (not just to someone passing by).

Throughout the winter evergreen foliage is abundant in the garden perfect for bringing the outside in, from ivy and eucalyptus to pittosporum, there's always something that you can use.

Whilst the summer may have a long list of flowers perfect for displaying in vases, there's still a lot to work with, it just takes a little more imagination!

Dried flowers such as hydrangeas and ferns look striking when paired with evergreens, branches and a few inexpensive flowers that you can pick up in any supermarket. Let your imagination run wild, and search Pinterest and Instagram for ideas. There are fashionable. All you need is a table (cloth optional) and and an inexpensive way they another matter

When it comes to the winter, and especially December there's a lot of entertaining, and not just on the 25th! The good news is that cosy and snug has never been simpler or more fashionable. All you need is a table (cloth optional) and to simply drape it with ivy or eucalyptus. A few tea lights or candles dotted throughout with some dimmed lights is all the effort you need to make, and trust us when we say it will look like you've gone to a lot more effort than you have. If you've got a house full, and a table plan to boot, a simple gold pen and an ivy leaf is the perfect seasonal touch and an inexpensive way to make sure everyone knows where they are supposed to sit. Whether or not they stay there is another matter entirely.

Feed the birds

It might seem obvious, but with winter comes a lack of food for our feathered friends. The earlier you put it out, the earlier the birds will know that your garden is the place to hang out this wintertime, and with them, they'll be flashes of colour, and constant visitors to your trees for you to glance out at from the comfort of your home.

Make sure that you don't let the food or water run out - birds are fickle creatures and will move on if they don't think that dinner is guaranteed. It's also important that you don't put out too much food so that it spoils. You'll soon settle into an idea of the optimum levels though, and the good news is, that while any food you put out would probably be pilfered in the UK by grey squirrels, at worst you'll get a red squirrel hanging out in the garden waiting for its treats... well with any luck anyway!

Get the kids involved with restocking the bird feeders (ensuring they wash their hands afterwards), or make your own by using a scraped out grapefruit or orange skin and filling it with lard or suet mixed with seeds and nuts.

Different birds like different foods, so make sure that you have a selection of treats hanging from a pole/balcony or tree to attract the most diverse wildlife. They also feed differently. The RSPB suggests using a hanging plastic feeder containing sunflower hearts to attract finches, tits and sparrows; a hanging mesh feeder with peanuts to attract tits and a hanging mesh feeder with fat balls for (mainly) tits and sparrows. If your feeding station is housed on a tree, then put some suet or lard onto the bark, or rest a feeder in the branches of a tree to encourage woodpeckers.

Make a wreath

The prospect of being creative may fill you with horror, but wreath making is not only an enjoyable and accessible activity, but it's also a great one to do with friends, especially over a glass or two of mulled wine.

Should you not have the faintest idea where to start, most florists across the island offer wreath-making evenings throughout December. Varying hugely in price and what's included, they book up quickly but keep an eye out on Facebook or Instagram for any last-minute cancellations.

If you'd like to DIY, we'd recommend buying a base. The days of oasis are over as we try and go as plastic-free as possible - they're also heavier and harder to use, so ask in the market in town or at your local florist whether they have a moss base that you can buy (moss is light but retains moisture helping it to last longer). You can also buy wire base on Amazon or eBay which keeps things simple - though works best with spruce/fir as they don't hold water.

Then all you'll need is some floristry scissors, wire (22 gage is a good weight to work with), and greenery. The good news is that a lot of greenery is available for free around the garden - collect long lengths of ivy, spruce, holly and berries, and you'll already be halfway there. Pop into any florist and buy a bunch or two of foliage if you need to bulk things out, and you can easily add fir cones, fruits, baubles, ribbons... but start by getting the base done. Work in a clockwise motion wrapping the wire round to capture the foliage, and do not cut the wire until you're finished! That way you've only got two weak points, and the beginning and at the end. Keep going until it's all covered, and go round again if needed. Remember you can trim it afterwards if needed, and - if in doubt - pop onto YouTube! There's plenty of tutorials there!

The most important thing of all at this time of year is to try and enjoy. Enjoy the shorter days and the longer nights, the nesting, the films. Enjoy a break in the weather than allows you to take a walk through the lanes without being drenched or frozen. Every season has its good points both in the garden and in the home, and winter - whilst not necessarily putting on so much of a colourful display - is no exception. 