Town and Country Garden Newsletter - December 2013

Welcome to the December Issue of Town and Country Gardens With the approach of winter and majority of the leaf-fall behind us, the garden is taking on an air of tranquility. There is an absence of urgency to the hectic maintenance routines of the summer months and we're all gathering our thoughts after one of the busiest gardening seasons ever! This month we've highlighted our pick of December's events, a seasonal recipe, about-the-garden tips and with much excitement, welcome a new design-focused addition to the Town & Country Gardens team. Here's to a well-deserved and invigorating Christmas break... happy holidays everyone!

Restful days late December and January provide the perfect opportunity to review the past year and functions of your garden. Grab a cup of tea (better still, wine!) and consider the existing state of your garden - does your ideal family/entertaining/natural environment need help? We now have an in-house landscape designer to assist you in re-configuration of your outside living space - no job is ever too big or too small! Welcoming...  We'd like to welcome Stephanie Graham to the Town & Country Gardens team. Stephanie joins us to help us develop the landscaping department and to assist Andrew in the smooth running of the garden maintenance teams. Fresh from working for a landscaping company in West London, she has a degree in Landscape Architecture from Victoria University, New Zealand so we are very excited to be able to announce that she will be our in-house designer and office Kiwi for the foreseeable future! Stephanie has an interest in water-sensitive planting design, urban night gardens and stimulating interest and involvement in London's public spaces, too frequently overlooked she says. Stephanie's recommendation from the Town & Country Gardens a-store this month? For a interesting stocking filler, 'The London Garden Book A-Z' by Abigail Willis. If you'd like the benefit of her design insights or simply require some suggestions toward an existing gardening project, email us or phone the office on 0207 7367801.   Garden tips for this month... This is a great time to start planning for the new year.  No plan would be complete without a wish list of new planting ideas, tools, books and materials needed for next season.  For help finding new ideas for the garden or just some Christmas goodies check out our online store. Continue pruning dormant summer and autumn blooming shrubs and prune trees in winter to repair damage and improve structure.  Wait until spring to do the majority of evergreen pruning.  You can remove small branches that block walks and drives - a few branches of red twig dogwood, juniper, Sarcoccoca (Christmas Box) and yews can be effectively added to your indoor or outdoor holiday décor.   Continue to care for annuals and tropicals that are growing indoors for the winter. Keep them out of drafts and in the brightest location possible. Water indoor house plants whenever the top few inches of soil start to dry.  Apply enough water so that the excess runs out the bottom.  Pour off any water that collects in the saucer.  Apply a dilute solution of any flowering house plant fertilizer to plants that are actively growing.   Here is our pick of some great upcoming events to help get into the spirit of the season...   Christmas at Kew Gardens Selvedge Christmas Fair - Highgate Winter Wonderland - Hyde Park Handmade Christmas - The 02 Black Friday Deals  South Bank Christmas Market Ice Skating at the National History Museum  Duke of York Square Christmas Grotto - Knightsbridge Carol Singing - St Paul's Cathedral The Snowman - Holborn Only In England photography exhibition at Media Space - Science Museum   'Tis the Season... December is a particularly hectic time for socialising and no doubt you’re already watching the calendar dissolve before you! These deliciously simple stilton puffs - thank you Nigel Slater! - are our No. 1 'what-should-I-make?!' post-work party trick... twelve will almost certainly not be enough. We suggest doubling this recipe....    Ben and Andrew have been cultivating some fantastic upper lip decoration in support of Movember. Movember supports men's health issues that sadly don't get the attention they deserve. Please donate through the Movember website if you'd like to show your support. Andrew is currently the doppleganger of Ned Flanders of The Simpsons, whilst Ben just looks a bit dodgy! Now all we have to do is persuade them to shave on the 1st December........ Donate If you fancy winning yourself a brand new Kindle Fire HD with 5 of Andrew's all-time favourite gardening books, why not enter our Christmas competition by sending in your favourite picture of your own wintry garden setting... Simply fill out the the form via the link below and attach a jpeg image of your garden. The winner will be announced on New Years Eve - good luck! Competition Form Competition T&Cs   Click here to take a look at our online store to grab some great gardening gifts for the family or just to treat yourself!